Digest of stories from the Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph: February 24th, 1917.

Information has been received by Lady Wernher that a South Wales miner made a brave attempt to save the life of her youngest son, Lieut Alexander Pigott Wernher, of the Welsh Guards, on the battlefield.

Lieut Wernher (pictured) had been wounded in an attack at Delville Wood on the Somme. After the attack the miner, Lovell Everson, from Machen [near Caerphilly], saw Lieut Wernher lying in No-Man's-Land. He rushed out from his trench and took the young officer on his shoulder. As he was entering the British trench a sniper's bullet struck Lieut Wernher in the eye, killing him.

Lady Wernher has sent a beautifully framed photograph of her late son to Lovell Everson. In addition the widow of South African millionaire Sir Julius Wernher has invested £2 million in the War Loan in memory of her son.

• Cpl Taylor, of the 6th Reserve Brigade, R.F.A., who was billeted in Luton for some months, has now obtained a commission in the Royal Flying Corps. He was a popular N.C.O. and acted as cinema operator in the Biscot Recreation Room.

• Mrs Halfhead, of 20 Wood Street, Luton, has been officially notified by the War Office that her son, Pte Stanley George Halfhead, of the Bedfordshire Regiment, has been killed in action. He was only 21 years of age and single, and prior to his enlistment in February1915 wored at Messrs Haye's in George Street.

• A very interesting ceremony took place at the Ceylon Hall, Luton, on Wednesday evening, when the Wellington Street Baptist Church and congregation presented to their Pastor, the Rev C. Evelyn Charlesworth, on the occasion of his marriage to Miss Dora Smith, of Cheltenham, an illuminated address and a cheque for £36.

• The annual report of the Ambulance Committee of the Midland Railway contains the name of Mr Charles E. Knight, foreman porter at the Luton Station. Mr Knight, who is a silver medallist, had his illuminated certificate endorsed for rendering first aid in an accident at Luton in December 1915.

• Last evening, about 7.30, Mr C.Chalkley, baker of Dallow Road, was delivering bread in Naseby Road when the 'carriage' on the front of the van collapsed, falling on to the horse's legs and causing the animal to kick violently. A soldier and Police Sgt Matsell assisted in setting the animal at liberty, and only slight damage to the van resulted.

• On Wednesday evening some of the Biscot boys visited the Convalescent Camp atAmpthill and entertained about 1,000 wounded soldiers. They were accorded and enthusiastic reception in their concerted items.

• About 100 soldiers, wounded and sick, from Wardown V.A.D. Hospital and Wheathampstead Convalescent Hospital were entertained at Messrs George Kent's works in Biscot Road this afternoon. There were also 100 assistants, employees at Messrs Kent's, who waited on the soldiers, so that there was a "Jack for every Jill," as Mr C. W. Escott remarked to a Telegraph representative.

• Last night at 11 o'clock a lad named William Freak, residing at 43 Alma Street, discovered a fire in Lancret's Path, at the premises occupied by Mr Sinfield, of 51 Alma Street. The Fire Brigade were summoned, and on arrival found the upper floor well alight. The damage is estimated at between £250 and £300.

• At the close of the ordinary business of the War Pensions Committee last evening, Mr Mabley, one of the Labour representatives, raised the question of the payment of discharged soldiers on re-employment. He said he had information from a certain source that the Luton Gas Company had such a man in their employ and were not giving him a war bonus. He remarked that if a man was entitled to a pension after service for his country, he was also entitled to the same rate of pay as those with whom he worked. The pensioner in this case was said by his fellow workmen not to be being paid a bonus because of his pension. After Gas Works Manager Mr W. Phillips said Mr Mabley's charges were totally untrue, Mr Mabley apologised.

• An unusual sale was made this week. The little Baptist Chapel in Wenlock Street, Luton, has been sold "lock, stock and barrel" to St Matthew's Church, the centre of the Anglican faith in High Town. The purchase price is £1,000 and was arranged at a conference of the Rev H. Coate and the wardens of St Matthew's, and the Rev G. Roberts Hern, Pastor of Park Street Baptist Church, and the trustees of the Wenlock Street chapel. The little chapel, which was erected about five years ago on ground purchased 35 years ago, will meet a long-felt want of a parish room independent of the schools.

• In a tame and scrappy display of football in front of a small crowd this afternoon, Luton Town beat visitors Queen's Park Rangers 2-0 in their London Combination match. Simms and Leggatt scored the goals - one in each half - for a Luton team which had beaten Rangers twice previously in the current season. The failure of Bennett to turn up meant the Town called on the services of Dowling, a member of the Royal Engineers at Houghton Regis who had previously played Kent League football.