500 more recruits needed by Volunteers

Digest of stories from the Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph: November 3rd, 1917.

Volunteers at Luton Hoo 1917

  • Volunteers on parade at Luton Hoo in 1917.

The need of a strong addition to the roll of the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Volunteer Regiment, was emphasised at the Town Hall, Luton, on Tuesday evening, when a smoking competition in connection with the Battalion was held. The object of the present campaign is to secure 500 recruits, in order that the unit may be brought up to full strength.

Major F. Stevens, the Chairman of the Beds Territorial Force Association, presided over a good muster of the Volunteers and their friends, and was supported by Major H. Cumberland Brown, the popular C.O. of the Battalion.

In the course of the proceedings, Major Stevens made an earnest appeal to the men of Luton to answer the call now being made for increased strength in the Country's Volunteer Force. The Luton Battalion, he pointed out, had never yet failed to accomplish anything to which they had set their hands, and and he hoped that reputation would be maintained. Five hundred men were required to bring the Battalion muster to its full complement, and he trusted they would soon be forthcoming.

Three classes of men were wanted - Section A, for those who were over military age but were capable of bearing arms in the time of need; Section B, for men who were of military age but who for various good reasons remained in civilian occupations; and Section C, for lads between 17 and 18 whose training was the greatest possible assistance when subsequently called up.

  • We understand that representations have been made to the Luton Food Committee concerning the increase in the price of milk, It will be recalled that there was an increase to 7d per quart at the beginning of last month, but following intervention by the Food Committee the price reverted to 6d per quart. It was then stated that there was a probability of an increase to 8d on the 1st of the present month. Representations have been made by members of the public, and the Food Committee have therefore requested the milk vendors to meet them on the matter on Monday evening to discuss the question, and the price will doubtless be fixed then.

  • The first case there has been in Luton of a householder being prosecuted for refusing to accept soldiers duly billeted under the provisions of the Army Act came before the Luton Borough Police Court this morning. Robert Perrins, 28, a munition worker, of 107 Maple Road, refused to take in two soldiers on October 25th because he worked nights and his wife and two children had to be left the house alone, as police had been told a month previously. The Chief Constable said the police had been humbugged time after time by people refusing and finding all sorts of excuses for not billeting. Dismissing the case on payment of 5s towards costs, the Chairman of the Bench said it had to be clearly understood that all householders were liable to take soldiers in billet when requested to do so, unless they had some special reason. He hope the public would not get the wrong impression that this was the highest penalty that the Bench were likely to inflict, because any future cases would be treated far more drastically. During the winter season soldiers must be found beds.

  • It will come as a shock to many to learn of the death of Pte William Lawson, of 25 Brunswick Street, Luton, after being severely wounded on the Western Front. Sincere sympathy will be extended to Luton Town FC trainer Billy Lawson, his wife and family in their great loss. Their son was in the R.A.M.C., and at the time of his death was serving as a stretcher bearer in a field ambulance corps.

  • The death occurred in France on October 20th of Pte Sidney George Dimmock, of the Royal Fusiliers, son of Mr and Mrs W. Dimmock, of 'Hiawatha,' Toddington Road, Leagrave. He was a member of a Lewis gun team.

  • Sincere sympathy will be extended to Mrs Webb, of 10 Westbourne Road, Luton, in the loss of her son, Pte Stuart John Webb (Manchester Regiment), after only seven months service in the Army. On October 8th he was wounded by gunshot in the ankle and leg and died in the 26th General Hospital, Etaples, France, on October 23rd. He was aged only 21.

  • It is doubtful that the Luton Town directors were really disappointed when the 134th Highlanders failed to put in an appearance for today's match. The travelling expenses must have amounted to a pretty penny if they had come, and as there was only a very small crowd it is doubtful if expenses would have been covered. The only reason assigned for non-appearance was the general understanding that leave had been stopped to certain units, and the Highlanders appeared to be one of them.