Biscot

Biscot Camp Pierrot Troupe

Meet the Biscot Camp Pierrot Troupe. They had become one of the most popular entertainment groups in Luton during 1916, appearing at halls around the town to raise money for comforts for their fighting comrades at the Front.

Luton photographer W. Harold Cox took the above picture, which was published in The Luton News on November 23rd ahead of the Troupe's biggest concert to date, at the Winter Assembly Hall, Waller Street, on the following Saturday, by permission of Col C. H. Alexander.

Sergeant Arthur Huckle

Submitted by Deejaya on

 

Sgt Arthur Huckle, 18233, 8th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on September 15th, 1916.

Born in Clophill in 1882, he married Ellen Richardson in 1901. At the time of the 1911 Census Arthur was a cowman on a farm at Haynes Church End, Beds, and the couple had four children - Emily, aged 8, George, 6, John, 4, and William, 1.

Biscot windmill

  • Photo: H. P. Wooding (1902).

 

Biscot windmill was a familiar backdrop to pictures taken at Biscot Camp during World War One. But the camp, laid out on roads intended to be used for housing, was a sign that an urban future was encroaching on the agricultural past. The following article was written by John Lea under the heading "Memories and records of Biscot Mill" and published in The Luton News on December 28th, 1956.

D Battery Biscot Camp Luton

The Royal Artillery is unique in the British Army because of the emphasis they have always placed on their sub-units: known as batteries. Batteries can deploy independently, move around between regiments and even perform different roles to one another within a single regiment.

Biscot Camp was organised into 4 Batteries and a headquarters (HQ) component.

A, B, C, and D...B was later merged into A,C and D Batteries.

Download the War Diaries for D battery below.

Brigadier General Charles Henry Alexander

Submitted by David on

Charles Henry Alexander, was an Officer in the Royal Artillery, and Commanding Officer of Number 6 Reserve Training Brigade (Royal Field Artillery), at Biscot Camp, Luton; between 1915 and 1917.

In 1917 he was posted to the be the CO of the Royal Field Artillery site at Abbey Wood.

He had a long and distinguished career starting with his joining the army on the 20th March 1874

Farewell to Colonel Alexander CO of No6 Reserve Brigade R.F.A. Biscot

Col. Alexander’s Farewell.

The Y.M C.A. hut at Biscot was crowded on Tuesday night, when a farewell concert was given to Col. C. H. and Mrs. Alexander. Col. Alexander has been appointed to a still more important command of the Royal Artillery.                  

There was a very large attendance of officers, and the visitors included many ladies. A delightful concert was provided by members of the Three Arts Club. London, the arrangements having been carried out by the Entertainments Committee.

Concert for Mrs F. Jackson

Today at the Y.M.C.A Hall, the Biscot boys gave another of their excellent concerts, this being for the benefit of Mrs. Jackson, mother of the late Gunner Jackson.

The Biscot boys provided much of their time to local charitable objects, and displayed considerable talent on all public appearances.

Performing were:

Gunner Ernest Victor Jackson

Submitted by David on

Gunner Jackson was the second son of Samuel Westlake Jackson and Florence Jackson of Romford. Gunner Jackson enlisted into the Royal Field Artillery in 1915, and served 12 months on the front before being wounded in action. He was sent back to the UK to recover, and was stationed at Biscot R.F.A camp. It was while serving here that he was killed in an unfortunate accident in December 1916.

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