Stories from the Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph, February 20th, 1915.

The following officers and men of the Bedfordshire Regiment have been recommended for gallantry medals, some posthumously.

1st BATTALION

Lieut-Col C. R. J. Griffith, DSO

Major W. Allason

Major E. J. de S. Thorpe

Capt C. E. Goff (Liverpool Regiment, attached)

Capt J. Macready

Capt J. MacM Milling

Lieut W. St J. Coventry

Lieut J. S. Davenport

Second-lieut A. G. R. Garrod (3rd Leicester Regiment, attached)

Second-lieut L. W. Rendell (killed in action, October 19th)

Brave or foolhardy? It was an extraordinary story revealed by Lance-Cpl F. Howe, of the 1st Bedfords, in a letter published in the Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph on February 20th, 1915.

The newspaper put the incident down to an example of the gallantry and courage of the Bedfordshire Regiment, when Lance-Cpl Howe told of the extermination of a nest of German snipers.

Stories from The Luton News, February 18th, 1915.

News had been received by Mr and Mrs Ward, of 3 East Avenue, Park Street, Luton, and until lately of 37 Bailey Street, that one of their sons, Lance Corporal Alfred Ward, 3/5697, has been killed at the Front.

On February 15th, 1915, the Beds Regiment casualty list included the additional names.

DIED OF WOUNDS

Gamble: Bernard, Acting Coy Sgt-Major 9288, 1st Battalion, December 13th (Bailleul Communal Cemetery)

WOUNDED

Ashton L., 6586

Dawks W., 9664

Field C., 6536

Marvell W., 9659

Scales W., 5206

MISSING

Allsop, Sgt R., 8238

Baker F. C., 10321

Benton W., 8252

Brown L-Cpl W., 9999

Croft H., 6494

Private Cyril Bunyan, who had enlisted with the North Midland Royal Field Artillery stationed in Luton after escaping from occupied Brussels, had told The Luton News about what life was like in the Belgian capital following the German occupation. In this final episode of his story he talks of his dash for liberty via Holland and the narrow squeaks along the way.

One young soldier stationed in Luton who was looking forward to getting to Belgium to do his bit in defeating the Germans had already spent three months escaping from occupied Brussels so that he could enlist in England and return to fight. This is the first part of his dramatic story.

Stories from the Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph, February 13th, 1915

The Saturday Telegraph placed the spotlight on the role brewer Mr John William Green and his family were playing in the current crisis and included photographs of eight members of the family.

Mr Green himself had never taken any military office, his work lying in preparing for the care of the sick and wounded. Two years ago he was appointed Honorary Commandant of the Men's Voluntary Aid Detachment.

This man may have been the inspiration behind the "Jack Cornwell VC" float which became a focal point of the Peace Day parade on July 19, 1919, that culminated in the notorious riot and burning of the Town Hall.

The following Bedfordshire Regiment casualties were reported on February 11th, 1915.

DIED OF WOUNDS

Skinner: Thomas, Pte 7498, aged 33, 1st Battalion, November 18th (Poperinghe Old Military Cemetery)

Hammond: M., Pte 3/8155, 1st Battalion, December 9th (Dranouter Churchyard)

WOUNDED

Bacon J., 8208

Barber E., 9495

Brace Cpl F., 9001

Brown E., 7057

Bullen A. W., 8160

Charge Cpl R., 6807

Feary F., 8119

More local men serving with the Colours.

Frederick MOORES: Electrical Artificer, HMS Fishguard - late of 54 Inkerman Street, Luton.

William H. MOORES: Electrical Artificer, HMS Woolwich, 1st Destroyer Flotialla - late of 54 Inkerman Street, Luton.

E. ABBOTT: Sapper, East Anglian R.E. - 77 Chase Street, Luton.

Stories from The Luton News, Thursday February 11th, 1915.

It is pretty well known that the whole of the output of Commercial Cars Ltd [Biscot Road, Luton] has been commandeered by the War Department, and letters being received from the Front speak very highly as to the behaviour of the cars.

While there was disquiet among workers in the hat trade over low wages, the local correspondent of the Hatters' Gazette painted a rosy picture of the industry.

He wrote that a tour of some of the factories of the neighbourhood was productive of several interesting results, and to the writer, who had known the straw trade for over 40 years, it was a real pleasure, filled with admiration, at the progressive enterprise of the various parties concerned in the trade.

Luton Amateur Swimming Club have 37 members with the colours, according to a preliminary roll of honours issued by the Midland District A.S.A. One member, Mr W. Brandram, a regular swimmer and helper from Letchworth, is reported to have been killed at the front. Other members:

W. Land, Royal Engineers

S. Hawkins, North Midland R.F.A.

A. Harris, North Midland R.F.A.

A. Paramor, Beds Yeomanry

Mr Byran, Beds Yeomanry

L. E. Harris, Royal Engineers

P. Lovell, 23rd Battn, London Regiment

Luton Mayor Councillor W. J. Primett said he was rather disappointed that there were only one or two replies to an appeal to churches asking what steps they had taken to offer facilities to a new batch of hundreds of soldiers who were being quartered in Luton.