The Luton News

Private Percy Walter Manton

Pte Percy Walter Manton, 22846, 'D' Company, 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was taken as a prisoner of war at Beaucourt-sur-Ancre in France on February 11th, 1917, and was held captive in Germany until he was repatriated at the end of the war.
His prisoner of war records show he was held variously at the Limburg, Friedrichsfeld and Parchim camps. He was included on Luton's 1918 absent voters list but then spent most of his life residing at 14 Chobham Street.

Private T T Wilson

T T Wilson was a professional footballer with Luton Town FC when he enlisted in the Footballers' Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment at Kingsway, London on 16th December 1914 with his Luton team mates Wileman, Roe, Frith, Dunn and Simms.

Private Ernest Simms

Ernest Simms was a professional footballer with Luton Town FC when he enlisted in the Footballers Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment at Kingsway, London on 16th December 1914 with his Luton team mates Wileman, Frith, Roe, Dunn and Wilson.

Private John Dunn

John Dunn was a professional footballer at Luton Town FC when he enlisted in the Footballers' Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment at Kingsway, London on 16th December 1914 with his Luton team mates Wileman, Simms, Frith, Roe and Wilson.

In doing so he was following the example set by his team mates Roberts and Lindley who had signed up the day before. Lindley and Dunn shared lodgings at a house called Ruthaven in Shaftesbury Road, Luton. Dunn continued to be available to play for Luton in the 1914-15 season whilst undergoing military training.

Lance Corporal Arthur Roe

Arthur Roe was a professional footballer for Luton Town who signed for the club at the start of  the 1914-15 season. He enlisted in the Footballers' Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment at Kingsway on 16th December 1914 with his Luton team mates Simms, Wileman, Frith, Dunn and Wilson.

He survived the war and returned to play for Luton Town in the 1919-20 season.

Mr Henry Impey

Henry Impey was born in 1865, and served as Mayor of Luton from 1918 - 1919. He had the dubious honour of being Mayor during the Peace Day Riots, and when people began to attack the town hall, he was smuggled out of Luton, never to return to live and work here, although he paid a few brief visits.

Following his death in Lincolnshire on April 17th, 1930, at the age of 65, his body was finally brought back to Luton for a funeral service at his beloved Mount Tabor Church in Castle Street, followed by burial at the General Cemetery in Rothesay Road.

Sergeant Arthur Harold Wileman MM

Arthur Wileman was a professional footballer at Luton Town FC when he enlisted in the Footballers' Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment at Kingsway on 16th December 1914 with his Luton team mates Simms, Frith, Roe, Dunn and Wilson.

In doing so he was following the example set by his team mates Roberts and Lindley who had signed up the day before. Wileman was the top-scorer in the promotion winning team of 1913-14 and continued to play for Luton in the 1914-15 season whilst training with his battalion.

Private George Andrew Steele

George Andrew Steel was the Son of George Andrew and Mary Elizabeth Steele, and younger brother of Annie E Steele. The family lived at 15, Hearne Rd., Chiswick.

He joined the army in 1917, and served in the 6th  Reserve Brigade, 25th Batallion. (Up to the end of 1916, this was known as the 10th (Reserve) Batallion, the Norfolk Regiment), based at Parkeston near Harwich.

For an unknown reason, he was transferred to Wardown Park V.A.D. Hospital, where he tragically died in November 1917.

King George V visits Factories in Town

On Tuesday 13th November 1917. King George V, visited Luton to inspect the Thermo munitions works off Hitchin Road, the George Kents works in Biscot Road, and to meet local dignitaries.

It was the first official function of the then new Mayor of Luton Charles Dillingham, and the local press reported that he performed admirably.

 

His Majesty the King in Bedfordshire

In the course of a tour of some of the Home Counties on Tuesday, H.M. the King visited as important industrial centre in Bedfordshire.

Private Robert William Frith

 Robert Frith was a professional footballer at Luton Town FC when he enlisted in the Footballer's Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment in London on 16th December 1914 with his Luton team mates Wileman, Roe, Simms, Dunn and Wilson.

Although he was a married man with two children, the 22 year old half-back decided to follow the example of two other Luton players, Roberts and Lindley, who had signed up the day before. Frith was part of the 1913-14 promotion-winning Luton team and continued to play for Luton in the 1914-15 season whilst in training with his battalion.

Private Frank Louis Lindley

Frank Lindley was a professional footballer at Luton Town FC when he enlisted in the Footballers Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment at a public meeting at Fulham Town Hall on 15th December 1914.

Together with his team mate Hugh Roberts, Lindley was one of the first 35 professional footballers to enlist with the Footballers' Battalion. On returning to Luton they encouraged six other Luton players to volunteer the following day.

Private Hugh Pierce Roberts

Hugh Roberts was a professional footballer at Luton Town FC when he enlisted in the Footballers Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment at a public meeting at Fulham Town Hall on 15th December 1914.

He was one of the first 35 professional footballers  who enrolled at the meeting along with his teammate from Luton, Frank Lindley. On their return to Luton they encouraged others to volunteer and a further six Luton players joined the Footballers' Battalion the next day.

Army Boxing Tournament R.F.A.

This Saturday afternoon an interesting boxing tournament took place on the Luton F.C. ground, when a military boxing tournament was organised by the Number 6 Reserve Brigade Royal Field Artillery (R.F.A.) in aid of local charities. Although the sky was rather clouded, the weather throughout was excellent, and resulted in a good attendance of those interested in the noble art.

The ring was arranged in the centre of the ground, and a good number of officers occupied the nearer seats. Wounded soldiers were also accommodated. 

Eight Luton players join the Footballers' Battalion

The Luton News of 17th December 1914 describes how "members of the Luton Town football club have come forward splendidly to join the Footballers' Battalion."

When war broke out close to the start of the 1914-15 season, Luton Town had just been promoted into the First Division of the Southern League. The  Football Leagues announced that the 1914-15 season would run as usual. Players were under legally binding contracts until the end of the season and in any case general opinion in England was that the war would be over by Christmas.

Farewell to Colonel Alexander CO of No6 Reserve Brigade R.F.A. Biscot

Col. Alexander’s Farewell.

The Y.M C.A. hut at Biscot was crowded on Tuesday night, when a farewell concert was given to Col. C. H. and Mrs. Alexander. Col. Alexander has been appointed to a still more important command of the Royal Artillery.                  

There was a very large attendance of officers, and the visitors included many ladies. A delightful concert was provided by members of the Three Arts Club. London, the arrangements having been carried out by the Entertainments Committee.

Pages

Subscribe to RSS - The Luton News