Stories from The Luton News: Thursday, June 22nd, 1916.

Firemen's drill at Wardown Lake (W.H. Cox 1914)

Last night, an alarm of fire was given at Wardown Hospital, and there were interesting and exciting scenes. But it was only an imaginary fire, and its value as a test was very great.

Second Officer Andrew, of the Luton Fire Brigade, has for weeks been busily instructing the nurses and drilling them in the rescue of patients and the use of fire appliances. Last night's test call was arranged to see how soon before the arrival of the Fire Brigade the wards could be cleared.

At 9 pm Chief Officer Teale gave the alarm of an imaginary fire in the annexe to the nurse in charge. The nurses, we understand, were in ignorance of the test, and acted as if a fire had really occurred. From the time of the call, the Brigade arrived with the motor-engine in four minutes. The nurses had a "lightning clearance," for they got out two wards containing 25 patients (who were in bed) in the incredibly short space of a minute after the alarm.

After the test the Brigade carried out an imaginary rescue by means of lines from the first floor, and they then had the motor engine at the lake and demonstrated the manner in which the Hospital could be brought under the water supply.

• While Bedfordshire worthily upholds the British flag and its traditions on the battlefield, there are those at home who cannot go but who still want to share, however humbly, in that spirit of service to the country. Thus we are pleased to announce the the Bedfordshire Battalion of the Volunteer Corps has been one of the first to offer for military service at home. Arrangements are yet in a very early stage, but we can state that the Beds Battalion is the result of the Luton and Bedford detachments joining hands, and as a battalion offering for service. Efforts are being made to get sufficient men to make up a full battalion, and we believe that an earnest appeal and arrangements for recruiting will be published in the next few days.

• In the casualty lists issued on Saturday night appears the name of a Lutonian, Pte Albert Stratton, 10395, of the Northamptonshire Regiment, and he is reported killed.

• Pte E. C. Hayward, of the Canadians, writing to his father, Mr Alfred Hayward, of the Sugar Loaf Hotel, King Street: "Two days this week were the hardest I ever put in in my life. I had occasion to carry bombs up to our new front line, and going up a communication trench which was over my knees with mud we had to walk over piled-up Germans to get through at all. The artillery fire was hellish. I'll never forget it as long as I live."

• As the last stroke of midnight dies away tomorrow night every man under 41 years automatically becomes a soldier of the King. He is deemed to have attested and it does not matter what his position in life, unless he has received absolute exemption, he is a soldier. If he holds a military medical certificate of rejection he is none the less a soldier, for he may be called up before September 1st. Those unattested desirous of obtaining exemption should see that their claims are received by the Clerk to the Local Tribunal some time tomorrow (Friday), and those who attested within the last few days and have not yet claimed should send in their claim within ten days of the date of attestation.

• Cpl Jeffery, of the 5th South Staffs and a Lutonian, has been promoted to full sergeant. He is on service in Ireland.

• On Sunday, Mr Harry Sanders (Messrs Sanders and Brightman, Upper George Street) received the following wire from the War Office: "Regret to inform you that Second Lieut Eric Fred Sanders, of the 8th Royal West Surrey Regiment, admitted to No. 2 Casualty Clearing House. Gas poisoning. Dangerously ill." Subsequently, Miss J. E. Jolly, sister-in-charge wrote: "I am glad to say his condition is improving, so I trust we may soon send him to the base. In the meantime you may rest assured he will receive every care and attention."

• The Royal Humane Society have awarded their vellum certificate to little Miss Joyce Cunningham, daughter of Mr and Mrs J. C. Cunningham, of 35 Cardiff Road, in recognition of her rescue of a soldier's wife and baby6 from the sea at Worthing a few weeks ago. The information has come from the Mayor of Worthing, who has invited Mr and Mrs Cunningham to visit Worthing so that the presentation may be formally made.

• Comparison of the prices of meat at June 1st, 1916 with those in July 1914, shows, according to particulars given in the Board of Trade Labour Gazette, that while the increases in the better cuts of British meat average between 50 and 60 per cent more, the cleaper cuts of imported meat have doubled in price. Bacon was nearly 40 per cent dearer and fish averaged 86 per cent dearer. Increases of from nearly to to 60 per cent are recorded for potatoes, flour, bread, cheese and tea. The average increase in the retail prices of food since the beginning of the war may be put at 59 per cent.

• Short meetings of the Council have been experienced in the past, but that of Tuesday evening probably created a record for brevity. In less than 25 minutes the business on the agenda paper had been transacted.

• A defendant, who according to police was "the most vicious man in Luton," is now behind bars for a period of four months. Ernest Kempson, lodging at 2 New Town Street, was charged at the Borough Sessions on Saturday with assault and using obscene language. His behaviour in court was such that a second charge was preferred against him for using obscene language within the precincts of the court.

• A new YWCA club in Upper George Street is to be formally opened in a fortnight's time after taking six weeks to build. It is not only intended for munition workers but for all girls and contains a room capable of holding 400 girls. The commodious buildings are on the site of the new Post Office, and the postal authorities have generally lent the land until they require it.