Stories from The Luton News: Thursday, July 27th, 1916.

The care of illegitimate children was the subject of a discussion at the meeting of the Luton Board of Guardians on Monday. While Mrs Haith contended that the circumstances of the child demanded that the Board adopted an illegitimate child, Mrs Attwood said she did not believe they should encourage the mothers in their conduct at the expense of the ratepayers.

Mrs Lewis said that while she had sympathy with what Mrs Attwood had said the illegitimate child was exactly the same as any other. It had a life to live and the Board should do exactly for it as it should for a child born in better circumstances.

Councillor Bone thought the Board should do what they could to put the children involved into the way of leading straight and honest lives, but not to treat them better than others as it was unfair to those who had to find the money.

A resolution was carried to adopt one of five children of a mother who had lived with the same man but not married him and he had since died. Councillor Escott had pointed out: "Although these children are illegitimate, it is not their fault, it is their misfortune. We ought to do the best we can for them."

• From Mr W. Guttridge came a startling suggestion that some day legislation should be introduced so that people regarded as incurable lunatics should be be put "mercifully to sleep". His comment came during Monday's Board of Guardian meeting after a report that the 164 patients (69 males and 95 females) from the Luton Union sent to the Three Counties Asylum [later Fairfield Hospital] at Arlesey were being well looked after. A County Council report showed that the weekly cost of maintenance for each one would be increased from 10s 6d to 11s 8d.

• More reports were carried on Lutonians killed on the battlefield. Specifically mentioned were Pte Frank Gates (Beds Regt), Cpl Frederick Smith (Royal Berkshire Regt), L-Cpl Charley George Cox (Beds Regt), Pte Arthur Edward Gadsby (Hampshire Regt), Sgt Ronald McCormick (Beds Regt), Pte Frank Herbert Lewin (Beds Regt), L-Cpl Stanley Dean Swift (Beds Regt) and Pte Charles Webb (Beds Regt).

• Former Luton News reporter Noel Robinson, serving with the Canadian Engineers, sent a letter expressing the appreciation of Colonial troops for the YMCA hut provided by Luton for their use at Folkestone. It must be one of the best soldiers' club of its kind in the country, said the man who had served just a few months on The Luton News before emigrating to Canada 14 or 15 years previously and had lived in British Columbia for nine years.

• Mr T. W. Bennett, of Hastings, has received a note from the Admiralty dated July 11th to inform him that the body of his son, Range-finding Operator Lester Stone Bennett, R.N.V.R., had been recovered following the sinking off the Orkneys of HMS Hampshire carrying Lord Kitchener. His son, who had worked in the commercial department of The Luton News, was buried in the Naval Cemetery on the Island of Hoy.

• One of the largest and most interesting athletic gatherings held in Luton in recent years took place on the fine Wardown Cricket Ground on Saturday (pictured above). It was the occasion of the regimental sports of the No 6 Artillery Training School at Biscot. The sports were in aid of the deserving Wardown and Bute hospitals, both of which have done great service to the Artillery School. It is stated that £130 is to be divided between the two hospitals.

• Sgt Hunt, who formerly worked at Messrs Hayward Tyler's, and Pte Dyer, of Marsh Road, Leagrave, are now in hospital at Liverpool. They were wounded in the great offensive and have already been visited in hospital by friends from Luton and elsewhere.

• With a view to increasing the strength of the Luton detachment of the Beds Volunteer Regiment sufficiently to form a South Beds Battalion, a strenuous recruiting campaign was held during the past week. On Sunday morning a fleet of some 40 motor-cars was mobilised to transport the men to Dunstable, but there was such a strong muster (298 men) that one company had to march as far as the Laundry in Dunstable Road to be picked up by returning cars. At Dunstable a circuitous march was made round the town, eventually reaching the Grammar School field.

• Leagrave was experiencing a new case of diphtheria every fortnight, the Parish Council was told on Friday. Chairman Mr J. G. Bradshaw said the only remedy was a sewage system, but that would be a wild move. In the meantime the District Council was to be recommended to buy a new pump to replace the existing useless one and wells were running over. There were also concerns about defective scavenging (rubbish collection).

• A new electricity sub-station was opened at Dunstable Road on Tuesday afternoon. Its function is to transform and convert the alternating current generated at high voltage at the principal generating station to a low voltage of distribution to consumers in the quickly growing neighbourhoods of Dunstable Road and Leagrave Road, and the extensive Dallow Road district.

• On Friday morning a cow being driven along Manchester Street suddenly turned into the boot shop of Messrs H. Lawson and Son, No 19. It walked through the first room, round a glass showcase and into the fitting room behind the shop. It was by no means obstreperous, and the manager, who was at the rear of the premises at the time, had no idea of the new customer until until attracted by the noise at the front. As he had nothing to fit the cloven hoof he firmly persuaded the "moo-er" to perform a volte face, and it left the shop in ladylike fashion, and failed to disturb any stock or fixtures.