Digest of stories from The Luton News: Thursday, November 7th, 1918.

• A copy of the DS&S Journal with the new club with its logo over the door on the cover.

The progress of the Luton branch of the National Federation of Discharged and Demobilised Soldiers and Sailors was reported on Saturday evening, when a meeting was held in the newly-acquired Ivy Leaf Club, Park Street. Mr F. Rudd presided.

Reporting on the new club, the Chairman said they had paid part of the cost of the billiard table. They had gone to an expense already of £150, and they needed a lot of money before they got the club as they would like it. But they would get the money.

There had been various difficulties in the way of a formal opening but it would take place shortly when the two best amateurs in Luton would give a display on the billiard table. There would also be a concert, and he appealed for better support than they had at the last church parade. If the men expected the committee to work, they must rally round them.

Mr Clay raised the question of providing a treat for the children of service men, discharged men and those who had made the great sacrifice. It was decided to organise a Christmas tree, concert and tea for these children, and to collect for the object.

• Of all the complainants who have been to the Luton Food Office this week, one third have been about the scarcity of milk, and another third to ask who there is no butter. And on Monday and Tuesday the Food Office was a Woe Bureau, for hundreds of people came in to complain that they had not received ration books. Now, however, things generally are improving.

• His many friends in Ampthill and Luton will be pleased to hear the Monsieur E. Borgers was one of the first to enter Ostend with the conquering troops. He, with his wife and children came from Ostend over three years ago as Belgian refugees and have been living in Ampthill since then. M. Borgers obtained employment at Luton until about five months ago, when he joined the Belgian Engineers. Naturally, as the first Ostend man to re-enter Ostend, he received a tremendous ovation. Mde Borgers and the children are going back to Ostend as soon as possible.

• Mrs G. Lane, of Chalton, has just received news that her youngest son, Pte F. J. Lane, was killed in action on October 17th, serving the short period of one month in France with the Northamptonshire Regiment (58282). He was only 19 years of age and was the youngest of four brothers who joined the Forces.

• Residents of Luton and Dunstable will be pleased to learn that Mrs Escott Young, daughter of solicitor Mr H. W. Lathom, arrived home on Friday after a journey from Malay lasting nearly a year. After the death of her husband, a rubber and cocoanut planter, Mrs Young decided to come home for good and left Malay on December 2nd, 1917. Her journey has been full of incident. She had to remain in South Africa for about six months, and was forced to leave her luggage at various places. She travelled on a frozen meat ship, and at Sierra Leone they were quarantined owing to influenza, having no fewer than 60 cases and several deaths on board. During the last eight days there was a submarine danger.

• On Monday night, while a youth named Reg Collier, of 71 Dane Road, was working at the Skefko Works, his left sleeve was caught in a turning machine. His arm was wrenched round and dislocated. He was taken to the Bute Hospital, where he is progressing satisfactorily.

• On Saturday at Christ Church, Luton, the wedding took place of Sapper T. Walker and Miss Evelyn Cheshire. The bridegroom was spending a period of his home leave from the Western Front after fully three years active service. His brother, Gunner S. F. Walker (R.G.A.) was best man, and both men return to France during the present week.

• Deaths from the influenza epidemic have increased very considerably. A week ago they numbered about 20, and yesterday the total had reached 50. These fatal results have occurred with people of all ages, but curiously enough the effects have not been so serious in the case of children. The schools were to have reopened on Monday, but, with the epidemic remaining so severe, it is probable that they will remain closed for a longer period. Although the death rate is high, it is insignificant compared with the terrible mortality at Leicester and some other big towns.