Stories from the Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph: August 5th, 1916.

The Mayor of Luton has asked everyone to make a special effort to render next Tuesday a memorable "Mother's Day". He has called upon all dutiful burgesses to indulge in an act of kindness by inviting mothers of lads at the Front to tea, by making them gifts and by some such thoughtfulness letting the devoted parents know that their patriotism is not altogether unrecognised.

Mr Charles Cotchin, hon secretary of the movement, was yesterday trying to arrange for motors to convey feted mothers to Luton Hoo after they had been entertained by kind-hearted citizens at home. He was also hopeful of getting the military authorities to help in the task.

Lady Wernher has expressed herself willing to entertain the 3,000 (and upwards) mothers of Luton with sons at war, but it had not been possible to accept her magnanimous offer as it would have rendered the "personal sacrifice" of individual townspeople unnecessary and nullified the spirit and intention of the undertaking.

The grounds of the Hoo would, however, be open for mothers to be conducted through the gardens and greenhouses. Park entrances at New Mill End and Lady Bute's Lodge would be open to those being driven there by car from the Town Hall, while a small gate would be open at the top of London Road for those travelling by tram to walk through the park.

• A second son of Mr and Mrs John Ford, of 48 Burr Street, Luton, paid the supreme sacrifice on the Somme battlefield on July 17th. Pte Albert Ford, aged 19, Bedfordshire Regiment, died as a result of wounds received in action and had been buried in a grave at Dive Copse Cemetery in France. The first son killed was Sgt Fred Ford (East), aged 29, 1st Bedfords, who was killed by a shell during the retreat from Mons in November 1914.

• The name of Pte Bert Marlow, 3845, 1st Herts Regiment, has to be added to those who have given their lives for their country. He was killed instantaneously by a shell which fell in the trench where he was stationed on June 17th. He was aged 25. Pte Marlow had lived in Offley.

• Gunner Stanley Arthur Groom, aged 21, who was a Luton postman is lying wounded in Lewisham Hospital. He enlisted in the R.F.A. eight months ago and went to France about four months ago. His father is in the National Reserve at Grantham, and his mother resides at 52 Lea Road, Luton. He is married and has one child.

• Dr Lane, the popular High Town practitioner in partnership with Dr Levinson and took his commission in the medical service 15 months ago, has just notified his wife of his arrival in France. He was attached to an infantry division during his training in Hampshire.

• Two sixteen-year-old boys who denied trespassing on the Great Northern Railway line at the Beech Hill to Oak Road siding and pulling the wire to make a signal go up and down were each fined 10 shillings at the Borough Court this morning. They were seen by a police constable and a watchman who had been called to deal with children on the line. Alderman Edwin Oakley, presiding, warned that any others caught trespassing would be dealt with more severely. Interference with the signals on a railway might involve the destruction of life as well as property.

• About 7.50 last night, as a Rudd's van was being driven along Upper George Street, the horse took fright and the aged driver was thrown from the seat in front of a tram car. He had injured his right knee and was severely shaken, but told a doctor he was all right and that he could walk home. One onlooker said the driver had had a very wonderful escape. A soldier named Hibbert pluckily brought the horse to a standstill in George Street.

• Following upon restorations which have been in progress at Luton's grand old parish church during the past score years, the latest is the transformation of the "parvise chamber" (or priests' room) into an up-to-date meeting place for 30 persons. A brass tablet states: "This room was restored in 1916, and used for the first time on July 28th for a meeting of the Church Council". New stone steps had been put in up to the room, which had been used as a lumber room.