Diary: Medical examinations concern

Digest of stories from The Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph: June 30th, 1917.

Kempston Barracks, Bedford

  • Kempston Barracks, Bedford

The Luton Borough Tribunal resolved upon strong action last night. They decided to send particulars of two cases of re-examinations by the Medical Board at Bedford Barracks to the Shortt Committee appointed a few days ago by the Government to inquire into the whole of the circumstances of medical examinations.

In one case for exemption from Army service on the grounds of physical disability, Hugh Clarence Dockrill, 22 and single, of 84 Dunstable Road, Luton, produced papers and a discharge badge showing that after 44 days service in the Beds Yeomanry he was discharged as not likely, as an epileptic, to make an efficient soldier on medical grounds. When called for re-examination at Bedford, he was not seen by a doctor and told to go home, but 10 days later he got a B2 classification certificate (fit enough for garrison duty in France or the tropics).

The Tribunal gave conditional exemption on the grounds of physical disability, and on the advice of the Town Clerk thought it a case for the Special Committee.

The second case involved Harold Frederick Clark, aged 30 and single, a wages clerk employed by Olivier and Co and living at Union Street, Luton. Despite being rejected at Bedford in 1916 because he had only one eye, at re-examination he was passed C1 (fit for garrison duty at home).

Said Mayor Alder John Staddon: "We are getting fed up with this gang. If we are going to crowd the British Army with men like this we ought to lose. That's all I have got to say about it...It is time we did something."

The Tribunal granted temporary exemption and again decided to send the case to the Parliamentary Committee.

  • A special meeting of the Luton Borough Education Committee was held on Thursday evening at the Town Hall in connection with the recent grant of £5,000 by the Board of Education towards the educational expenses of the borough. It was agreed that teachers' salaries should be increased by £20 a year all round, an amendment moved by Councillor Briggs that the amount should be £25 failed to find a seconder. Last night the local Association of the N.U.T. unanimously carried a resolution to approach the Education Authority and the Town Council with a view to securing improvements and modifications deemed necessary before the Association could recommend it to its members.

  • The conditional exemption on business grounds of Augustus Frank Spratley, 30, single, of 23 Clarendon Road, Luton, and a member of the Plymouth Brethren classed A for military service, was continued at the Luton Borough Tribunal last night. As a conscientious objector he said he was compelled to do work involved in making military helmets for the War Office - work that was ruining the rest of the family business.

  • A man before Luton Court on Thursday for being drunk and disorderly in Windsor Street on May 17th was fined £1 with an alternative of 14 days imprisonment with hard labour. As he could not find the money straight away, he chose prison. The court had heard that it was his 57th appearance before magistrates - and he did not intend being a soldier was his only excuse.

  • At the Thermo Electric Ore Reduction Corporation offices, York Street, Luton, on Tuesday evening a meeting was held in connection with the proposed Indoor Games League for the various social and works clubs of the town. Mr John R. Coult, presiding, explained that the idea was to bring members of different clubs together and promote social intercourse between the clubs of Luton.

  • Breachwood Green soldier Pte Stanley Angell, Beds Regiment, is officially reported killed, after months of being reported missing. A memorial service has been held at King's Walden Parish Church. [His death is recorded as having happened on November 16th, 1916.]

  • News has been received by Mrs Strange, of 50 Napier Road, Luton, that her husband, Pte Ernest Strange, has been wounded. Enlisting on February 1st in the Army Service Corps, he proceeded to France ten days later, and even in so short a period he experienced several gas attacks and had some narrow escapes from being the victim of stray shells. He received wounds on June 18th and was taken to a hospital at Rouen, and he is now in Devonport suffering from a severe fracture of the ankle.

  • The Central Appeals Tribunal recently held that Arthur Bates, 22, a clerk in the employ of the Luton Co-operative Society's office, had not established his claim as a conscientious objector and was ordered to join the Army. Bates, the son of Mrs Bates, of 57 Buxton Road, joined up exactly a fortnight ago. He went to Bedford Barracks and, apparently, was allowed a week in which to reconcile his mind to military service. He refused, however, to don khaki and last Monday, we are informed, was court-martialled for disobedience and sentenced to six months hard labour. He was then transferred to Wormwood Scrubs gaol. Members of Chapel Street Wesleyan Church, where he was formerly Sunday school assistant secretary, have now resolved to bring his case before the House of Commons. Mrs Bates now had one son killed at the Front, one son serving there, Arthur in prison, and her only daughter had died.