• The above picture published in The Luton News was captioned as a group of Bedfordshire Boys now transferred to the Railway Operating Division, Royal Engineers. The names, left to right, back row: Sapper G. Riley (Luton), Cpl A. Peck (Luton), Sapper Andrews (Bedford), Sapper G. Cole (St Neots). Middle Row: Sapper A. E. Litchfield (Luton), Cpl H. Arnold (Luton). Front row: Sapper A. Pike (Arlesey), Sapper F. Swarty (Leagrave), Sapper Keens (Bedford).

Digest of stories from The Luton News: Thursday, August 30th, 1917.

A first protest against the composition of the newly formed Council- and business-dominated Food Control Committee in Luton was voiced in a letter from a consumer, writing under the pseudonym of Controleero. He wanted half of the committee to be comprised of representative consumers unconnected with the distribution of foodstuffs.

He wrote: "May I, as a consumer in a large way of business, enter an emphatic protest against the composition of the Food Control Committee? While recognising the inestimable qualities of the gentlemen selected, I do not think they are likely to have much consideration for the consumer, seeing that the majority of them must have the profit-making, if not the profiteering, mind.

"What can these gentlemen know of the difficulty and anxiety of providing decent meals for a working class family, say, of six (in my own case it is nine)? It is not only a question of fixing prices, and, I suppose, limiting profits, but I maintain it is time something should be done (at any rate during the war and for some time after) to enable those who have the bringing up of large families on limited or decreased earnings to get their necessities practically at cost price.

"Lord Rhondda [the Government's Food Controller] suggests central kitchens. Why not food distribution centres? They would certainly cost no more to run then the kitchens and would to a great extent put a spoke in the wheel of the food profiteer.

"We don't expect something for nothing, but we do object to paying out the whole of our earnings for the necessaries of life, when we read of the enormous profits that are being made by those who handle the goods. Is the committee, as at present constituted, likely to do anything on these lines? I think not.

"Then it is up to those interested to demand representation on the committee. There should be at least six representative consumers who are absolutely unconnected with the distribution of foodstuffs and who have a sympathetic knowledge of the increasing struggles of many of their fellow townsfolk to keep their heads above water, and to provide the necessary food, clothing, etc, for their families.

The Glasgow and Suburbs Co-operative Conference, the Trades Council and the Labour Party have all passed strongly worded resolutions of protest against the inclusion of representatives of the provision trades on the control committees, to the detriment of the consumer, and demanding that the committee be disbanded and substituted by one one which Labour and the consumers' interest should have majority representation. I commend this to the local organisations for their consideration and imitation."

• Advert from the Luton News

• Six workers from the Hewlett & Blondeau aeroplane works at Leagrave were each fined 7s 6d for damaging growing clover by trespassing on fields off Beechwood Road. Farmer Alfred Fensome, of Pond Farm, Leagrave, had complained to police about workers from the factory using the field as a short cut.

• A severe accident befell a boy named Frank Euinton, aged 13, of 23 Henry Street, on Saturday morning. It appears that his mother had the copper filled with boiling water and the lid was on. The boy climbed on the copper to reach something from a shelf above. He put one foot on the lid and it tipped up. One of his legs went into the boiling water and he was very badly scalded. A doctor advised his removal to the Bute Hospital owing to his critical state.

• Lady Wernher's collecting and forwarding depot, Prudential Chambers, George Street, Luton, will re-open on Thursday, September 6th, and remain open during the winter months every alternate Thursday from 2.30 to 4.30. Shirts, socks, mufflers and mittens urgently required.

• The will of the late Mr Francis Fisher, of Watford, father of Mr A. E. Fisher, butcher of Luton, has been proved at £110,078. The late Mr Fisher was Lord of the Manors of Newnham Hall, Bendysh Hall, Waltons and Overhall, Essex, and Little Giddings, Hunts.

• Deepest sympathy will be extended to Mrs W.Hurry, of 56 Princess Street, Luton, whose husband, Pte Harry Hurry, was killed on August 9th. He enlisted in the Middlesex Regiment last March, and was married only last May. Prior to enlistment he was an engineer at Vauxhall Motors Ltd.

• An employee of Messrs Eastaff & Co, Old Bedford Road, Luton, Pte Walter Brazier (Northants Regiment), was killed in action on July 31st. His wife resides at Marsom Place, Stopsley.

• L-Cpl Cecil Moate, of 23 Union Street, Luton, who was reported missing in the Eastern theatre of war on July 20th, has now been reported killed on that date. He had enlisted in the Beds Regiment while under age.

• Official notification has been received by Mrs Bunker, of 18 Boyle Street, Luton, that her husband, Pte Joseph Bunker (Royal Fusiliers), was killed in action in France on July 31st. Aged 24, he was the son of Mr and Mrs D. Bunker, of 61 Albert Road, Luton.

• The toll of war has indeed been felt in the family of Mr and Mrs H. Smith, of 58 New Town Street, Luton, who have just loss their third son, L-Cpl Herbert Smith (Royal Fusiliers). Official notification has been received that he was killed on August 2nd.

