Remembrance service for Luton's fallen

Digest of stories from The Luton News:Thursday, November 8th, 1917.

St Mary's Parish Church, Luton c1914

Death is the magic wand which disperses our puny differences and unites in a bond of human sympathy and sorrow all the varying elements of the community. Thus it was that Lutonians of many religious denominations, following the civic leadership, gathered in the Parish Church on Sunday as a token of remembrance of those noble lads who have laid down their lives, and in intercession to the Almighty for those now fighting on land and sea.

It was a memorable service, and the whole town must feel that Alderman Staddon could not have had a more appropriate duty to perform ere his year of office closes than to participate as Mayor in the intercession of the town at this critical time.

The church was filled, and the service was of a congregational character. During the playing of the Last Post by the buglers, and of Chopin's Marche Funebre on the organ, many eyes were filled with tears at the memory of loved ones who had paid the great sacrifice. But apart from that solemn interlude the service was bright with the joyous triumph of the Hereafter.

The church bells were rung half-muffled as a token of respect to the fallen soldiers and sailors of the Great War. For morning service 462 changes of Grandsire Triples were rung, and during the afternoon a quarter peal consisting of 2,160 changes of Stedman Triples was rung in 50 minutes.

  • Large congregations attended the Biscot Parish Church on Sunday, when there were special services in memory of the soldiers and sailors from the parish who have fallen in the war. In the afternoon the Rt Rev Bishop E. N. Hodges, Archdeacon of Bedford, dedicated a lych gate which had been erected in memory of the fallen heroes. The gate is a fine piece of workmanship and has been erected by Messrs Harry Homs & Sons, of Exeter.

  • A strong outburst against the Mayor and Luton generally for ignoring the appeal on behalf of discharged men was the feature of a meeting of the Discharged Soldiers and Sailors Association on Tuesday night at the Franklin Restaurant, George Street. Mr H. W. Booth presided and also criticised the Comrades of the Great War movement before outlining the progress made by the DS&S branch since its inaugural meeting.

  • Tomorrow will be 'the Ninth' when the elections of the Mayors of cities and boroughs throughout the country take place. At the Town Hall Councillor Impey will propose and Councillor Escott will second the motion "That Charles Dillingham, Esquire, of New Bedford Road, Luton, a Councillor of this borough, be, and he is hereby elected Mayor of the Borough of Luton for the ensuing year". Alderman H. Arnold will then propose, and Councillor Hubbard second, that the hearty thanks of the Council be accorded to the ex-Mayor, Alderman John Henry Staddon.

  • Councillor Stewart Hubbard is now settled down at Hexton, and his former residence, The Chase at Stopsley, is occupied by Alderman Albert Wilkinson.

  • A special meeting of the Luton Food Committee was held at the Town Hall on Monday evening to consider the milk prices. As a result milk is to be 7d per quart from yesterday until November 30th. From December to March the price is to be 8d per quart for milk delivered and 7d for cash over the counter.

  • On Friday night a whist drive was held at Wardown V.A.D. Hospital, organised by Biscoteer Gunner A. E. White, who also acted as MC. Patients and nurses joined in, and a most enjoyable evening was spent. Gunner White gave one of the prizes - a handsome pipe in a case which he won at the Hastings Fishing Festival the previous week.

  • The Primitive Methodist Chapel, Leagrave, was recently renovated at considerable expense, a new floor and other work being necessary. The members and friends are facing the debt cheerfully and have arranged a series of concerts for the winter, a collection realising £2 at the first one on Monday night.

  • Few of Luton's sons fall without officers and men paying tribute to their heroism. Such is the case concerning Gunner Thomas Williamson (Royal Garrison Artillery), son of Mr and Mrs Williamson, of 9 Alfred Street, who was killed in action in September.

  • Although ample proofs of the death of Sgt Bert Mead MM DCM (Machine Gun Corps), son of Mr and Mrs Mead, of 33 Portland Road, Luton, have been received in the form of letters from chaplains, officers and comrades, it was only quite recently that the official confirmation came. The War Office previously stated he was wounded.

  • Official intimation has been received by Mrs White, of New Town Street, of the death of her husband, Pte Ernest White (South Staffordshire Regiment), who was killed in action on October 4th.

  • Readers will be glad to know that Sgt 'Punch' Lovell has arrived safely in America. In his capacity as machine gun instructor, he has journeyed over there to initiate America's sons into our modes of warfare.

  • Miss Grace Burgoyne, daughter of hat manufacturer Mr Hedley Burgoyne, of Brook Street, Luton, has been passed for foreign service in the W.A.A.C., and proceeded on Wednesday morning to Hastings for the preliminary training. Miss Burgoyne has been employed as a shorthand-typist at the Leagrave Works, and on Tuesday she was presented by the manager and the workers in the department with a fountain pen and a pocket wallet, gifts which it was hoped would be of use in her new sphere and remind her of the friend she had left behind.

  • The Red Cross Silver Prize Band was augmented on Sunday, when it gave an a programme of selections at Wardown. The former conductor Mr (now Corporal) F. Mortimer and several former band members at home on leave from France once again took up their positions on the bandstand. Five of the number are in the same band in France.