Digest of stories from the Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph: April 14th, 1917.

Luton Town centre forward Ernie Simms (pictured) gave London Combination visitors Tottenham Hotspur a caning by scoring all five goals in the home side's 5-4 win that was only the second defeat in four months for the Londoners.

Four goals in the first half and one in the second took the Simms tally of goals for the season to date to 36 - one behind Millwall centre forward Davis. Ernie completed the season as league top scorer with 40 goals from 29 matches, the same number as Davis, but as one of the Millwall forward's goals was scored in an abandoned match his tally was recorded as 39.

Simms had enlisted in the Army in December 1914 and was serving in the Royal Field Artillery, described by his commanding officer as the best soldier in his company. He had, however, been arrested as a military absentee after scoring two goals against Watford on Easter Monday 1916. When remanded for a military escort at a court appearance the following day, Simms admitted he had been an absentee from the R.F.A. at Newcastle since November 6th, 1915.

• At a meeting of the Luton Tribunal on Wednesday evening, Lieut Gardner stated that a number of men to whom exemption had been granted on condition that they joined the Volunteer Training Corps had joined the corps but had failed to make the requisite number of attendances and were evidently under the impression that the mere act of joining was a compliance with the condition. The Town Clerk stated that the sole act of joining the Corps was not a compliance with the condition, and any case in which it was reported that the man was neglecting to make the requisite attendance was liable to have his exemption reviewed by the Tribunal because he was failing to obey the condition of the exemption.

• Gunner Litchfield, of Luton, who was employed by hat manufacturer J. C. Kershaw until joining the R.F.A. 12 months ago, wrote to his former employer to say he was in the Victoria Hospital, Bombay, having been wounded on January 18th in action on the right bank of the Tigris, west of Kut. The Turks had found his position and "a 'pip squeak' burst right in our gun pit, wounding three of us. I had a truly marvellous escape, as I was not hit by the bullets or shell case but was peppered all over the face and arms with powder, sand, etc. My arms and face were badly scorched and blistered by the explosion, and I was in a good deal of pain for several days. I had several particles removed from my left eye and I am now going on fine, although my eyes are still giving me trouble. The doctors tell me they will soon be all right again."

• Official notification has been received that Sapper Ernest Robinson, of the East Anglian Royal Engineers, adopted son of Mr and Mrs Bent, of 54 Boyle Street, Luton, has been killed in action in Egypt, the date being March 27th. Before the war Sapper Robinson worked at the Diamond Foundry and he had been on active service for two years.

• Luton War Savings Committee have been requested to conduct a food economy campaign to encourage thrift in the use of food and to show practical ways of achieving it. Meanwhile, the Public Meals Order comes into force tomorrow, requiring the proprietors of hotels, boarding houses,clubs, restaurants and other places involving catering to keep a record of all meals served, ensuring that no more than specified amounts of food are used.

• Further steps to increase the amount of human food has led to instructions to farmers and stock-keepers to use a more economical system of animal feed. Only about one-sixth of the amount of feedstuffs will be available compared to that before the war. There is also to be a greater slaughter of livestock.

• A communication to Luton Chamber of Commerce from the Midland Railway revealed a serious problem in the delivery of returned empty hat boxes. It was stated that there were some 70 or 80 truck loads of empty boxes on the company's sidings waiting to be unloaded, and it was an absolute impossibility for the company to detail the men to unload them, owing to labour shortage. It was suggested that manufacturers should organise a scheme by which six or eight men should go to the station daily from 7.30 until 11 am and help to unload. The matter was to be considered by the Straw Trade Section.

• The County Appeal Tribunal held an all-day sitting at Luton Town Hall on Thursday. There were 34 cases on the list, 31 being appeals by the Military Representative against the decisions of Local Tribunals, and three applications by men or their employers, all of whom were held to serve. Of the 23 cases either not withdrawn or adjourned, the Military Representatives appeals were allowed in 13 cases and disallowed in ten. Three appeals against nine Luton Tribunal decisions were allowed and six disallowed.