In January 1916, the arrival at the Royal Field Artillery's Biscot Camp of Lieut F. H. Howell saw the formation of the Biscoteers Concert Party. Dressed as pierrots, they used their talents, both musical and comic, to entertain and raise funds. And they became perhaps the most popular entertainment troupe in the town during World War One.

The company discontinued when Lieut Howell went to France in 1916, but was resurrected in 1917 on his return. But, in December 1918 it was time for the final curtain. In fact their popularity and demand for tickets meant there had to be three final curtains - the planned one at the Winter Assembly Hall on December 10th, followed by an encore at the Town Hall on the 11th and another at the Town Hall on the 13th (they kept a promise to visit a military hospital at Hemel Hempstead in between - on the 12th).

Announcing the farewell concert, the Tuesday Telegraph of December 3rd, 1918, recalled that the first company included two well-known Lutonians, the late Gunner Jeffs and Gunner J. Weedon, but the demands of war had changed the personnel from time to time.

The party at any one time comprised eight artistes. Of all those who had donned the pierrot costume, 34 had eventually gone overseas and two, Gnr Jeffs and Saddler Owen, had made the great sacrifice, the former killed and the latter reported to have gone down in a wreck in the Mediterranean Sea.

Almost every charitable organisation in Luton had benefited by the Biscoteers' performances, as had almost every social organisation of the churches. Something like £3,000 had been raised, and it was hoped the result of the farewell concert, which was going to be “the best yet,” according to Lieut Howell and Gunner Albert Edward White, would be some adequate recognition of the Biscoteer's fine work.