Local Men's Graves in France.
Sir – The following may be of interest to your readers. In the summer I intend to revisit Rouen, France, where I spent several months in charge of R.E. Transport during the war. Should there be any readers who have relatives or friends interred in the St. Sever Military Cemetery there, I should be only too pleased to spend in morning in photographing the graves of any whom they may indicate to me. If they will let me have full particulars – military ranks, etc. and date of interment or death, they may rest assured of receiving a photograph soon after my return to town in July. There will be no charge whatever for this. My reward lies in being of slight service to any who may be affected by this letter.
Yours etc.
H.B. Fraser, late Corporal R.E.S.
16 North Terrace, Newcastle.

The Newcastle Daily Chronicle 15/05/1920 carries this follow-up letter:

Soldiers' graves in France.
Sir, - Thanks to the publicity you accorded my letter regarding photographs of soldiers' graves in France, I have been "snowed under" by requests from all over Tyneside. Although the majority of them refer to men buried in Rouen, several refer to men buried on various battlefields, which it will be impossible for me to visit. But, as not a few requests reach me for photographs of graves in the vicinity of Bapaume, I have resolved (strength of numbers prevailing) to visit the cemeteries round about (such as "Les Boeufs", etc) for this purpose. Any more applications for Bapaume only will receive willing and whole-hearted attention.
Yours etc.
H.B. Fraser, late Corporal R.E.S.
16 North Terrace, Newcastle.

The Newcastle Daily Chronicle 24/06/1920 carries this article:

Graves of Heroes and Widows.
We are asked to call attention to two departments of the Salvation Army Service. For the convenience of relatives wishing to visit graves in France and Belgium, a department, under Mrs. Commissioner Higgins, is prepared to assist in securing the location of graves, arranging for passports, tickets from London, etc. The rates are the cheapest possible and no profit is made. All information can be had from Mrs. Higgins, 101 Queen Victoria Street, London, EC4. Lieut-Col. Ewens, of the Widows' Counsellors Department at the same address will be pleased to assist any widows who are in difficulty and need advice.

The Newcastle Daily Chronicle 31/08/1920 carries this letter:

Sir – May I be allowed, through the medium of your paper, to express my appreciation of the work done by the Y.M.C.A. in connection with the visits of relatives to the graves of the fallen in France and Belgium?

I have just returned from Etaples, where I went to see the grave of my son, and it is with gratitude that I think of the splendid organisation which enabled me to make the journey in such comfort. One cannot speak too highly of the kindness and courtesy extended to all travellers by the Y.M.C.A. representatives at all points – London, Folkestone, Boulogne and Etaples. Every care was taken to ensure that there should be the smallest amount of trouble. The arrangements at all the hostels, both for sleeping and eating, were excellent. Kindly allow me to pay this tribute to a good work, which deserves to be widely known.
Yours etc.
T. Grieves, Dunston, Aug. 28, 1920.

The Newcastle Daily Chronicle 31/08/1920 carries this letter:

Local Soldiers' Graves
Sir – I have just returned from Belgium, after paying a visit to my son's grave. I found all the graves in very good order; flowers were in full bloom on all the graves. In looking for our own boy's grave, I came across the following of local battalions, which were all in good order. We also saw some of the headstones for local men.
Corpl. A. Fogo, 14th N.F.
Pte. A. Ward, 14th N.F.
Pte. F.R. Croump, 14th N.F.
Pte. J.W. Chadwick, 14th N.F.
Corp. J. Allison, 14th N.F.
Pte. L. Renwick, 14th N.F.
Lc-Corpl. J. Tidswell, 14th N.F.
Pte. H. Tonkins, 14th N.F.
Pte. D.P. Patterson, 14th N.F.
Pte. R. Anderson, 14th N.F.
Pte. E. Brown, 14th N.F.
- D. Potter, N.F.
Capt. Neville, M.C., N.F.
Pte. R. Craig, 7th N.F.
Pte. A. Humble, N.F.
Corpl. J. Bingham, 14th N.F.
Pte. G.E. Hemming, D.L.I.
Pte. G. Wallis, 7th D.L.I.
Pte. G. Beavis, 18th N.F.
Pte. W. Winwood, 18th N.F.
Pte. J. Oxley, 21st N.F.
Pte. J. Wolfenden, 21st N.F.
2nd Lieut. J. Bryson, 21st N.F.
Pte. H.R. Aspinall, 21st N.F.
Pte. R. Shaw, 21st N.F.
Pte. J. Hoggart, 21st N.F.
Pte. L.T. Smith, 21st N.F.
Pte. J. Young, 21st N.F.
Pte. J. Jobson, 24th N.F.
Pte. A. E. Height, 25th N.F.
Pte. W. Ridley, 22nd N.F.
Pte. Shackleton, 20th N.F.
Ptre. Single, D.L.I.
These are in the Ypres district.
Yours, etc.
R. Dick, 49 Greensfield Terrace, Gateshead.
Aug. 28, 1920.

The Newcastle Daily Chronicle 21/09/1921 carries this letter:

Local Soldiers' Graves in France
Sir – Miss V. and M. Glover, 212 Monday Street, and myself have just returned from France, after visiting St. Quentin Cabaret cemetery. We found the graves well kept. We noticed the following names, and it may be interesting to their friends and relatives to know that the graves are in good condition:
3615 Pte. J.R. Sanderson, 4th N.F.
4347 Pte. W. Saxton, 7th N.F.
1515 Pte. W. Gibson, 5th N.F.
3269 Pte. J. Hamilton, 7th N.F.
3090 Pte. J. Jameson, 5th N.F.
2586 Pte. H. Deardon, 5th N.F.
4440 Pte. B. Goring, 5th N.F.
3330 Pte. A. Little, 4th N.F.
Yours etc.
M. Charlton, 94 Beaconsfield Street, Newcastle.

The Newcastle Daily Chronicle 16/12/1921 carries this article:

Visits to War Graves
Issue of Ten Days' Passes without Passport.
The "Newcastle Chronicle" is officially informed that passes for the purpose of visiting the graves of members of the British forces in France or Belgium, without the necessity of obtaining passports or visas, will be issued to the following relatives:-
Mother, father, widow, betrothed wife (if still unmarried), daughter, son, sister, brother, step parents, foster parents and grandparents, step children and foster children, step sister and adopted sister, step brother and adopted brother. All other persons must obtain passports in the usual manner.
Application forms for passes can be obtained from the Military Permit Office, St. James's Park, London, or through the Salvation Army, Church Army, Y.M.C.A. and St. Barnabas Hostel.
The pass is available only for a period of ten days from the date chosen by the applicant, and applicants who desire to remain in France or Belgium for a longer period must obtain passports from the Passport office situated in the same building, or at 36 Dale Street, Liverpool. In all cases the cost of the journey is to be borne by the applicant.