Harrogate Herald - 22nd December 1915

Corporal Fitter H Wilson writes : 

I take the greatest of pleasure in writing you a few lines to thank you once more for your paper, which I have received regularly every week. You will see that I have been made full Corporal. I was promoted last August.. since my last letter some months ago we have had some rough times of it at Ypres and Neuve Chapelle. The last "scrap" our Division was in was at Loos, and we got a severe bending. Since then we have been moving about getting reorganised, as you will see by the change of address. We shall be going up amongst it again very shortly. Xmas is drawing close. I never thought last Xmas that I should have another one out here, and I am afraid we shall have a few more on service somewhere yet. Anyhow, the first five years will be the worst. Probably I may be home on short leave in a few weeks' time, so I will call in and tell you more then, as they are getting stricter in censoring our letters. Do you mind obliging me by thanking the people at my village for a very nice, welcome parcel I received from them, and a card enclosed. It was from the people at Hampsthwaite. I thank every one of them for their kindness to us who are doing our duty either at home or abroad or on the sea or land, or in the air, and may they all have a merry Xmas and a very prosperous New Year. Anyhow as happy as may be expected in this terrible crisis. Thanking them once more for their kindness as it shows we are not forgotten. I will close, wishing you and your paper every success, also with the old Yorkshire saying, "A merry Xmas and a prosperous New Year to you".