• Much sympathy has been expressed with Mr and Mrs John Sanders, of 54 Hastings Street, in the death of their elder son, Pte Horace John Sanders (Norfolk Regiment), who was killed in France on or about August 8th.

• Pte Ernest Arthur Godfrey (Royal Fusiliers), son of Mr A. F. Godfrey, of 21 Stockwood Crescent, Luton, and husband of Mrs Godfrey, of 10 Granville Road, has been missing since April 29th. He is 34 and has two children. [It was not until March 1918 that Pte Godfrey's widow was notified that there was no hope her husband was alive and he is recorded as kille in action on April 29th, 1917.]

• The turning of sorrow into joy is exemplified in the case of Pte William Crawley (Beds Regiment), son of Mrs Crawley of 92 Langley Road, Luton, who had a letter from a soldier in the Eastern theatre of war to say her son had been killed. A War Office notification then arrived to say he had been wounded in the arm, and the following day a letter arrived from her son to say he was in the General Hospital, Alexandria, with a fractured left leg after he was hit by a piece of shell.

• Luton-born Regimental Quartermaster Sgt Bent, of the Beds Regiment, has recently been promoted to Lieutenant and posted to a labour battalion. He became a soldier over 20 years ago, serving in India, Gibraltar, Bermuda and South Africa at different times with various battalions of the county regiment. He left with a pension in 1913 but rejoined almost immediately war was declared.

• Sapper George Fredrick Warner, the son of Mr and Mrs Warner, of 80 Lea Road, Luton, has been wounded in France. His wife resides at 6 Bolton Road, and before enlisting in the Royal Engineers he was employed at Fricker's Metal Works, Park Street.

• Bombardier A. H. Goss, formerly a member of Luton Police Force and now of the Heavy Trench Mortars, is an inmate of Bath War Hospital, suffering from trench fever.

• Mrs Ellis, of 111 High Town Road, Luton, has received an official notification that her grandson whom she brought up, Pte W. Chester (London Regiment), was wounded in the right leg by gunshot on August 20th. From hospital at Rouen he has been transferred to Fulham Military Hospital.

• Pte P. Stanford (Beds Regiment), of 29 Langley Road, Luton, is now at the Duke of Bedford's Hospital at Ampthill after wounds to his leg re-opened while on home leave.

• After being called up at the age of 40 in April of this year, Gunner George William Austin (Royal Field Artillery), eldest son of Mrs G. Austin, of Garfield House, King Street, Luton, has been wounded by shrapnel in the side.. He has been admitted to hospital but is going on well. Before joining up he was employed by Brown & Sons, timber merchants, Dunstable Road, and was well known in Masonic circles.

• A well known footballer in the Melville team, Gunner F. Rosson (Royal Field Artillery), was wounded on August 19th in France, and now lies in Wharncliffe War Hospital, Sheffield, with a gunshot wound in the right hand. Official War Office notification has not yet been received, but her husband wrote to Mrs Rosson at 97 Highbury Road from hospital. His parents live in Frederic Street, and before joining up at Biscot in May 1916 he was employed by straw hat manufacturer Mr S. Thompson, 28 Reginald Street.

• Previously one of Luton's busy chimney sweeps, Gunner George Clifton (Royal Garrison Artillery), of 95 New Town Street, has been wounded in the arm and leg in France. The 38-year-old is now making good progress towards recovery in hospital.

• Cpl George Dimmock (Cambridge Regiment), son of Mr and Mrs Dimmock, of 33 Albert Road, Luton, has been transferred from hospital at Wimereux, France, to a general hospital at Lincoln, suffering from a shell wound in the right leg sustained on August 2nd.

• Pte H. Chalkley (East Kent Yeomanry), of 67 Buxton Road, Luton, was wounded in France on July 4th and now lies in the Wharncliffe War Hospital Sheffield. He is 31 and before the war was employed by hat manufacturers Messrs Vyse's, Bute Street.

• Second Lieut H. E. Marsh, son-in-law of Mr and Mrs W. J. Butcher, of Bendrose, Luton, attended an invetiture at Buckingham Palace on August 22nd to received the Military Cross from the King. The decoration was awarded for gallantry in the field under heavy fire near Ypres on June 3rd, 1917.

• Pte Harold Catlin (Royal Engineers), son of Mr J. Catlin, of 68 Malvern Road, Luton, has written home stating that he is the recipient of a Military Medal for conspicuous gallantry and bravery in the field. His specific duties are in connection with the Lines of Communication Cable Section.

• On Saturday afternoon an interesting event took place on the Luton F.C. ground when a military boxing tournament was organised by the No.6 Reserve Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, in aid of local charities. Although the sky was rather clouded, the weather throughout was excellent and resulted in a good attendance. The ring was arranged in the centre of the ground.

• The football season opens as early as is possible this year, for Saturday is "the first". Unfortunately, so far as first class football is concerned, Luton hold a 'Micawber' brief, for they are waiting for something to turn up. It may or may not, but some provision is being made and on Saturday the Town will visit the Crystal Palace to meet a strong team of the Royal Naval Air Service. The return game will be played on the Saturday following.