Digest of stories from the Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph: December 23rd, 1916.

Coroner Mr G. J. M. Whyley opened an inquest at the Court House at noon today into the circumstances surrounding the accident at Biscot Camp in which Gunner Jackson was fatally injured.

After hearing evidence of identification, the Coroner said it was impossible to conclude the inquiry that day as it would be necessary to communicate with the War Office and His Majesty's Inspector of Explosives, so as to give the latter an opportunity of being present or represented.

The deceased was a gunner in the R.F.A. and on the 22nd was engaged with two others in preparing a signal bomb which unexpectedly exploded and caused injuries to each of three men. It was most unusual that the explosion should have caused any injuries, as it was a signalling [smoke] bomb, and it was remarkable that this bomb should have burst into three pieces and that each piece should have struck one of the three men. The deceased was struck under the jaw and sustained very serious injuries, but the other two were not so severely hurt.

In the circumstances it was necessary to adjourn the inquiry, which would then be adjourned for a fortnight. Evidence of identification was given by the dead man's sister, Mrs W. Samuel Clarke, of Bishop's Stortford, who said her brother, aged 21, had enlisted on February 6th, 1915, and had been to the Front, where he was wounded. He resided at the time at 9 Cleveland Road, Ilford, Essex.

• In the midst of penetrating drizzling snowstorm today, a fairly constant crowd of Luton toilers tried to unravel the announcement on the big board outside the Town Hall which notified to voluntarily attested and unattested alike the fact that if they were semi-skilled or unskilled workmen they must surrender their war badges and certificated to their employers or, if unemployed, to the Minister of Munitions. The not altogether unexpected notice is signed by "Derby" and "Christopher Addison," the War and Munitions Ministers respectively.

• Mrs Burgess, of 23 Buxton Road, Luton, has received official information that her son, Pte Sidney Alfred Burgess, aged 22, Bedfordshire Regiment, has been killed in action. A comrade fighting close to him wrote that Pte Burgess suffered no pain, death being instantaneous. He died from a bullet about the heart.

• The men of the Great Northern Railway goods department at Luton have lost a valued colleague in Insp Clarke (pictured right0, who is taking up the position of traffic manager of a chemical manufacturing company at Manchester. Insp Clarke has been with the Great Northern Railway Co for 30 years, and he has put in 16½ years service in Luton. During that time he and Stationmaster Few have been the chief actors in some very extensive improvements and alterations. Mr Clarke was married 14 years ago at Luton Parish Church to Miss Lavinia Crawley, daughter of Mr Frederick Crawley, of Old Bedford Road.

• An ex-soldier late of the Bedfordshire Regiment named Bert Ashwell, of 45 Stuart Street, Luton, who is suffering from shell shock, fell in a fit in New Bedford Road on Thursday evening. Insp Janes and Pc Frost rendered first aid and, after he had somewhat recovered, he was accompanied home by the constable. He had had some narrow escaped as a transport driver, being blown up by a "Jack Johnson". Recently he actually got into the Navy but after a few days he was discharged.

• Yesterday afternoon a couple of lads were wheeling on of the large cardboard box barrows along George Street when the truck collided with Lady Wernher's car, which was standing outside Messrs Barclay's Bank. A plate-glass window of the car was smashed, but no-one was injured.

• A poor attendance on a cheerless December day saw Luton Town FC entertain Brentford this afternoon. The Bees took the lead in the first half, but goals from Brown and Butcher gave Luton a 2-1 advantage at the interval. Butcher added his second three minutes after the restart, but Brentford reduced their arrears before a Bees own goal restored the two-goal advantage, and four minutes from time Simms made the final score 5-2 in Luton's favour.