Diary: Newly widowed mum loses her son

 

From The Luton News, April 1st, 1915

Eight weeks after the death of her former soldier husband James, Mrs Graham, of The Harrow pub, Hitchin Road, received news of the death at the front of her son Cpl Percy William Graham, 9200, of the 2nd Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own). He was aged 22.

Pte Graham was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle on March 10th. He was born in Luton and attended Waller Street Schools, afterwards working at a local foundry. He also attended St Matthew's Church.

He joined the West Yorkshire Regiment six years ago, serving in Malta before returning to England with his regiment on the outbreak of war and going abroad with the Expeditionary Force. He was home on leave for five days in October, and last wrote home five weeks ago, saying he had come out of hospital after an attack of influenza.

Pte Impey, of the same regiment, wrote to his own parents in Jubilee Street, Luton, to say he was with Pte Graham, who died instantly.

  • On Monday, Pte Phillip Paul, 10255, 1st Battalion Beds Regt, was reported killed (November 14th, 1914 - Menin Gate Memorial). Pte E. Brown, 9938, and Pte G. Goodship, 9791, were reported missing.

  • Lieut Sidney Tabor (pictured left), of the 1st Battalion Beds Regt, is in hospital at Boulogne having been slightly wounded in the head by a bullet on Thursday. He is the son-in-law of Mr and Mrs J. W. Green, of The Larches, New Bedford Road. The former Stock Exchange man lives at Little Berkhamstead.

  • A father and two sons from 353 Hitchin Road, Luton, were serving in the Bedfordshire Regiment. Pte Charles Burgess was with the 9th Battalion, while sons Pte Stanley Burgess and Pte Arthur Burgess were with the 5th Battalion.

  • Recruiting is now progressing only slowly in Luton. The latest recruits to the 2/5th Battalion Beds Regt are: A. Draper (Leighton Buzzard), T. James (Luton), W. Matthews (Whipsnade), C. Shepherd (New Mill End), A. J. Stokes (Leagrave), E. Underwood (Luton). The following have enrolled at the Corn Exchange for the Regular Army: R. Balls, C. Barton, F. Braybrook, S. Cheshire, H. Fountain, H. Graves, S. H. Healey, W. Lazenby, W. Millergill, W. Paddock.

  • Mr A. C. Bunting, now organising the YMCA's Moor Hut, is introducing Wednesday evening boxing competitions there that are likely to prove popular with the soldiers.

  • Ptes Leach and Hilton, of the 6th Battalion Notts and Derby Regt, were is charge of a horse and cart when the startled animal bolted in Ashburnham Road on Tuesday afternoon. It ran out of control to Brantwood Road, where it ran into and knocked down a portion of the recreation ground fence. It was taken to he Army Veterinary Hospital in London Road with an ugly gash to its chest.

  • One of the windows in the Cheapside frontage of the Blundell Brothers Ltd store was smashed on Saturday night when the horse of Mangrove farmer Herbert C. Farr became restive and backed the trap it was pulling into the glass.

  • Professional journals had refused to carry advertisements from Luton Town Council's Sanitary Committee for an acting Medical Officer of Health in the absence on military service of Dr Archibald. The reason was that the salary to be offered to a man was £500 per annum but to a woman £400 a year. The Council claimed the difference was accounted for in that a woman would not be required to act as a police surgeon and would be provided with a vehicle to journeys to and from the infectious diseases hospital. It blamed strong trade unionism within the medical profession for its problem.

  • The report of Vauxhall Motors (1914) Ltd showed a net profit of £21,950 between May 12th, 1914, when the company was incorporated, and December 31st, 1914. Vauxhall Motors made an estimated profit of £8,000 up to May 12th.

  • The funeral was held at the General Cemetery on Friday afternoon of schoolboy William F. Rudd, son of Mr W. Rudd, of 71 Park Street. The pupil, aged 14 years and nine months, of Luton Modern School died following a short illness. Headmaster Mr T. A. E. Sanderson and many fellow pupils attended.

  • A verdict of "wilful murder" by some person or persons unknown was returned by a Luton jury at yesterday's inquest on a new-born baby boy whose skull had been fractured and his body found tied in a parcel in Wardown Park.