For King and country: September 10th, 1914

People whose names appeared in The Luton News of September 10th, 1914, in connection with military service.

A private in the Bedfordshire Regiment, writing from Mandora Barracks, Aldershot, where he is at present in training, says his battalion is nearly 1,000 strong and nearly all of them come from Bedfordshire, including many from Luton.

Appended to the letter are the names of Privates H. Barber, New Town Street; H. Taylor, Hitchin Road; R. Evans, 25 Alfred Street; C. Woodfield, 76 Wenlock Street; W. Mingay, Bailey Street; and L. Lovell.

  • The death has occurred while on active service in India of Frank Campbell, son of Mr and Mrs A. Campbell, of 12 Queen Square, Luton. The deceased, who was 20 years of age, was attached to the 80th Battalion, R.F.A., and went to India about 17 months back. He joined the Army about three years ago.
  • In the list of casualties among officers, published on Tuesday and received from General Headquarters of the Expeditionary Force on Friday last, the name of Lieut Sir Alfred Edward Hickman, of the 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards, appears among the wounded. He is nephew of Mr J. O. Hickman, the prospective Unionist candidate for South Beds.
  • Friday's "London Gazette" contained the intimation that Capt W. Archibald, of the Eastern Mounted Brigade Field Ambulance, at present stationed in Suffolk, had been promoted to major, the promotion to date from September 4th. He was previously Medical Officer of Health for Luton.
  • Letters have been received from Corporal Stanley Brown, a Lutonian who is at present serving in France with the railway detachment of the Army Service Corps, and former Slip End police constable, now reservist Gunner H. Wiltshire, of the Royal Field Artillery, "somewhere at the front".
  • Two sons of Mr R. S. Tomson JP, of Bedford House, New Bedford Road, Luton, have enlisted. Mr H. Gordon Tomson has joined the Artists' Corps (28th County of London), and Mr Maynard Tomson has enrolled himself in the Honourable Artillery Company.
  • Messrs H. G. Grundy and F. R. Massey, of the Leagrave Invicta Tennis Club, who recently enlisted in the Royal Garrison Artillery, are now stationed at Newhaven.
  • Quartermaster-Sergeant F. Scott, who is a well-known figure in Luton is one of nine relatives serving with the 5th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Quarter-master Sergeant Scott is in charge of the headquarters and stores of the South Beds Detachment at Park Street, Luton. On active service with the Battalion were Colour-Sergeant F.C. Scott, Sergeant F. Scott, Pte E. Scott, Pte F. Scott, Pte McEwen, Pte H. Scott, Pte F. Rimmer and Pte Holt. The younger men are chiefly nephews of the Quartermaster-Sergeant. About 10 years previously a Scott occupied every rank in the 5th Beds.
  • Many young men from Luton have enlisted in the 24th Battalion (Queen's Own) City of London Rifles. They include: F.L. Pedley, Frank Ward, E. Grace, Brodie, P. Lovell (Luton Clarence FC), G. West, B. Mead, Leonard F. Wheeler (a Luton cricketer and assistant master at Hitchin Road School), William J. Emery (assistant master at Beech Hill School, and Luton Clarence FC), George Wells (assistant master at Hitchin Road School), A. Whitworth (Luton Clarence FC) and D. Summerfield (straw hat manufacturer).
  • Capt M. S. Doubble, who previously resided in Luton and retired from the Royal Army Medical Corps on leaving for Cornwall, has re-joined and has volunteered for foreign service.
  • Six young fellows have joined the 3rd Battery, Lincs Royal Field Artillery. They are: S.C. Hawkins, F. Mardle and S. Allis (Luton Clarence FC) and P. Bird, B. Jones and F. Green. Two are drivers and four gunners. Mr C.W.R. Looker and Mr R.H. Looker, the two sons of Mr W. Looker, of Exchange Roller Mills, Luton, have joined the 16th Battalion, County of London Regiment.
  • Mr J. Napier, of Moor Path Tea Rooms, New Bedford Road, has four sons at present serving in the Forces. John, the eldest, is a wheeler-sergeant in the Royal Garrison Artillery; William, the second, formerly a sergeant in the old Volunteers, has re-joined one of the Staffordshire Territorial Regiments on active service; Frank, the third, late of the 9th Lancers, has joined the 1st Royal Devon Yeomanry under his old officers and gone on active service; and Albert, the fourth, is in the 3rd Royal Fusiliers.
  • Mr C. W.R. Looker and Mr R. H. Looker, the two sons of Mr W. Looker, of Exchange Roller Mills, Luton, have joined the 16th Battalion, County of London Regiment.
  • Mr George Wells and Mr Leonard F. Wheeler, assistant masters at Hitchin Road School, and Mr William John Emery, assistant master at Beech Hill School, Luton, have enlisted and are now in D Company (Queen's Own) County of London Regiment.
  • The Casuals FC, who have cancelled their programme, are represented in the County of London Territorials (Queen's Rifles), now at St Albans, by George Hart (Secretary), H. Webb (captain), P. Darby and H. Sharp.