Digest of stories from The Luton News: Thursday, September 5th, 1918.

The effort of the captains of Luton's staple industry to provide for the discharged soldier and sailor has been cautiously inaugurated, but now, after some months' experience, it may be said to have achieved certain success. Mr P. W. Currant, the President of the Training Institution, was quite elated about the matter this week when we asked for information on the scheme.

He agreed that it was time the public should know a little of what is being done. There are 18 men in training and some of them are nearing the completion; indeed several are quite efficient and arrangements are being made through official channels to place them in suitable employment.

It is interesting to know that the tuition is most thorough, and embraces sewing, blocking and stiffening. The men were naturally somewhat dubious at the beginning of the training, but by diligence and perseverance they have pulled through, and now they have the satisfaction of knowing that the products of their labours find a ready sale.

That they have done really well may be gathered from the following letters. Mr John Hodge, the Minister of Pensions, was asked if he would like to see the practical results of the scheme – in short, if he would accept a hat made entirely by discharged men. His reply was to give the size of his head, and a hat was made for him.

He thus replied to the gift: “The straw hat duly to hand. I am quite delighted with the excellence of the workmanship, design and fit. It is a credit to the institution, and demonstrates the adaptability of our disabled heroes. I beg you to accept on behalf of the institution my thanks and heartfelt good wishes for the success and prosperity of all concerned. Sincerely yours, John Hodge.”

Mr G. Wills Taylor, Superintendent Inspector of these institutions, also sent a very gratifying letter in acknowledgement of a similar gift. He says: “I may at once say that the workmanship appears to me to be really excellent, and it is gratifying to learn that men disabled in this war are, by the means afforded by your institution, enabled to be trained for skilled employment, and are taught to turn out such a good example of their craftsmanship in so short a time.”

The committee are very anxious, now that the scheme is a proved success, that Luton man who have been returned from the Forces should take full advantage of the opportunity afforded them.

• Complaints about the bad bacon Luton is having to put up with very strong at a meeting of the Food Committee at the Town Hall on Monday, but they were not as 'strong' as the samples produced by Mr Inwood for the committee's inspection. He was sure it was not fit for human food or even fit for a dog, and not worth 4d per lb. A resolution of protest was passed.

• Sgt William Charles Norman [14848, 9th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment], eldest son of Great Northern Railway drayman William Norman, of 18 Windmill Street [later Welbeck Road], has been awarded the Military Medal for Gallantry. The young soldier (pictured right), who in is the bombing section of the Royal Sussex Regiment, enlisted in September 1914, being at that time in the employ of corn and seed merchants Messrs Oxborrow & Gascoigne, Victoria Street. In a letter to his father about his MM he wrote: “I volunteered for a raid into the German trenches and, whilst under a terrific barrage of shells and trench mortars, with an officer I managed to capture two prisoners, from whom we obtained some valuable information.”

• It was stated at Monday's meeting of Luton Board of Guardians that an Austrian internee who had met with an accident had been refused admittance to the Bute Hospital and had been brought into the [workhouse] infirmary. In answer to a question, the Chairman (Mr J. A. Burgess) said it was apparently done because the man was an alien. After Mrs Needham said she thought the action of the Bute Hospital needed explanation, Councillor Henry Impey said the Bute Hospital was a voluntary institution and he could quite understand the sentimental feeling of hospital official as to admitting such cases. Said the Chairman: “It won't matter so much is we receive full payment, and the Ministry of Munitions will repay in full. He will be able to see the sort of treatment we give to people here. Whether a man is an alien or not, if he is in need he should have the best medical aid.”

• Mr and Mrs George Squires, of The Briars, Lansdowne Road, Luton, have been notified that their son, Pte Cyril George Squires [36127, 12th Gloucestershire Regiment], was in hospital in Boulogne with a broken leg as the result of a gunshot wound received while in action on August 24th. A comrade wrote that he went over the top with their son and, although himself wounded three times, unsuccessfully tried to get Pte Squires in with a stretcher and the aid of four German prisoners. He saw Pte Squires in a shell hole and smoking until stretcher bearers went out for him. The 19-year-old was engaged in his father's hat manufacturing business in Waller Street when he joined up in May last year, and he went out to France with the Gloucesters in March.

• Pte Frederick Stokes (Middlesex Regiment), of I Princess Street, Luton, is the proud possessor of a parchment certificate awarded for gallant conduct and devotion to duty by the general commanding his division. He is commended for a deed officially described as follows: “He acted as battalion runner throughout the operation between March 25th and April 1st, 1918. On many occasions during the execution of his duties he was subject to very heavy rifle, machine gun and artillery fire. Nevertheless he delivered all his messages. Also as part of a rearguard he greatly assisted in holding up the enemy's scouts in Caix, thus enabling the battalion to withdraw successfully through the village.” The gallant private has been in the Army since April 12th, 1915, but was wounded in the thighs at the beginning of May. Brought to England for treatment, he is now convalescing at a V.A.D. Hospital at Histon, near Cambridge. In civil life he was employed at Mr Squires' bleaching and dyeing works, Midland Road.

• In an advanced area somewhere in France, a successful concert took place recently, a report of which, from the leader of the YMCA tent in which it was held, has reached us. The entertainment was organised by Sapper Syd Holt, of Luton, who was ably assisted by a namesake, QMS Holt, and other musical comrades.

• An interesting presentation was made on Sunday afternoon at Park Street Baptist Sunday School, when Mr Samuel Simpson was given the Sunday School Diploma of Honour in recognition of his continuous and valuable services for 50 years in the cause.

• A letter to Luton Town Council from the Tramways Manager announced an increase in fares. The Town Clerk said that in no instance was the revised fare more than 1d a mile, and the changes had been in operation since August 19th. Councillor Barford said he could not vouch for the truth of a report which had reached him, to the effect that the fare from Park Square to Westbourne Road was 1d, but from the Town Hall to Conway Road, a shorter distance, 2d. The residents in the vicinity of Conway Road were complaining bitterly, and wanted an explanation. Councillor Attwood thought the revision had been done in a hurry, or by someone who did not know Luton very well. He suggested the matter should go to committee for consideration with the idea of arranging proper fare stages.

• Luton barbers in solemn conclave met on Monday evening at Edwards' Rooms, Manchester Street, to consider by what amounts they should increase salon charges. After an hour and a half's deliberation, the following charged were decided upon: haircutting, 6d; shaving, 3d; shampooing, 6d; singeing, 6d; neck shaving, 1d; beard trimming, 3d; shave and brush, 4d; brush only, 2d; and razor setting, 8d. The minimum charge for any attendance is to be 2d. These alterations will come into effect on September 9th.

• There is still considerable profiteering in food, despite the restrictions of the law. Several Luton people the other day went to a village not a hundred miles from the town, and called for tea. They had a few pieces of bread and butter, a little jam and a pot of tea, and were charged at least three times the value of the meal served.

• The St Albans Diocesan Gazette says: “The congratulations of the whole deanery are offered to the Rev H. Coate, Vicar of St Matthew's, on his appointment as Honorary Canon of St Albans.” The honour came in the same week that he was informed of the death in action of his third son, Sec-Lieut Alfred Melbourne Coate (R.F.A.), aged 19.

• The museum, a rather flattering term at present, at the Public Library, has received an aeroplane propeller, the gift of Mr Edgar L. Barber, while an anonymous donor has given to the borough Churchill's Poetical Works, Calverley's Fly Leaves, and a replica of the German medal struck to commemorate the sinking of the Lusitania.