Members of the Luton Town Council indulged on Tuesday evening [March 5th, 1918] in the excitement of a little bit of electioneering in connection with the appointment of three new members of the War Pensions Committee. Two of the new members had to be discharged men who have been disabled as the result of service with either the military or naval forces in the present war. Both local organisations of discharged men sent in two nominations.

The Luton branch of the Comrades of the Great War nominated Mr Alfred Game, of 13 Dane Road, a Mons man who served in the battles of the Marne and Aisne until he received gas poisoning and shell shock at Ypres in 1915, and Mr Harry Knott, of 5 Edward Street, who was badly wounded internally at Ypres, also in 1915.

The Luton and District Discharged Sailors' and Soldiers' Association originally nominated Mr Frank Rudd, of 153 Wellington Street, and Mr William Walker, of 40 Napier Road, but the nomination of Mr Walker was withdrawn "through circumstances over which we have no control," and in his place the executive put forward the name of Mr H. S. Smith, of 144 Park Street.

Mr Rudd joined the Volunteers in 1898, volunteered for active service during the South African war, served 1 year 114 days and was afterwards made a freeman of the borough and received a watch as the gift of his fellow townsmen. He re-enlisted voluntarily in the 2/5th Bedfords at the age of 42 in September 1914, and was discharged after serving 1 year 311 days as no longer physically fit for military service.

Mr Smith enlisted in November 1914, served 230 days in France, was wounded on three separate occasions, and won the Distinguished Conduct Medal and Belgian Croix de Guerre, and was discharged in January 1916 as permanently unfit for further war service, this discharge being subsequently confirmed by Col Henderson at Bedford.

A letter from the Secretary to the War Pensions Committee stated that at a meeting of that body it was resolved to recommend the appointment of the nominees of the Discharged Sailors' and Soldiers' Association, but Alderman J. H. Staddon remarked that, while this was resolved by those who voted, it was only fair to say that none of the members of the Corporation voted on the matter, and the ladies expressed very strong disapproval of the resolution, although they did not vote.

Alderman H. O. Williams suggested that as there were two separate organisations interested in looking after the welfare of discharged disabled soldiers, it should be very desirable to nominate one representative from each, so that they could look after the interests of their own connection. Messrs Smith and Game were his nominations, but Councillor Impey also nominated Messrs Rudd and Knott so that all should be before the Council, and on the proposition of Alderman Staddon it was agreed to ballot upon these.

The result of the voting was: Rudd 17, Smith 14, Game 10, Knott 5. Messrs Rudd and Smith, the two nominees of the Discharged Sailors' and Soldiers' Association, were therefore elected.

With respect to the remaining position, allotted to a woman who is in receipt of a pension as the widow or other dependant of a man who has lost his life as the result of service in the war, it was stated that no name had been definitely before the War Pensions Committee, but the Secretary was asked to go through the records and see if there was a suitable woman who would be willing to serve. He wrote to Mrs Clark, of 152 Leagrave Road, widow of Sapper Frank Clark (Royal Engineers) who died on January 30th, 1917, as the result of service in France, leaving three children now aged nine, seven and four years. She was agreeable to her name being put forward.

The Mayor also mentioned Mrs Brown, of 34 Park Street, who husband had been killed in France and who is to be presented with a military honour which her husband would have received if he had lived.

A ballot was taken on the two, with the result that Mrs Clark was elected by 15 voted to 8.

[The Luton Reporter: Tuesday, March 12th, 1918]