• Lady Wernher and the six decorated heroes.

[Beds & Herts Tuesday Telegraph: August 19th, 1919]

One very interesting part of the sport day programme was the presentation by Lady Wernher of a number of decorations to six of her guests. This took place after tea and prior to the prize distribution. Major Harold Wernher announced the acts for which the decorations were awarded, and Lady Wernher pinned on the decorations, afterwards being photographed with the six valiant men. The decorations were:

Sgt-Major J. Day, 1/5th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, of 6 Gaitskill Row, Luton: Distinguished Conduct Medal and Medal Militaire for conspicuous gallantry throughout the war.

Sgt J. Barford, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, of 50 Chobham Street: Distinguished Conduct Medal, awarded Sept 18th, 1918. Near Roussoy he captured single-handed one German officer and 47 other ranks, and a machine gun.

Sgt G. Matthews, R.A.M.C., of 10 Highbury Road: Distinguished Conduct Medal for distinguished conduct in the Field in France.

Cpl F. Gutteridge, 1st Battalion Hertfordshire Regiment, of 32 Harcourt Street: Military Medal for saving one R.A.M.C. Man who was shot in the throat, and for bringing his own company up through a gas cloud, in the face of great odds.

L-Cpl Grubb, 6th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, of 9 Windmill Street: Military Medal, awarded November 11th, 1917, at Ypres, for devotion to duty and bravery in the Field.

Pte H. S. Smith, 1/5th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, of 144 Park Street: Distinguished Conduct Medal and Croix de Guerre. The DCM was awarded March 25th, 1915, at Mount Kemmel for rescuing wounded man in the face of the enemy, and also for bringing in other wounded men from high ground after being himself severely wounded, his left shoulder being shot away. The Croix de Guerre was awarded on June 20th, 1918, for carrying important dispatches to battalion headquarters through a severe barrage.