Stories from the Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph: July 22nd 1916.

The proceedings at the Luton Tribunal on Thursday evening were of an unusually lively character. Some time since, a man who claims to be a "missionary for God" was granted absolute exemption as a conscientious objector.

The case came before the Tribunal again in order that the man should give some assurance that he was doing some work of national importance, and making some sacrifice at this time of serious national crisis. The town Clerk (Mr William Smith) asked what kind of work he had been doing, and for how long.

He admitted he has received no pay because he had not done any work, as he could not take on anything outside his missionary sphere. He was living off his mother and sister, contributing nothing to the home. He also admitted that he had been seen on many occasions playing tennis in Wardown Park.

After accusing the man of being a loafer, the Mayor (Alderman J. H. Staddon) said the town was fed up with seeing him about doing nothing.

The man said he was prepared to do missionary or scholastic work, although no missionary society recognised him. And he claimed he could not get scholastic work for which he was qualified due to a condition that "no conscientious objector need apply".

The applicant, who said he would not take work on a farm or in the workhouse but would go to China or India to do missionary work, was required to find some work of national importance within 21 days. The man withdraw from the council chamber, protesting as he did so.

• The relatives of Pte Frederick Herbert Carter, aged 24, are bearing the sad loss of their son in the 7th Bedfords through his being killed in France on July 1st in the great advance. His widow, whom he had not seen since their marriage, received the official notification at her home in King's Road, Luton.

• Although he has escaped wounds, Pte Cyril Askew, 1st Beds Regiment, was invalided home last week suffering from trench fever, and is now in University Hospital, London. He had been out in France six months, and prior to enlistment worked for Mr D. Lathwell, hat manufacturer, of Mill Street. He resided with his sister, Mrs Sydney Lancaster, at 207 Hitchin Road, Luton.

• A Leagrave friend of Spr H. Carter, of Luton, has received a letter from him in Egypt, where he is serving with the East Anglian Royal Engineers. He writes: "It is very hot here. Last week we had the C. O. of Egypt wound to inspect, and he highly complimented us on our work and we had a day off. We are now having 10 days clear leave in Alexandria, and it will be nice after being in the desert so long. It seems very much as though we are going to be garrisoned in Egypt for a long time yet. I don;t think I shall be able to get home before the war is over."

• Staff Sgt Stanley Lancaster, aged 22, R.A.M.C, son of Mr and Mrs Ezra Lancaster, of 38 Kenilworth Road, Luton, has arrived safely in Egypt after a month's holiday in Luton. He was in the thick of Gallipoli struggle last year and was one of the brave lads who defied the shells and bullets of the Turks while bringing in the wounded. He worked so hard that he eventually collapsed and was sent to hospital. After recovering and on expiry of his time (five years) he signed on again and was allowed a month's leave.

• One of the Luton lads serving in the "land of the Pharaohs" is Cpl W. Wooding, whose parents reside in Havelock Road, Luton. He is a dispatch rider with the Signal Company.

• Rifleman A. Ford, who was formerly with the 5th Bedfords and now in B Company, 24th Rifle Brigade (Supernumerary Force) writes to friends in Leagrave about the heat he is experiencing while serving in India. The temperature only goes to 110 degrees in the shade. he writes. How much hotter is it going to get I don't know. He refers to the number of men affected by heat stroke and says he had heard that a number of them died.

• A married brother killed at the Front; two married brothers fighting in France; a sister killed by fright during a Zeppelin raid ; his wife ill for two years and still suffering; buried three children; one of three surviving children a victim to a serious affliction; himself suffering from the effects of an accident a few years ago when a bag of sugar (2 cwt) fell on his stomach. Such was the story told by an applicant to the Luton Borough Tribunal this week. "Domestic hardship" is a mild way of describing the reason for exemption.