Digest of stories from the Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph: October 6th, 1917.

Another step was taken on Tuesday evening in the organisation of discharge soldiers and sailors in Luton and district. A meeting was held at Woolworth's Cafe, George Street, and Mr Herbert W. Booth presided.

Mr Booth said he had written to Mr Hogge MP regarding the organisation, and as to their position in connection with the new organisation whose efforts he thought they had scotched, namely Comrades of the Great War. Mr Hogge replied telling of the growth of the Federation of discharged men all over the country, and promising to come to Luton at a future date to give the men here "a leg up".

Mr Buckingham proposed, and Mr Whoswall seconded, that the local branch should affiliate with the National Federation. The Chairman then read the objects of the Federation - "to watch over and promote legislation on behalf of discharged men and their dependents to promote social fellowships, to educate public opinion in the view that the maintenance and welfare of discharged men and their dependents was the direct duty of the State and should be its first care, and that they should not be dependent upon charity for their livelihood, and to ensure that a man who had been fit to serve was fit to receive a pension which should not be subject to income tax."

On the recommendation of the Executive, it was decided to have an entrance fee of 6d, a contribution of 6d per month per member, with an extra 2d for National Federation purposes.

• An explosion occurred at a munition centre "somewhere in Hertfordshire" on Thursday afternoon, resulting, unfortunately, in three workers being killed and several others being injured. An inquest will be held on Monday.

• Luton has had the name of another hero added to its long list. Pte George William Bone, of the R.A.M.C., having been awarded the Military Medal for a courageous act in France. Writing to his parents at 50 Hastings Street, on September 28th, he said: "Prepare yourselves for a great surprise. I have been awarded the Military Medal for carrying a wounded man under shell fire for a distance of about 350 yards. I am thinking myself lucky at being alive just now, but I am very pleased and proud at being the owner of such a great honour." Pte Bone, whose wife resides in Dumfries Street, was formerly a stoker at the gas works before joining the R.A.M.C. at the Grove Road depot on the outbreak of war. He was also an amateur footballer.

• One of the assistants of Luton grocer Mr H. Inwood was killed in action in France on September 22nd. Pte Albert Lane (26786, Beds Regt), a native of Toddington, was trained at Ampthill Command Depot and joined the Beds Regiment in France about 12 months ago. [He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium and Toddington War Memorial.]

• Pte B. Butterfield, of 8 Bolton Road, Luton, is ill in hospital at Westgate-on-Sea, Kent. Enlisting in the Suffolk Regiment last October, he went across the Channel last June, being transferred to the Norfolk Regiment. He was admitted to hospital on August 28th suffering from a slight shrapnel wound and neuritis. Before joining up he was employed by Mr S. Hubbard, bleacher and dyer, Regent Street, Luton.

• A good deal of discontent has been expressed in Luton at the action of the local dairymen in raising the price of milk to 7d a quart. People do not believe it is justified and regard it an another instance the effect of food control. The Food Controller fix the maximum price of milk at 8d per quart, but that it is not a good and sufficient reason who Luton dairymen should immediately raise the price to the same figure as in London.

• The feeling engendered by the attitude of wholesale revision which the decision of the Bedford Tribunal have undergone at the hands of the County Appeals Tribunal, culminated in a sensational sequel at Tuesday's meeting of the Bedford Borough Tribunal, when the members formally refused to deal with any more cases until they have considered their position in the face of the County Tribunal's action. They have decided to adjourn sine die.

• Older residents of Luton will learn with regret of the death of ex-Sgt Samuel Kitchener, of the Luton Borough Police, which occurred at Flitwick on Tuesday evening at an advanced age. Mr Kitchener was a member of the Metropolitan Police Force before entering the Beds Constabulary, from which he subsequently joined the Borough Force and served in it for a lengthy period. He left the force about 20 years ago, and for some years afterwards was caretaker of the Children's Home. He was also an attendant at the Grand Theatre. He then went to Flitwick and passed his closing days in quiet retirement.

• Not a bigger set of fellows have opposed Luton Town for several seasons than that of the Scots Guards, reputedly the strongest military football team in London, who were the visitors in front of a crowd of about 400 today. The final result of 8-0 in Luton's favour was rather a surprise after the first half-hour's play in which the guards played very good football. Cushway and a hat-trick from Butcher made the half-time score 4-0. Cushway completed his hat-trick early in the second half, Butcher added his fourth and Cumming completed the scoring. It was a last match for Luton for Bob Mercer, who returns to Scotland tomorrow. With next week's match against the Royal Naval Depot cancelled, Luton will instead face Biscot R.F.A.