Training scheme for disabled soldiers

Digest of stories from the Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph: April 6th, 1918.

Training of disabled soldiers 1918

  • The hat trade training scheme for disabled soldiers in operation later in 1918.

Last night an excellent report of the progress made with the scheme for training discharged disabled men in the straw trade was given by Alderman H. O. Williams at a meeting of the Luton War Pensions Committee at the Public Library.

Alderman Williams said that on Wednesday evening the Management Committee fixed up with an instructor (a discharged soldier) who, with his wife, will undertake the whole of the work. The lady would take charge of the machining, and the instructor of the blocking and stiffening department, and would start next Monday. It was proposed to take pupils from April 15th, taking on ten a fortnight.

Councillor Barford said that information was being given to the Ministry of Pensions that the scheme was open, and the committee had been asked to get out a synopsis of the work to be sent all over the country.

Councillor Primett moved a vote of thanks to those of the Chamber of Commerce who had assisted so splendidly. Mr Mair seconded and expressed his great gratification at such warm and practical support.

  • A letter from the Butchers' Section of the Tradesmen's Association asked the Luton Borough Food Committee on Wednesday night for permission to sell offal without a coupon, pointing out that customers would prefer the better meat, and in summer the offal quickly became unfit for human consumption. The Town Clerk said the Committee had no power to authorise the sale of offal without a coupon, but they might make representations to the Food Ministry. On the question of whether faggots might be treated as offal, the Town Clerk pointed out that these came within the category of cooked meats.

  • The Town Clerk gave a report to the Food Committee of two complaints that had been made by milk retailers that supplies of milk would be withdrawn. He had written to two farmers, one in Harpenden and one in Toddington, calling attention to the Milk Requisition Order which empowered the committee to require the delivery of the milk, if the Food Controller approved. The farmers were reminded that they could face a £100 fine or six months' imprisonment if supplies were not restored. Half an hour later a telephone message was received from the Co-operative Society to say it had been agreed to restore their milk supplies.

  • A special meeting of the Boot Trade Section of the Luton Tradesmen's Association held on Thursday were informed of the proposed scheme of rationing of grindery by the Government. There were no more brass rivets to be had, and the malleable studs and similar articles would soon be unprocurable.

  • The Easter Vestry meeting of St Mary's Parish Church, help on Thursday evening, heard that war shrines had been placed in practically every street in the parish by member of the Church of England Men's Society. Something like 2,000 names of men who had answered the call of King and country were included on them.

  • Deep regret is caused in Luton by the news of the death of Lieut Ernest Caird, aged 20, younger son of the Rev David Caird, a former Pastor of King Street Congregational Church, who left the town nearly ten years ago on becoming secretary of the Liberation Society, and who last Sunday once again too the services at King Street. On Tuesday her learned that his son was killed on March 24th while in charge of a Lewis gun section.

  • Lutonians will deeply regret to learn that Mr and Mrs F. W. Beck, who resided in the town for so long, have lost their eldest son, Major W. Crabbe Beck, and that their second son is severely wounded. Major Beck (Royal Field Artillery) was killed in action in Palestine on March 28th. News of his death arrived on the day that Mr and Mrs Beck learned that their son Capt and Adj R. A. Beck (R.H.A.) was severely wounded and in hospital at Rouen.

  • News has arrived in Luton that Sec Lieut Stewart A. Parrott (Machine Gun Corps) has been severely wounded and, after being admitted to Kimereux Hospital, France, had since arrived at the Kitchener Hospital, Brighton, for an operation for the extraction of a bullet. He is the son of hat manufacturer Mr T. Parrott, of Stuart Street, and son-in-law of Mr and Mrs W. Baxter, of Crawley Road.

  • Pte Horace S. Hodge (Middlesex Regiment) has been wounded in the right elbow and forearm in the big German offensive. He joined up on March 31st last year, and was in France in the June following. Later he was transferred to Italy and thence returned to France. He is now in a military hospital at Frodsham, Cheshire, where he is progressing satisfactorily. He learned his trade as a printer at the Luton News Print Works, but when he was called to the Colours was employed by the Town and County Press.

  • Luton Town this afternoon had the satisfaction of avenging the only defeat they have sustained on the Town ground this season by vanquishing the Hitchin R.E. Signals Depot team 4-2. The Blues went ahead after ten minutes through Kent and regained the lead through R. Jones after the visitors had equalised. Bullet Jones made the score 3-1 soon after the resumption, but a disputed goal for off side made the score 3-2. Bailey made the result sure with a goal for Luton within five minutes from time.