Stories from The Luton News: Thursday, September 7th, 1916.

The downing in flames of a German airship near Potters Bar, Herts, on Sunday [September 3rd, 1916] attracted souvenir hunters, despite a cordon of police and soldiers guarding the crash site.

With an eye to business, says a correspondent, several men had brought to the spot pieces of zinc and old iron which they were tendering at very fanciful prices and passing off as genuine parts of the airship.

After watching some considerable time, a gentleman allowed to inspect the debris was observed to pocket several parts. On leaving, a large number of people rushed to him, and astonishing prices were offered for the smallest particles.

By a tempting offer, Mr Aylott from Luton was fortunate enough to obtain several parts from this gentleman, and they were for a short period exhibited in the windows of Mr R. H. Marks, 77 George Street, Luton, on Monday. Many people were attracted to view the same.

However, in conformity with the request that all parts were to be forwarded to Headquarters in London, they were taken there later in the day, and for the present are detained by the authorities. It is to be hoped that Mr Aylott will be allowed to have them again and, if so, at a future period they will be again exhibited in Mr Marks' window.

• News came to Luton yesterday that Lieut Arthur Hugh Johns, of the Royal Sussex Regiment and formerly of the London Regiment, had been killed in France [September 1st, 1916]. He was 23 years of age and was the son of the Rev Roger Johns, formerly Pastor of Park Street Baptist Church, and now ministering near Horsham [Sussex]. Arthur Johns was employed by straw hat manufacturers Messrs J. C. Kershaw for about five years before joining up in August 1914, and was a well-known member of South Beds Golf Club. He gained his commission about 18 months before his death

• On Saturday evening a wounded soldier in hospital garb was seen to be slowly wending his way with a perceptible limp into Stopsley, and closer contact revealed that it was Pte Frank Whittamore, of the 2nd Canadian Expeditionary Force, who thus renewed acquaintances with his native village after an absence of 12 years. He sustained wounds to his leg and back in the battle of Loos last spring and had been granted 24 hours leave from the hospital camp at Epsom where he was being treated. He took advantage of the time to pay a flying visit to his sister (Mrs Toyer) and her family, look up old friends and attend the old church once more.

• L-Cpl A. Childs, Dorset Regiment and brother of Mr E. Childs, of 30 Milton Road, Luton, who, although wounded in the arm, captured single-handed five Germans in a German trench, is now better and en route for garrison duty in India.

• The newly appointed Wesleyan minister at Waller Street, the Rev A. Woolscroft, commenced his pastorate on Sunday. A Methodist preacher of long standing, he was a Yorkshireman who had spent about 25 years in the ministry, from Wiltshire in the south to Durham in the north.

• A few days ago it was reported that the Mayoress of Eastbourne, Miss O'Brien Harding, , while visiting with a friend, had pulled from the sea near Beachy Head the body of a woman. The friend who assisted Miss Harding was Miss Phyllis Inwards, daughter of Mr Harry Inwards, of 'Sunnyside,' Hart Hill, Luton. They tried artificial respiration, but a dostor declared that the woman was dead.

• A very serious and remarkable accident took place on Monday afternoon at Messrs Brown's timber yard, Dunstable Road. It appears that Fred Perry, a man living at 68 Hibbert Street, was turning a piece of wood on the lathe when the wood split and half of it flew up and caught him on the forehead with great force, fracturing his skull. He walked to the Bute Hospital, where his condition is very critical.

• Among the plans approved by Luton Town Council's General Purposes Committee were the following - S. Hubbard, additions to dyeworks, Regent Street; B. E. Barrett, motor garage, Union Street and Castle Street; T. Lye and Sons. open shed and additions to dyeworks, New Bedford Road; Thermo Corporation Ltd, factory, Taylor Street and York Street; S. H. Godfrey, additions to warehouse, Cheapside; Geo Kent Ltd, additions, Biscot Road.

• At Stopsley Parish Mission Hall, Round Green, on Tuesday was opened a new infant welfare centre under the supervision of the County Council. It has been commenced under the supervision of Mrs Shorting and Nurse Ebbetts, the County Health Visitor, and it is destined to be of great value to the mothers and babies of the parish, with the promise of the skilled help of Dr Ethel Vawdrey, of Luton, and Nurse Scroxton, the parish nurse. There was a good attendance of mothers and their babies at Round Green on Tuesday, when Mrs Clutterbuck, wife of the Squire of Putteridge Bury, performed the opening ceremony.

• Seven of the Luton conscientious objectors who were condemned to death and whose sentences were commuted to ten years' penal servitude and committal to civil prison followed, have been before the Central Tribunal under the Government's later scheme, and some have been released and placed on national work. Probably the best known of these, Harry Stanton, has been liberated from prison. He has been sent to Scotland, where he is now engaged in quarrying.

• More details were given of local men who had sacrificed their lives on the battlefield. Among those included in this edition were Pte Ralph Green (Somme, died of wounds August 30th), Cpl Alfred John Axtell (Somme, killed in action August 23rd), Driver Arthur Smith ( Suez, died of pneumonia August 28th) and Pte Charles Henry Grace (Somme, killed in action August 13th).