Stories from the Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph, August 7th, 1915.

Official particulars have now been published of the circumstances under which Company Quartermaster-Sgt Arthur Andrews, the Lutonian whose home is at 15 Adelaide Street, won the clasp to his Distinguished Conduct Medal, which is equivalent, as was published at the time,to another medal.

The London Gazette, in announcing the second award, gives the circumstances under which both distinctions were won. In giving a list of names it says:

"Andrews, Acting Co Qr Mr Sgt A.,8743, 2nd Highland L.I.

For conspicuous gallantry on May 16 and 17, 1915, near Richebourg, as Signalling Sergeant. He carried out his duties with great bravery and devotion, under a very heavy shell fire, and under conditions of serious difficulty. He maintained the telephonic communications throughout, frequently mending his wires and carrying messages to the front and rear.

For conspicuous gallantry and ability on numerous occasions throughout the campaign. He frequently personally superintended the repair of telephone wires under very heavy fire and showed great courage, ability and resource at all times in assisting to keep telephonic communications intact. His services in this direction have been invaluable."

The second honour was awarded for achievements in May.

• After many efforts to ascertain official information concerning his son, Mr Linger, of 6 Lyndhurst Road, Luton, has no received official information that Pte Percy Frank Linger (pictured right) was killed in action on May 26th. He was reported to have lost his life in the glorious charge which brought fame to the 24th London (the Queen's) Regiment. He was 21 years of age.

• A striking figure in the Luton streets has been Monsieur Joseph Clottens, who has been staying in Luton for a week. He has walked about in his picturesque Belgian uniform, being an assistant surgeon engaged in the Belgian Red Cross service in Calais. He came to Luton on seven days leave and has been residing with his cousin at 10 Lincoln Road. The latter was a refugee and is at present engaged at Messrs Kent's. He was formerly secretary to the Belgian Minister of Railways.

• Pte Ernest Mitchell, 4th Royal Fusiliers, who was wounded in the shoulder by shrapnel, has recovered and has returned to the firing line for a second time. Formerly employed by Messrs J. W. Green and Co, Luton, he was a reservist who first went through the dark days of Mons and was invalided home suffering from frostbite. His home is with Mrs G. Long, of 19 Alma Street, Luton.

• Captain Meaburn Staniland, 1/4th Lincoln (T. F.) Regiment, who was killed in action last Friday, was billeted in Luton for some time. After serving in the South African War, for which he received the Queen's Medal with four clasps, he received his commission. In civil life he was Town Clerk of Boston, Lincolnshire. [Capt Staniland, aged 35, was killed in action on July 29th, 1915, and was buried at Dranouter Churchyard].

• A member of the Beds Yeomanry, now attached to the Headquarters of a Division at the Front, writes: "After various marches and a six hours train ride we have settled in a new part of France where English troops have never been. You can imagine the curiosity of the people, and especially of the French soldiers who we relieved and who have since departed. One told me that before his regiment left the trenches the Germans told them we were coming to relieve them. What a wonderful system of espionage they must have."

• Through the previous the Luton News [Thursday, August 5th], Mr Percy F. Stratford, an officer's steward on HMS Safeguard and whose home is at 22 Malvern Road, Luton, appealed for a clarinet to enliven the somewhat monotonous existence on board. Although the appeal only appeared in Thursday's issue, the clarinet was despatched yesterday, a neighbour of Mr Stratford, Mr E. Hyde, of 17 Malvern Road, having generously forwarded to the News office the desired instrument.

• At Luton County Court on Thursday, judgement was given by Judge Wheeler in a Workman's Compensation case, in which the Davis Gas Stove Co were the respondents. A young man named Bertie Strange died at the works under circumstances that left it in doubt whether death was due to accident or natural causes. The judge decided that although Strange fell from staging and fractured his skull, he was a delicate young man lifting a weight beyond his strength, causing him to break a blood vessel, based on medical evidence. He awarded Mrs Strange £100 and costs as she had been wholly dependent on her son, who had given her 10s a week of his £1 wages.

• Commencing on Monday, a lady or gentleman will bring a document for each member of the family of each household between the ages of 15 and 65 to fill in, giving full name, age and occupation. National Registration Day is Sunday, August 15th, and if on the previous Saturday the necessary number of forms have not yet been supplied to any dwelling, or if any of the forms left have been spoilt or lost, it is the duty of the householder to make immediate application to the enumerator for the district or parish in which he resides, for forms to replace them. Collection of these documents will commence the next day, and it is hoped to complete the collection in three days, so that the Government will be possessed of a complete record of households.