Harrogate Herald - 27th January 1915

Mr John Thirkell, 10 Gray Street, Oatlands Mount, Harrogate, writes :

Sir, As England expects every man to do his duty, may I ask if you would kindly spare me a small space in your paper to state that two of my sons hurried away to the war to help Old England in the hour of the country's greatest need. I enclose the photos of them. I may say that my eldest son, John Edward Thirkill, is 28 years of age, and is in the 1st Northumberland Fusiliers, and was Corporal when he enlisted, and immediately made Sergeant. He wrote home regularly up to October 26th, since which time I am most sorry to say we have heard no news from him - letters we have sent to him since that date have all been returned. I may say that previous to October 26th my son, John Edward, had been twice wounded. My other son, Alfred Thirkill, who is in the 1st West Yorks, is 22 years of age and is now in hospital in Manchester. While in a flax mill near Armentiers the Germans shelled the place on Christmas morning, which caused the building to get on fire, and my son Alfred was wounded in the arm, but I am glad to say that under the skilled medical treatment he is getting that he is going on well. I conclude, wishing "Success to Old England".

Harrogate Herald - 6th June 1917

W H Breare letter

Private Alfred Thirkill (West Yorks), son of Mr and Mrs J Thirkill, 10 Grey Street, Oatlands Mount, Harrogate, has been missing since July, 1916. will you see if you can get any information respecting him? The eldest son was posted as missing in 1914, and nothing was heard of him for a long time, and then his death was presumed by the War Office.