Drummer James William Hyde, 41709, 2nd Battalion Suffolk Regiment, was a patient in Ward 2 at Wardown V.A.D. Hospital in April 1918, with a graphic story to tell of escaping the hell of the battlefield at Wancourt and almost miraculously surviving to enjoy the heaven he found at Wardown a couple of weeks later.

A somewhat singular case came before Luton Borough Tribunal on Saturday evening [April 13th, 1918] concerning a Russian subject named Jacob Kararvanski, who was born in Germany and has spent two years in internment. A single man of 31, residing at Carlton Mansions, Maida Vale, and passed Grade 2, it was stated that his father was a Russian but he lived in Germany until he was 20, and then came to England.

Luton is promised a visit from His Highness the Duke of Connaught and Field-Marshal Viscount French, Commander in Chief of the Home Forces, for the opening of the new club of the local branch of the Comrades of the Great War, and we hear that Lady Wernher, who had been a generous contributor to the new institution, and the Mayor are expected to take part in the opening ceremony.

Digest of stories from the Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph: April 13th, 1918.

The demand of the Minister of National Service issued this week is bound to have a far-reaching effect on Luton's industries. However, a good deal of surprise, and probably more satisfaction, is caused by the omission of the straw hat trade from the Order.

• Some better behaved mules in Dunstable Road in 1915.

The Army mule's love of frolic at the expense of those in charge of him is proverbial, but this trait of the animal's character might have led to tragic results in an incident which occurred yesterday morning in Frederic Street Passage, Luton, which connects Old Bedford Road and Havelock Road, between Frederic Street and North Street.

The memorial tablet to 2nd Lieut Hubert Douglas Stratford erected at St Mary's Church, Luton, following his death in action 100 years ago - at Nieppe Forest on April 13th, 1918. (Photo courtesy of Peter Adams).

Digest of stories from The Luton News: Thursday, April 11th, 1918.

At the meeting of Luton Town Council on Tuesday, the Town Clerk (Mr William Smith) reported receipt of a letter from the Ministry of Pensions asking for the Council's observations on a letter the Government department had received from the Comrades of the Great War, and signed by Mr W. C. Pritchard, secretary of that organisation.

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

• By-election 1911 when Cecil Harmsworth became MP for South Beds in the last all-male vote.

In February 1918 the Royal Assent was given to an Act of Parliament extending voting rights to woman aged over 30, subject to minimum property qualifications. It meant that several million women in Britain would have a vote for the first time in any future General Election.

Ahead of the swift and deadly German spring offensive begun in March 1918, Luton's Prisoner of War Fund was providing parcels to 31 local PoWs. Within a short period of time that number would soar, and many of the men captured were featured in local newspapers in the ensuing weeks.

Digest of stories from The Luton News: Thursday, April 4th, 1918.

Mrs Edith Hobbs, of 13 Milton Road, Luton, received an interesting Easter letter from her husband, Cpl Arthur Hobbs in the Holy Land. Arthur (522385) had served with the East Anglian Royal Engineers in Egypt and Palestine since 1915. Extracts from his letter were published in The Luton News on April 4th, 1918. In it Arthur wrote:

"After carrying our kit seven miles up to our necks in mud, we arrived at Ramleh [now is Israel]. New morning we started our journey of 25 miles. I have never witnessed better scenery. It is 300 ft above sea level.