Diary: Special constable numbers to be doubled

Digest of stories from the Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph: May 26th, 1917.

Luton special constables 1917

  • Chief Constable Charles Griffin and his enlarged special constabulary in 1917

We hear that the Chief Constable (Mr Charles Griffin) intends to practically double the number of the special constabulary in the borough with the view of still further increasing the efficiency of this useful force.

Those at present comprising the force have given whole-heartedly of their time. By increasing the number the new Chief's idea, we understand, is to lighten the duties and at the same time to ensure that the special always go out in pairs, being convinced this is pleasanter for the men and at the same time ensures the highest efficiency.

A number of applications have already been received by Supt Marks, and there is no doubt the vacancies will easily be filled voluntarily.

  • On Wednesday, Miss Olive Byfield and a friend (Miss Bartholomew) decided to take advantage of the beautiful evening and ride on the top of the tram to the Dunstable Road terminus. On the return Miss Bartholomew left her friend at the Town Hall, Miss Byfield continuing the rise in the direction of Park Square to be closer to her home in Langley Street. Instead of going up the Market Hill, however, the tram turned into Chapel Street. Miss Byfield rose from her seat to descend the steps and ask the conductor to pull up at Pikes Close. She had gone down a few steps when the car swung round the loop at the bottom of Stuart Street, and she fell headlong to the road. She was conveyed home semi-conscious with a broken collarbone among other painful injuries.

  • The 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Volunteer Regiment went into camp this afternoon at Luton Hoo for about four days. Application for the holding of the camp was put in immediately after Easter, but the War Office authority to hold it was only received at Luton on Friday afternoon last week. Consequently a tremendous amount of high speed organisation has had to be carried out. Most of the equipment was taken to the park yesterday by an advanced party. There are about 60 bell tents and 12 marquees, and there will be between 400 and 500 men in camp tonight, taking with them 400 rifles and four Hotchkiss machine guns.

  • Empire Day, a red-letter day for the children of Luton, was recognised in more or less elaborate fashion on Thursday. There were special lessons and special play, and many of the schools were thrown open to parents and friends, the privilege being appreciated to the full.

  • A letter was received by Luton Board of Guardians from the Local Government Board to say that Medical Officer Dr Robertson would not at present be called upon to undertake military service.

  • Walter Harris, of Wanstead Flats, proprietor of a fair which has been stationed at Round Green, was summoned at Luton this morning for a breach of the Lighting Order. Pc H. Parsons said he was on duty in Winch Street when he saw what appeared to be a fire towards Round Green. Going there he saw four men taking down steam roundabouts. Harris wrote that he was sorry, and was fined 40 shillings.

  • Among the latest names mentioned for distinguished service in the field in France is that of Major Sidney J. Green, son of Mr J. W. Green and Mrs Green, of The Larches, New Bedford Road, Luton. Major Green is one of three officers of the Beds Yeomanry thus honoured, the others being Lieut-Col S. Peel and Capt Gore.

  • A meeting of London and provincial Mayors was held at the Mansion House on Tuesday to express approval of the formation of the Local War Museums Association. This Association has been formed to assist the efforts already begun in some localities to collect records and relics of the war, and to make it general throughout the kingdom. Already a good beginning has been made with captured guns and trophies, and a large consignment is expected daily from the Vimy Ridge.

  • Mrs Newman, one of the mistresses at St Mary's Hall School has been notified that her husband, Gunner M. G. R. Newman was wounded by a sniper while laying a wire from the battery position to a front-line trench. He lay in a shell hole from four o'clock on the morning of May 12th until ten o'clock that evening before he was picked up. He is now at Napsbury Hospital, his right arm being badly wounded by a bullet that had gone right through the elbow.

  • Pioneer Cyril Browning, third son of Mr Edgar Browning, of 40 Kenilworth Road, Luton, is in hospital at Boulogne after being wounded in the face by shrapnel. The former captain of the Dunstable Road football team was previously employed by hat manufacturers J. W. Garrard and Co.

  • For some time Mr and Mrs H. White, of Alexandra Avenue, Luton, have not received any communication from their son at the Front, Pte Arthur George White. A letter has since arrived from her son's pal, stating the Pte White had been missing since May 3rd. No War Office communication has yet been received. Pte White, who is 22 years old, enlisted in the Oxford and BucksLight Infantry in May 1915.

  • Sgt W. A. Lane, son of Mr W. Lane, of 89 Guildford Street, Luton, and an old Clarence footballer now in training with the Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry in Yorkshire, wrote home after captaining a South Midland Brigade side against the Lowland Brigade in an England v Scotland football match. He wrote: "The field was densely packed, there being a crowd of 5,000. I led our men on to the tunes of the massed English bands playing, and then out came the Scots with all their internationals and with their massed bands playing. We played in England's costume - white - and the Scots in green. At half-time the Scots were leading 2-0. The second half was different, as we scored three goals in five minutes, and then they equalised. Then we had a penalty five minutes before time and I scored, and we won by five goals to four. The crowd went mad, and we had a great reception from everyone."