Digest of stories from The Luton News: Thursday, June 21st, 1917.

• George Street scene 1914

Yesterday a number of cases out of the ordinary were heard at the Luton Borough Court. They were prosecutions for exceeding the 10 mph limit in certain areas of Luton, and they marked a new departure in police procedure.

Town Clerk Mr William Smith, prosecuting, said that in 1910 the Local Government Board made an order restricting the speed of vehicles. The restricted streets were narrow and there was a considerable amount of traffic, and it was highly essential to protect the public.

So far there had not been many local prosecutions on the ground of the speed limit, but on the ground of reckless driving. Numerous complaints had been made, particularly during the past 12 months, about the exceedingly reckless and careless driving in the town, and it had grown to such an extent that the only way to cure it was by prosecuting. Civilians and soldiers alike must realise that the law had to be observed.

The Mayor (Alderman John Staddon), presiding, said it was evident that the Chief Constable intended to put in force this regulation, but rather than have licences endorsed that day the Bench desired that the public should have warning that it was the intention to prosecute in future. In the cases now before them the law would be met by the payment of costs.

Seven motorists and motorcyclists were before the court, three of them soldiers, for travelling at between 17 mph and over 36 mph in George Street, Manchester Street or Upper George Street. The turn of tramcar drivers who exceeded the speed limit would come, said the Town Clerk.

• We regret to learn that a severe accident in the air has befallen Second Lieut Andrew Carruthers, youngest son of Mrs Carruthers, of Peverill, Cardiff Road, Luton. She has received the following War Office telegram: "Second Lieut A. Carruthers, R.F.C., admitted to No 2 Red Cross Hospital, Rouen, with concussion and contusion of legs. Wounded severely. Further reports sent when received." It appears tat an accident happened while he was flying on June 12th. He was not engaged with the enemy at the time. The good news received is that he is expected to recover in a couple of months.

• The hairdressers of Luton will learn with much regret the news that Pte Walter George Smith, of the Leicester Regiment, has been killed in action. Before joining up Pte Smith was employed by Mr Burnet, of Castle Street. His mother lives at 49 Hampton Road, Luton.

• An inferno is the word with which Pte Bernard A. Bone (pictured right), of the Cheshire Regiment, described the recent battle for Messines Ridge. Lying on his stomach in No. 7 General Hospital, he wrote to his mother at 110 Maple Road, Luton, that the battle was a young inferno for those in it - "I don't think Dante's Inferno could beat it." Pte Bone had left his bench at George Kent's, Biscot Road, to join the E.A.R.E. on his 17th birthday. He was transferred into the Cheshire Regiment in November 1916.

• Another Lutonian is the Messines Ridge fighting was Pte Claude Ernest Pratt, of 21 Peach Street, Lutom, who died in hospital on June 9th from wounds. He enlisted at the outbreak of war in the Bedfordshire Regiment but was later transferred to the Royal Sussex Regiment.

• A brilliant military career ended when Sapper Reuben Edward Parris, R.E., was killed in action on June 6th in the victory gained by the Allies at Messinges Ridge. Last Saturday Mrs Parris, who resides at 81 Ash Road, Luton, received official notification of his death from the War Office. Sapper Parris had gained the D.C.M. during the Boer War.

• Mrs Smith, of 100 New Town Street, Luton, would be glad to received news of her eldest son, Pte Frederick Herbert Smith, who is reported missing since April 28th. He enlisted last January in the Cambridge Regiment, later being transferred to the Royal Engineers.

• Mrs Day, of 25 Brache Street, Luton, has been officially informed that her son, Pte Albert Jesse William Day, has been missing since April 23rd. He enlisted in the Bedfordshire Regiment at the outbreak of war and was one of the Yellow Devils at Gallipoli, where he was hit in the back of the head by a sniper's bullet which lodged about an eighth of an inch from his windpipe. After nine months of hospital and convalescent treatment he rejoined the Bedfords and was drafted out to France.

• Reproduced, right, is a public notice to attract women into aeroplane work at the Hewlett & Blondeau factory at Leagrave.

