John Harold TOWNSON

14 April 1916

SILSDEN SOLDIERS’ INTERESTING LETTERS

Mrs. Charles Sugden, Lady Supt. Of the Silsden St. John Nursing Division, has received a further batch of letters from Silsden Soldiers and Sailors–the former serving abroad–expressing their thanks for gifts sent them by the inhabitants of Silsden. That the money raised for the object of sending parcels to soldiers and sailors has served a good purpose, is abundantly proved by the appreciative communications which have been received from time to time. The following are a few extracts from some of the letters received:

Sapper J.H. Townson writes:– “I was very pleased to read in the paper with regard to the recent Silsden effort for a Y.M.C.A. hut. I am sure you did really splendid. We are at present having ten days in the workshop following which we shall have ten up in the line. We never get any change in life, and it will be grand when peace is declared and all the Silsden soldiers are back home again.”

22 December 1916

SILSDEN – SOLDIERS’ CHRISTMAS PARCELS

Mrs. Charles Sugden, of Bolton Road, Silsden, has received a large number of letters from the Silsden soldiers serving at home and abroad in acknowledgment of Christmas parcels which have been sent to them on behalf of the inhabitants of Silsden. One and all bear testimony of the soldiers’ appreciation on receiving the parcels.

Appended are a number of extracts:– Harold Townson, of the R.E., writes:–

“I am sure all the Silsden soldiers are being well looked after by the people at home, and no doubt they are all proud to belong to Silsden. My comrade keeps asking me where Silsden is; he says he wished he lived there. I keep reading the letters in the local papers, and the one from V. Hudson interested me very much. I had a good laugh over it. He gives the general conditions very clearly, though he has rather high ideas about after the war.”