Stories from The Luton News, May 20th, 1915

Mrs A. Payne, of 22 Essex Street, Luton, has learned that both her husband and her brother are prisoners of war in Germany.

Husband Pte Albert Payne was a reservist who was called up to serve the the 2nd Bedfords on the outbreak of war. He was twice wounded and had been a prisoner since November.

Brother Pte Albert Pinney, of 55 Windsor Street, Luton, had been called up with the 1st Bedfords and was a prisoner in another part of Germany. Like Pte Payne he had been employed at the Gelatine Works.

Another Lutonian held prisoner by the Germans was Rifleman George T. Hepworth, 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade, whose family were living in Langley Street. He was being held at Döberitz.

• It was announced in the London Gazette on Saturday night that Lieutenant Colonel Edgar William Brighten has been promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel. Although only just gazetted, he has been in command of the 5th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment since the beginning of the year with the retirement of his predecessor, Lieut-Col Butler, on medical grounds. Lieut-Col Brighten had been a partner in Messrs Brown and Brighten, a solicitor's firm in Chapel Street, Luton, and lived in Lansdowne Road.

• Wounded and in a London hospital, Rifleman S. Brandon (pictured, right), of the King's Royal Rifle Corps, in a letter home to 47 Chobham Street, Luton, wrote of being in action on May 8th when his unit's strength on taking over trenches was 850 officers and men, reduced to about 150 men without an officers after battle. Their first first line of trenches were blown up in a German bombardment lasting from 7 am to 10.30 am - men falling in dozens. From reserve trenches they used machine gun fire to mow down the enemy, and, in retaking lost ground with the aid of reinforcements, they found the enemy's dead lying in heaps. Rifleman Brandon was now being treated for wounds in a London hospital.

• Among the casualties of Hill 60 was Drummer Albert Edward Cockle, 1st Battalion Beds Regt, killed in action on April 19th. A chum, Pte Allen, of Chase Street, informed Drummer Cockle's sister, Mrs S. J. Barton, of 31 Cambridge Street, Luton, in a letter.

• A fire in one of the military stables erected in the field opposite the Steam Laundry in Dunstable Road yesterday afternoon resulted in some horses being burned to death and others so severely injured that they had to be destroyed. Of the 20 horses that had been in the stable being used by the 4th Home Counties Ammunition Column, two were burned to death, two more had to be destroyed and four more were badly burned. The fire started in forage stores.

• On Friday the troops in Luton were visited by Colonel S. Long, of the Army Remount Department, who inspected the horses of each battalion. Three inspections were made, including one at the Dallow Road Recreation Ground involving the 2/6th Sherwood Foresters (picture, right).

• Latest recruits to the Regular Army via Luton Corn Exchange in the past week: A. Bangs, J. Brooks, J. Clark, E. Cornish, H. E. Fisk, C. H. Grace, H. Kempson, F. Peck, J. E. Schofield, C. Seabrook, J. W. Weston. Recruits to the 2/5th Battalion Beds Regt: J. H. Angell, S. W. Bird, A. Bowler, H. Hobbs (all Luton) and W. G. Bracey (Leagrave).

• Mrs H. Gregory, of Leagrave Road, Luton, received battlefront souvenirs with a letter from Sgt A. Spink, of the 1/4th Battalion Leicester Regt (North Midland Division). Included were bits of German shells and flowers picked near the firing line.

• About 11.30 on Sunday night Sgt F. Smith, of the police force, and other Luton residents heard the noise of an aeroplane which must have been high up in the air. It was too dark to discern anything, but immediate steps were taken, in accordance with prevailing orders, and military guards were soon out. It is certain an aircraft passed over Luton, but there is no clue to its nature and the matter remains a mystery.

• Driver Frederick Millard, Eastern Mounted Brigade Field Ambulance, was married on Sunday morning to Miss Mabel Lacey, second daughter of Mr J. Lacey, of Brunswick Street. The bridegroom, whose home is at 2 Cardiff Grove, Luton, was given a few days leave for the ceremony, and on Tuesday he and his bride left for a two-week honeymoon in Woodbridge, where his Brigade is stationed. There was a large attendance of RAMC men at the ceremony, and wedding presents included a dinner service and tea service from the officers, NCOs and men of the Eastern Mounted Brigade.

• Sidney Clare Strange, a young labourer who only started work on Tuesday morning at the Diamond Foundry, Luton, fell from a platform while handling metal during the afternoon and received injuries from which he died. At an inquest which was opened and adjourned, the coroner heard that there was a possibility that the young man, aged 22 or 23, had a seizure or a fit of giddiness, or was not used to work and stumbled and fell. A native of High Wycombe, he had lived with his brother at 22 Ebenezer Street, Luton.

• Special services were held at Wellington Street Baptist Church yesterday to welcome the Rev C. E. Charlesworth, the newly appointed pastor.

• Yesterday morning Luton magistrates ordered a Dorset Street boy to attend an industrial school until he becomes 16, for irregularly attending a Luton school. His mother was ordered to contribute 2 shillings a week towards his 5 shillings weekly upkeep.

• All records were broken on the previous weekend's Hospital Saturday, when women and children were busy all day collecting in the streets. The total amount raised was £103 19s 4¾d, an increase of more than £30 over the previous year. Matron Miss E. Poulton and her nurses collected £20 13s at the Bute Hospital gates, while the highest individual street collection - £12 - was realised in Wellington Street. Nurses with their collecting boxes are pictured, right.

• Burning bedclothes thrown out of a first floor window sent police and firemen to 38 Inkerman Street, Luton. They found no fire but seven children living alone - their mother was dead and their father was with the 2/5th Bedfords at Newmarket. A 15-year-old girl was caring for six siblings aged from four to 12.