Stories from The Luton News: October 8th, 1914

An order has been received from the War Office for 1,000 mattresses to be made in Luton within the next 14 days. The mattresses will be made by women and girls who were previously employed in the trade but who, owing to the war, have been unable to follow their work at their respective places.

If it is found impossible to find enough mattress makers who have been thrown out of employment to carry out the work, a number of those formerly in the straw trade - but now out of work - will be initiated into the art of mattress making.

The workers are at present established in Messrs Haye's warehouses, which has been kindly lent for the occasion. There is every possibility of the order being completed in the fortnight.

• It is reported that last night about 10 o'clock an airship was seen flying over Luton. The report came from more than one quarter, and it is stated that the night was too dark for any identification to be possible.

• Second-Lieut J. Lauder, son of the Scottish comedian [Harry Lauder], has joined his regiment in Bedford. He has volunteered for foreign service, and was visiting his father in Australia when the war broke out.

• W. Richardson, an employee of Currant and Creak (hat manufacturers, Bute Street), has enlisted at Bedford in the 5th Beds.

• Mr Cyril A. N. Boston, of 89 Leagrave Road, Luton, has joined the Hertfordshire Yeomanry. He is the son of Mr Boston, a well-known member of the staff of Messrs W. T. Lye and Son, whose other son joined the Royal Flying Corps at the outbreak of war.

• Mr H. Houghton, of 84 Inkerman Street, Luton, verger of Christ Church, who was one of the Naval Reservists called up at the outbreak of war, writes home to say he is "quite well and has nothing to complain of, excepting the 'dough boys' (suet dumplings) which the caterer of my mess served up on several occasions - these I fear more than the Germans."

• One of the military horses attached to a transport waggon had to be killed on Monday as the result of a nasty accident in Hitchin Road. A motor came by and the horse became greatly frightened and crashed into another horse and cart. It was so badly injured that it had to be slaughtered.

• The Luton branch of the Prince of Wales' National Relief Fund announced that a grand military review of the troops under the command of Major General the Hon E.J. Montagu-Stuart-Wortley will be held at Luton Hoo Park (by kind permission of Lady Wernher) on Wednesday, 14th October, 1914, at 2.30pm. Adult tickets 3d if purchased before the day; 6d if purchased on the day.

• The charges to be made for the use of the Waller Street Plait Hall and part of the Town Hall by the North Midland Division of the Territorial Forces are: For the Plait Hall (including lighting) 30 shillings per day to 30th September and 35 shillings per day to 30th April, and £20 per week for the Town Hall. Charges for the use of other Corporation premises - the Public Library, the Recreation Grounds and Wardown House - had, as a matter of urgency, been dealt with by a small sub-committee.

• In response to an outbreak of the disease in Luton, the Town Council agreed that free diphtheria anti-toxin was to be given to sufferers, at the discretion of their medical practitioner, but not to "contacts". Swabs would however be taken from the throats of all suspicious cases. And schools were to be disinfected every Saturday.

• Eleven cases of infectious diseases were reported to Luton Rural District Council in the past four weeks. At Upper Sundon there was a case of typhoid but it was difficult to trace how it had occurred. It was not an instance of overcrowding and the family were most clean in their habits.

• Officers of A Squadron of the Northamptonshire Yeomanry, who have had their mess at Mr E.G. Blow's farm at Houghton Regis, presented Mr and Mrs Blow with a handsome silver bowl before the regiment left on Saturday. All except 100 of the Yeomanry volunteered for foreign service, and on Saturday morning they entrained at Leagrave station for Winchester, near where they are to remain a while before being sent to France. However, Houghton is not to be long without military, for 700 Engineers are to come this week from Barnet.

• The large lecture hall and the smoke-room of the Luton Liberal Club are now being used for the accommodation of officers.

• The class for physical exercises and drill, arranged for the benefit of recruits of the 5th Beds who were rejected on account of chest management, is now being held nightly from 6.30 to 7.30 at the old skating rink building in Park Street.

• Mr Cecil Harmsworth MP has given £400, the cost of a motor ambulance for use at the front. Nearly 50 of these motor ambulance, which are being given to the British Red Cross Society and the St John Ambulance Brigade, have already been subscribed for.

• Obtaining three days special leave from Woodbridge, Suffolk, where the Eastern Mounted Brigade Field Ambulance is at present stationed, Corporal Carl Charlton, of Maple Road, Luton, was married yesterday afternoon at Christ Church to Miss Lilian Gregory, of 124 Bury Park Road, Luton.

• Through the death of Mr Francis Crawley, of Stockwood Park, the live and dead farming stock on the Farley Farm, Luton, was sold by auction by Messrs Cumberland and Sons on Friday. There were many expressions of regret that the Crawley family should be giving up this home farm, which they have farmed for many years. The sale was the largest that has taken place in the neighbourhood for a considerable time, and the prices were exceptionally good.

• A stack of oats in Eaton Green Road, the property of Mr Powdrill, was extensively damaged by fire on Thursday. Two Territorials saw a man running away across the field but appear to have made no effort to catch him.

• Chief Constable Teale has 400 pairs of boots on order for distribution to needy children in connection with the Police Boot Fund during the winter, and contributions to the fund will be very welcome.

• The conductor and committee of the Luton Choral Society have decided that, owing to the war, the work of the Society shall be temporarily suspended.

• The local correspondent of the Hatter's Gazette says: "It was a somewhat significant thing the during the Allies' retreat on Paris our industry was absolutely at a standstill. No overseas buyer had any heart or thought for placing orders, and certainly the anxiety natural to home purchasers prevented them from thinking about such a thing. But immediately the tide was turned, according to Lord Kitchener, some activity in business was apparent, and now, during the German retreat, fresh life seems to have sprung up in the district."