Stories from the Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph, December 19th, 1914.

His Majesty the King has approved of the grant of the Medal for Distinguished Conduct in the Field to 187 Officers, Non-commissioned Officers and Men for acts of gallantry and devotion to duty whilst serving with the Expeditionary force. Among the recipients are:

Pte A. E. Bentley (10234), 1st Battalion, Beds Regt, for gallantry under fire, and for remaining behind a hot fire on October 12th to help in dressing wounds of three men whom it was impossible to move.

Pte W. Falla (8095), 1st Battalion, Beds Regt, for conspicuous courage on November 7th when he led a charge on a trench occupied by 21 of the enemy. Reaching it first he blew it up with the result that all the enemy were killed or captured.

Pte B. Pigott (7538), 1st Battalion, Beds Regt, for gallantry under fire, and for remaining behind under a hot attack on October 12th to help in dressing wounds of three men whom it was impossible to move.

• Luton Town Football Club outside right Hugh Roberts gave a first-hand account of the night at Fulham Town Hall that he and outside left Frank Lindley joined the Footballers' Battalion and how six other Town players - full back John Dunn, centre half Robert Frith, half back T. T. Wilson, inside rights Arthur Wileman and Arthur Roe, and centre forward Ernest Simms - enlisted the following day.

• Messrs Dudley and Sons, of Manchester Street, Luton, are exhibiting in their window a piece of a shrapnel shell which was fired into Scarborough during the recent naval bombardment by German cruisers. While the fragment is only of moderate size, it weighs 14 oz and was supplied by a Scarborough wholesale firm with whom they do business.

• Today the small consignment of the gifts which have come over from the United States in the Christmas ship Jason reached the Mayor of Luton for local distribution. One box contained articles of clothing, toys etc for distribution among the children of Luton soldiers who are at the front, and the second contained presents for Belgian refugee children who are in the town.

• Capt E. T. Maier, of the 5th Battalion, Beds Regt, was married this morning at St Saviour's Church, Luton, to Miss Ella Young, of Luton. Capt Maier, who until recently was with the 5th (Reserve) Battalion at Luton, obtained a few days' special leave for the ceremony and will shortly return to Bury St Edmunds.

• This morning the 2nd Field Company East Anglian Royal Engineers (Reserve Unit), whose headquarters are at Napier Road, Luton, left for Peterborough. The party numbered about 200 and paraded at Napier Road at a quarter to ten and marched to the GNR station, headed by their drums and fifes.

• Billets have been taken for about 3,000 of the 4th and 5th Leicesters, who are expected to return today. It is understood, however, that the arrangement is of a temporary character and that their stay on this occasion may not extend to more than three or four days. A new division is expected to be quartered in the Luton district shortly, but it is not anticipated that it will move in until after Christmas.

• On Thursday afternoon there was a short circuit in one of the main feeder cables of the Luton Corporation electricity supply. This tripped the circuit breakers of all the machines at the generating station and blew several fuses in various parts of the town. Some districts were being supplied again in 20 minutes, and the main portion was put right an hour later. The trams were not affected because their power is supplied separately.

• But for the promptness of employees and the Fire Brigade, a fire at High Town Foundry this morning would have been disastrous. A big coating tank boiled over and caught fire and the smoke and flames were terrific. The tank and its contents were completely destroyed and surrounding walls badly damaged, but the fire was confined to one portion of the premises.

• A runaway horse caused an exciting scene in Luton on Thursday afternoon. A horse and cart owned by Mr Arthur Day, of the music warehouse, Chapel Street, were in Cheapside and the horse became so restive that it broke away from the cart, which was badly damaged. The horse dashed across George Street into Chapel Street and was caught only after it fell at Elizabeth Street. It had severely injured one of its legs.

• This afternoon's War Office official communique tells of the continued steady progress, while in part of the fighting line a kilometre has been gained during the last two days. The value of air reconnaissances has been proved by the confirmation of the destruction of some German batteries by artillery, who resolved their directions from air-scouts. In various places the Germans are making violent counter-attacks, only to be repulsed.

• Luton Town FC went into the English Cup proper with a 5-1 win at home to Bromley in the Qualifying Competition Final Round on a ground that was rather treacherous after recent heavy rains. Centre forward Simms, who later missed a penalty, and centre back Fred Hawkes gave Luton a 2-0 interval lead. Simms completed his hat-trick in the second half with Wileman the other scorer. Bromley's goal came in the last minute of full time.

• Luton Town's holiday fixtures are return Southern League fixtures against Northampton, at home on Christmas Day and away on Boxing Day. Luton Supporters' Club were advertising an excursion train for the Northampton match, leaving Luton (L&NW Railway) at 11.30 am. Fare 2s 6d.