Stories from The Luton News - Thursday, November 19th, 1914

For the benefit of our lady readers we give them the best recipe we know of for their Christmas pudding.

¾ lb of flour

2 heaped-up teaspoons of Borwick's Baking Powder

2 ounces of bread crumbs

1½ lb of suet

2 lb of raisins

1 lb of currants

10 oz of sugar

2 oz of almonds

1 lb of mixed candied peel

Salt and spice to taste

Mix the ingredients well together and add six eggs well beaten and three-quarters of a pint of milk. Divide in two and boil for eight hours.

"After the war every man who has served will command his country's gratitude. He will be looked up to and respected because he answered his country's call."

A Luton soldier revealed how he had been bandaged by a German while lying wounded for 19 hours in a field, and previously had been involved in the capture of German soldiers, some as young as 16.

The order was given to the North Midland Division late on Sunday night to move, and before most people were about on Monday morning the town had been practically emptied of its soldier visitors.

All through the early hours of the morning preparations for the move were being made with great rapidity, and the men started moving out at an early hour. To where they have moved no information can be given, as the publication of details in regard to the movement and destination of troops is strongly objected to by the military authorities.

Latest additions to the Luton News list of South Beds men serving King and country:

NAVY

W. FARR: A.B., 201221, HMS Miranda - 1 Stuart Place, Luton.

Horace S. SHARP: First-class stoker, HMS Swiftsure - 10 York Street, Luton.

Bert J. WALLER: A.B. Seaman, J 818, HMS Teviot - 105 Tennyson Road, Luton.

Arthur Rodney HORN: Boy artificer, HMS Fisgard - 69a Ashburnham Road, Luton.

ARMY

Pte W. ATTWOOD: Army Service Mechanical Transport, Expeditionary Force - 88 Dallow Road, Luton.

There were conflicting verdicts on the accuracy of German artillery from local soldiers at the front.

The health of hat factory workers and the high number of cases of consumption (tuberculosis) in Luton brought claims and counter-claims over working conditions at a meeting of the Beds National Health Insurance Committee. But the discussion was closed without any form of decision being arrived at.

I find that my last Parliamentary Letter is dated September 22nd. Since that time the House of Commons had had a holiday which may have been well earned but was certainly not enjoyed. There has been much work to do for all of us.

How to help our brave soldiers at the front - this has been the uppermost thought in the minds of the community. We can look for rest and relaxation when the Allies have crushed Prussian militarism, and when a treaty has been signed that will safeguard the peace of Europe for as long as human eyes can look into the future.

The latest list of Bedfordshire Regiment casualties as printed in The Luton News, November 19th, 1914.

KILLED

Major R. P. Stares

Major J. M. Traill

Lieut W. F. Graves

Lieut R. D. S. Harding

Lieut J. A. Paterson

Lieut E. E. Punchard

Pte H. V. Burge, 9472

Pte A. Hankin

Pte J. Weedon

Pte H. Fensome, 8140

Pte E. Lake, 7789

Pte T. Law, 7736

DIED OF WOUNDS

Lieut W. A. B. Walker

WOUNDED

Sapper A. W. Godfrey, who is with the Royal Engineers at the front, in writing to a friend at Caddington says: "One doesn't realise the situation unless he is here to take part in this great drama, which is no theatrical play but reality.

"I am sorry to say we had the misfortune to lose five of the boys at one place. It was on October 4th. I am not allowed to stated the name of the place, but you can see by the papers where the fighting is taking place. I can tell you it is fighting too!

Stories from The Luton News: November 12th, 1914

Members of the two Voluntary Aid Detachments continue to serve on a rota, and their presence and attention to the needs of the Territorial patients at Wardown are greatly appreciated.

With increasingly heavy losses at the front and fewer recruits enlisting, there was a growing campaign - especially among those who would not get called up - for conscription.

Mr Frank F. Croot [Corporal 18048], who until the outbreak of war was labour master at Luton Union Workhouse, and who is now serving with the Royal Army Medical Corps at the No 8 General Hospital, Rouen, has written an account of his experiences to Mr T. H. Taylor, assistant to the Clerk of the Board.

In his letter he writes: "I had a very rough time while with the Field Ambulance and that makes one appreciate a change such as this to a general hospital, as I can tell you it was far from a picnic up there. It was hot at Mons and a number of our men were missing."

Driver W. E. J. Cleaver, of the Divisional Ammunition Column attached to the 113th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, Expeditionary Force, and who was in the employ of motor car dealers Messrs Adams, Morris and Co., of New Bedford Road, Luton, has been having a lively time at the front.

Writing to a Luton friend, he says: "We are very near the firing line, so you can see we have to be ready at any moment. All the Tommies out here are as lively as crickets.