Diary: Military gymkhana at Stockwood

 

Stories from The Luton News, June 17th, 1915.

Stockwood Park was bathed in sunshine yesterday as several thousand troops and civilians enjoyed the occasion of a gymkhana and military sports, by courtesy of Mrs Francis Crawley.

While the military authorities were wholly responsible for the arrangement of the programme, they left the financial side almost wholly to a committee of local townspeople. It was at first not proposed to the the gymkhana open to the general public, but when this was decided the military authorities agreed that money raised by an admission charge should be devoted to war charities.

The Mayor (Councillor Walter Primett) and Mrs Crawley decided in large measure to give the money to the new Prisoners of War Fund, which should receive a healthy start having regard to a splendid attendance. There was such a rush from the town for the Park between one o'clock and half-past two that the car [tram] service was very inadequate and the great majority of spectators walked the distance.

There were 15 events on the card involving 500 entrants, and the evening was well on when the Band of the 2/8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters closed the event, rendering "God Save The King".

  • Quartermaster Sergeant Arthur Andrews (pictured below, left), 2nd Battalion Highland Light Infantry, has been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallantry in the field. He lived at 15 Adelaide Street and his parents at 110 Wellington Street. He has been in the Army for 12 years and was drafted to France on August 4th. When he went away he told his wife that he would win either the VC or the DCM.

  • Souvenirs sent home by Cpl-Major W. Byron, a Luton policeman serving at the Front with the 2nd Life Guards, included an ugly piece of shrapnel, part of a shell that killed his horse. Cpl-Major Byron's family live at 82 Naseby Road, Luton.

  • Pte Harry Sharpe, writing to his father in Biscot Road from the Cardiff hospital where he is lying wounded, wrote of his experiences in the charge by the 24th County of London Regiment near Givenchy. "When I was lying wounded I saw Aylott and Grace run past me, but I don't think they noticed me. It was an awful sight for me when I was lying there. The fellows who were wounded got shot again, some killed outright. It was a marvellous thing I was not killed, as shots were hitting all round me, and fellows dropping as well. I was wounded about seven o'clock and had to lie still till nearly ten o'clock when it was dark enough for those who could crawl back. It took me an hour to crawl a thousand yards."

  • Pte Albert Kempton (pictured below, right) , 7886, 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment,has been undergoing medical treatment at Bedford and hoping to visit his wife and family at their home at 1 Chobham Street, Luton. He said: "I met with my 'accident' at the fateful Hill 60...I was buried alive in a big house, and it took some time to get me out. I was knocked out by a 'Jack Johnson' shell which burst and blew the whole place up. I was underneath with about eight or ten tons of it over me. How I got out, God only knows."

  • Particulars are now to hand of the severe wound sustained at the Dardanelles by Royal Navy man Arthur Norton Brown (pictured below,centre), son of Mr and Mrs E. J. Brown, of 15 Dale Road, Luton. Sandy, as he was known to his friends, dislocated his right leg and received a shrapnel wound to his right arm while riding an armoured motorcycle and sidecar on May 27th. He was treated in the Royal Naval Hospital, Malta, and later transferred to Chatham.

  • Writing from a Liverpool hospital to Mr J. T. Howe, of Messrs J. C. Kershaw and Co., former employee Pte J. Blair, 2432, 24th Battalion County of London Regiment ("The Queen's") said: "I an thankful I am not seriously wounded. It was an awful sight when we attacked - to see chaps rolling wounded down a bank and making all kinds of sounds, some shrieking, some moaning, and calling for assistance. We are not supposed to assist any wounded at an attack, as time is so precious."

  • One of the "old brigade" has returned to his home at Luton from hospital on seven days leave. Pte William Howe, 6247, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, of Upper Cobden Street, Luton, was called to the colours as a reservist of Section D on August 4th last, having previously served for several years with the colours. He was wounded at Ypres during a charge by the Bedfordshires, a piece of shrapnel striking him just below the thigh. He was taken to Rouen Hospital for three weeks and for the past month has been at Cosham Hospital.

  • Lutonians will be interested to know that two more of their townsmen have volunteered their services to the British Red Cross Society. Mr Ralph Dillingham, son of Councillor Dillingham, and Mr P. H. Stanbridge, son of Mr H. Stanbridge of Messrs Hucklesby's, undertook to provide and drive their own cars. The two volunteers will leave Luton for Boulogne on Monday. They are entitled to wear the uniform of an officer, but, of course, do not hold military rank.

  • Journalist Mr Eric B. Broughton (Royal Flying Corps) has received his certificates from the Royal Aero Club that entitled him to fly his aeroplane in any country. Prior to joining the RFC he was in the Public Schools Battalion and was offered a commission in the Inniskilling Fusiliers, but he preferred the excitements and opportunities afforded by aviation. Mr Broughton, who is based at Brooklands, is a nephew of Mrs W. Young, of 4 Russell Street, Luton, with whom he makes his home.

  • Capt G. P. L. Orr, of the 2/5th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, has been appointed Adjutant (May 20th).

  • The meeting of the South Beds Recruiting Committee heard that the fund to provide refreshments and tobacco for the men of the 1/5th Battalion Beds Regiment during their visit to the town last weekend had realised £48 12s 9d. Total expenditure was £46 15s, leaving £1 17s 9d for the new Prisoners of War Fund.

  • A letter writer signing himself "Shaftesbury" asked if officers using the All Saints Institute as a mess and recreation room could be persuaded to have a little regard for the residents in the neighbourhood. He complained of a pianola being played until the early hours of the morning - regularly until between one o'clock and two o'clock, and once until 3.30 am. A lot of men living nearby were engaged on Government work from 6 am until 6 pm and he felt they deserved a little more consideration.

  • The annual general meeting of the Luton General Cemetery Co, held at its registered office in George Street West, was told that there had been 420 interments during the past year, 94 more than in 1913-14. There had been a total of 16,488 burials there since the cemetery opened in 1854.

  • Mr D. Brown, the Luton postmaster, should have completed his period of service this week and retired on pension. We understand, however, that in view of the special circumstances brought about by the war, which has resulted in a considerable depletion of the postal staffs, Mr Brown has been requested to remain in the service for another 12 months.

  • Yesterday afternoon 600 scholars of Luton Parish Church and St Paul's Sunday schools had an enjoyable picnic at Luton Hoo, by kind permission of Lady Wernher and the military authorities. The journey was made on foot, and the proceedings included tea, sports and games.

  • Many Lutonians on Saturday witnessed the sports held by the 2/4th (Derbyshire) North Midland Howitzer Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, whose training ground is in the Beech Hill district. Horse driving events, athletics, boxing and even a sack race were included.