Stories from the Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph: March 4th, 1916.

The first successful "conscience" appeal to the Luton Borough Tribunal was made at their sitting on Wednesday, when one of the five people who represent the Christadelphian cause in Luton succeeded in getting exemption, after a very gruelling experience at the hands of the members of the Tribunal.

Like another Christadelphian who had previously appealed and failed, he was originally said to have been a good Wesleyan, but whereas the other was getting his living at a munition works, this applicant was engaged as a salesman in an ordinary shop, and therefore was considered to be free of the taint which attached to men who said they had a conscience but one which did not prevent them earning a living in a factory engaged on war material.

Despite spelling the word Christadelphian wrongly twice on his appeal form, denying he had become a Christadelphian simply to escape military service and saying he would not take military service whether granted exemption or not, the Tribunal decided after discussion in private to exempt him.

• The first sounding of Luton's air raid sirens the previous Sunday was described in the Saturday Telegraph as "not at all impressive". It had to be be charitably conceded, however, that the subsequent playing about with the contrivance during the week had improved its clearness of tone and resonance. "One is not aware what devices have been resorted to in order to achieve this measure of improvement, but rum and milk and Owbridge's are held in esteem by many for clearness in the throat," said the Telegraph.

• The destruction of a Zeppelin by the French last week was not the only serious loss suffered by the Germans recently, according to Luton's double DCM, Coy Quartermaster-Sgt Arthur Andrews. In a letter to his wife at 15 Adelaide Street, he said that in the region where is was now fighting Allied airmen had brought down no fewer than five German aeroplanes.

• Sgt Stokes (pictured right), of the 5th Bedfordshire Regiment, left Luton this week after his energetic recruiting efforts during the past few months. He left with the 1/5th for service in Gallipoli but had to return invalided, and since then he has been in Luton under the superintendence of Lieut Lambert, the 3/5th Bedfordshire recruiting officer. St Stokes is a Lutonian and will be rejoining the 3/5th Bedfordshire Regiment.

• A Luton soldier appeared in court for the third time for being absent without leave from the 3/5th Bedfordshire Regiment at Halton Park. He was in bed at his home in Bull Court when a police constable called to arrest him on Thursday evening. He was remanded for an escort back to his regiment.

• Walter Hayward, aged 18, of the 3/7th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery, whose home in at Fulham, is at present in a serious condition in the Bute Hospital. This morning about 11 o'clock he was riding a remount at the Biscot Huts when, it is said, the horse suddenly reared up and threw him. He fell with considerable force against a gun carriage. It appears that he sustained severe injuries to the spine and ribs.

• The Rev W. Curry, of the High Town Primitive Methodist Church, has decided to take a three months' sojourn amongst the troops, probably behind the firing line in France. He has offered his services for that period to the YMCA and will give the benefit of his hands and voice to the lads serving the country in that part of Europe. Mr Curry asked leave of absence from his church officers at their quarterly meeting and they readily fell in with his idea.

• Fines ranging from 10 shillings to 40 shillings were imposed at Luton Borough Sessions this morning for infringements of Lighting Regulations. The highest fine was imposed on a warehouse in Cheapside that cast light on Barber's Lane. Sixteen other premises attracted fines, including buildings belonging to firms.

• Luton Town FC failed to add to the brace of points gained in the first match of their London Combination campaign with a 2-1 defeat at home to Millwall today. Facing wind and sun and later snow, Luton were a goal down at the interval but equalised immediately after the restart. Millwall scored again in the second half, while Luton had a penalty shout turned down in each half.