• Since the erection of the Princess Victoria YMCA hut at Biscot last year, it has been crowded with men writing letters, reading, having a sing-song at the piano, playing billiards or partaking of refreshments. The hut is a large one, but not too large, and it was thought that the Beech Hill YMCA hut, rather than stand idle, should be attached to the Biscot hut as a concert room. The Beech Hill hut has now been fixed at right angles to the main building, and runs parallel with the billiard room.

• The tone of the meeting of Luton tradesmen held in the Town Hall on Monday evening was excellent. There seemed to be an almost unanimous opinion for the closing of non-perishable goods stores for the whole of August week, and for closing until Friday morning by the grocers, butchers, bakers etc. The Mayor said it was essential some holidays should be provided this year and any man who did a day's work every day needed a holiday and a change.

• We understand that there has been a serious addition to the diphtheria cases notified in the Limbury district during the week, and half-a-dozen children attending Biscot Infant School have been certified as suffering from the disease. The infant school has been closed.

• Mr J. T. Needham, headmaster of Dunstable Road Schools, had a pleasant surprise a few days ago with two slips of paper and a letter from Frank Neville, formerly of Victoria Street and Tavistock Crescent, Luton, now engaged under the British Red Cross Society at No. 6, Strada Vasile Luper, Roumania. The slips were found in shirts found by Roumanians in the hospital where he was now working and with the message :"Kind wishes from Dunstable Road Schools, Luton, Beds." They were signed by Mabel Andrews and Hilda Short.

• At Cardigan Street Primitive Methodist Church on Thursday the marriage of Miss Florence Mabel Waller, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs Waller, of Westholme, Liverpool Road, and Seaman S. Brasier, youngest son of Mr and Mrs Brasier, of Barton, was solemnised. Mr Asher Hucklesby acted as best man.

• There were several new features in a local inspection of the Luton police force on Tuesday in the Luton Modern School ground. It was the first Government inspection of the special constabulary, and the first appearance at this function of Chief Constable Griffin.

• Luton experienced a very severe thunderstorm on Saturday evening. It had been oppressively hot all day, and about 8.30 the lowering clouds made it so dark that the shops had to be lighted up. Soon afterwards the storm broke with a deafening clap of thunder and a blinding flash of lightning over the centre of the town. The storm continued for over an hour, and at times the rain beat down in tropical fashion. Several buildings were struck by lightning.

• In a letter to his parents, Mr and Mrs Browning, 40 Kenilworth Road, Pioneer Cyril Browning, R.E., who is serving on the Western Front, encloses a programme of a charity football match between a team representing the R.A.M.C. and the Boulogne Base. Many famous players took part, including Harry Hampton (Aston Villa), Richardson (Sunderland) and Collins (Crystal Palace), and it is particularly interesting to note that Heath, the Luton Town full-back, played at left-half for the R.A.M.C. team, who won the cup and medals by 5-2.

• Pte Percy Edward Hurst, who was residing at 199 North Street, Luton before joining the Beds Regiment and afterwards being transferred to the Leicesters, is now in hospital at Stockport suffering from several shrapnel wounds and the hopefully only temporary loss of the use of one arm. He was the old captain of Ivydale Football Club.

• One of the first to respond to the call of King and country was Lieut Frank W. Meyer (pictured right), elder son of Mrs Meyer, of 36 Ashburnham Road, Luton. An employee of Messrs Durler and Sons, he enlisted in the Public Schools Battalion at the commencement of hostilities. Drafted out to France with the Bedfordshire Regiment last September, he was wounded in the right arm in March and unfortunately had practically lost the use of the arm. He has been in hospital in Manchester, the Duke of Westminster's Convalescent Hospital at Eaton Hall and a hospital at Cardiff. He came home on leave for a month and returned last weekend to a hospital at Liverpool.

• Gunner Sid Hoar, the Luton Town outside left, has crossed over to France with a draft of the Royal Field Artillery. Driver J. Leggatt, the half-back, is on draft, and Signaller Ernest Simms is now undergoing dental operations with a view to a subsequent crossing. Local football lovers will be interested to hear that Mrs Simms presented her husband with a daughter a few days ago, and the popular centre-forward was on leave in the town this week on a visit of inspection.