Stories from The Luton News: Thursday, August 24th, 1916.

Some six weeks after the death in action on the Somme of son Pte Arthur Edward Gadsby, Hampshire Regiment, Mrs Isabella Gadsby, of 34 Stuart Street, Luton, learned that her eldest son, Petty Officer Stoker William Wallace Gadsby had been lost at sea serving on the submarine E4 on August 15th.

Although there was no detail at the time, it subsequently turned out that E4 was in collision with sister submarine E41 during exercises off Harwich. Both vessels sank, with the loss of all hands on E4.

William Gadsby, who was approaching his 36th birthday, had served 12 years in the Royal Navy from 1900. For two years he was employed at the works of B. Laporte in Park Street, Luton, before rejoining the Navy in his previous rank of petty officer stoker at the outbreak of war.

• Mrs Eales, of 24 Boyle Street, was notified on July 11th that her son Pte Edwin Benjamin Eales, of the Beds Regiment, was missing, and thus far no further news is to hand. Second-Lieut H. E. Oakley wrote on August 13th to the effect that he had made all possible enquiries but in vain. Pte Eales was last seen about 3.30 am on July 11th in the attack on Trones Wood.

• On Friday, Mrs Rolfe, of 33 Russell Rise, Luton, received official intimation that her husband, Pte Albert Rolfe, of the 1st Bedfords, had died of wounds sustained in Action on the Somme on August 1st. Before joining the Army, he was employed on the Luton Hoo Estate.

• L-Cpl John Prime, younger son of Mr and Mrs Prime, of Front Street, Slip End, was killed in action by a shell on July 31st. Prior to joining the Bedfords in September 1914 he was employed by Messrs Neville builders.

• The many friends of Cpl Syd Eads will be sorry to hear that he is a prisoner of war in Germany. It is now about eight years since he left Hayward Tyler's Foundry in Luton and emigrated to Australia. He reached France some weeks ago with the Australians, after acclimatising in Egypt.

• Pte Bert Silsby (pictured), who was wounded serving with the Bedfords in the 'big push' on the Somme on July 1st, has returned to light duties at Bedford after treatment at a Birmingham Hospital for wounds to the shoulder, side and hand. His home address is 104 Ashburnham Road, Luton. He is 23 years of age and unmarried.

• Luton lad Sapper G. Murphy, of the 1st Field Coy, E.A.R.E., is going on well in the Princess Christian Military Hospital, Surrey, after suffering a bullet wound in the left foot while serving on the Somme. Official notification reached his parents at 136 Dallow Road a few days ago. He is aged 28 and was formerly employed at the Diamond Foundry.

• It was the fate of Petty Officer Frederick William Howlett, who was a signaller on H.M. torpedo-boat destroyer Nestor, which was sunk in the Battle of Jutland, to be carried off to Germany. He is now in Barrack 10, Camp 10 of the Prisoners of War Camps at Brandenburg, the small Prussian province from which the Kaiser's house comes, in which are situate Berlin and Potsdam. Now in his 30th year, he has been in the Navy since he left school and regards the sea as his home. But when ashore, with his family widely scattered, he lives with his uncle and aunt, Mr and Mrs J. Bromfield, of 1 Salisbury Road, Luton.

• On Sunday at Caddington Parish Church, in the presence of a crowded congregation, a tablet erected to the memory of Pte Horace Mardle - the first in the village to give his life for the country - was unveiled and dedicated. Pte Mardle had been wounded at Gallipoli on August 15th, 1915, and died on a hospital ship taking him to Malta.

• The Trades and Labour Council met at the Labour Club under the presidency of Mr W. J. Mair, A resolution carried, moved by Mr Murray Janes, to the effect that Labour members on Tribunals should do their best to see that conscientious objectors got the protection afforded to them in the Acts.

• An innovation which will be welcome in Luton is the opening of an office in connection with the Manor of Luton. A suite of rooms on the ground floor of No. 4 Chapel Street is now in the occupation of Mr James Baker, the Steward of the Manor, which will doubtlessly be mutually convenient both for the steward and those having business with him.

• The artillerymen at Biscot have arranged a little marathon race on Tuesday evening. A start is to be made from Harpenden Common at 6.30 and the competitors will run through Kinsbourne Green and Luton back to the huts at Biscot.

• Orders for possession in 21 days were made at the Borough Sessions yesterday against the tenants 65, 63 and 61 Hitchin Road, properties belonging to the Thermo Electric Ore Reduction Corporation Ltd. Arthur Moss at 61 had agreed to take a house that had been found for him, but Mrs Cook (65) and Mrs Hurst (63), who said she had lived in the same house nearly all her life, said they had been unable to get an alternative house. The properties were needed for an extension to the Thermo works for Government work.

• On Wednesday afternoon a Commer Car lorry left by its driver for a minute or so outside Messrs Blundell's establishment on the Market Hill suddenly moved on, gaining speed and went erratically across the road, demolishing Mr Gore's fruit stall. The renowned "pepper box" had a narrow escape from possible demolition when the driver resumed control.

• The Rev Archdeacon J. E. Woodall, for some years curate at St Matthew's Church, Luton, and now a missionary in northern Ontario, lost his family home in a fire in Canada that ravaged 400 square miles of forest. At the time the fire broke out he had been sent by the Bishop on an extensive tour of churches under his charge. While in Luton the Rev Woodall had married Miss Cain.