Stories from the Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph: August 28th, 1915.

"The toll of the brave: more local officers fall". Gallipoli was not unnaturally stealing the headlines after the 1/5th Bedfords had gone into action there just over two weeks previously.

At a meeting of the Emergency Sub-Committee of the South Beds Recruiting Committee, Secretary Mr Harry Inwards reported the already published death of Capt Brian Clarke Cumberland, son of prominent Lutonian Mr Hugh Cumberland and the wounding of Lieut Christopher James and Lieut Chaundler, of Biggleswade. But there had now been further casualties, as the Saturday Telegraph reported.

Late on Thursday night, Canon and Mrs Baker, of the Rectory, West Street, Dunstable, were informed by telegraph that their son, Capt Charles Tanqueray Baker, 1/5th Bedfordshires, had fallen in action on the Gallipoli Peninsular on August 15th. Aged 22, he was one of the youngest captains in the country. The flag at Dunstable Town Hall was flown at half mast.

Yesterday morning [August 27th, 1915] the death in action of Lieut Frank Steward Shoosmith, machine gun officer of the 1/5th Bedfordshire Regiment, was notified by the Territorial Record Office, Warley. Aged 21, he was the elder son of hat manufacturer Mr Francis E. Shoosmith, of 'St Kilda,' Hart Hill, Luton, whose business premises were at 18 Upper George Street. Mr Shoosmith and his family were away from Luton when the telegram arrived, and it was forwarded to them by neighbour Mr Hugh Cumberland, father of Capt Cumberland.

Also yesterday morning, the relatives of Lieut Cyril Richard Lydekker, of The Lodge, Harpenden, were informed by the War Office that he had been killed in the Dardanelles. Two days earlier the 25-year-old had been reported missing. He had been on active service since mobilisation.

On Wednesday morning, Mrs Brighten, wife of Lieut-Col Edgar Brighten, received a telephone message from London stating that Lieut Ralph Brighten, younger brother of the Commanding Officer, was reported missing. [The 22-year-old was later reported killed in action on August 15th].

Also on Wednesday, Mr and Mrs Yarde, of 7 Kimbolton Avenue, Bedford, were notified by the War Office that their son, Second-Lieut J. T. Yarde, was in the Anglo-American Hospital, Cairo, suffering from wounds sustained on August 15th. He was progressing favourably.

And Lieut J. W. Ballance, son of Mr H. G. Ballance, the assistant overseer for Dunstable, was also reported wounded. He had joined the 5th Bedfords during the early part of the recruiting campaign and had been promoted full lieutenant some time ago.

Pictured above are, left to right, Capt Baker, Capt Cumberland and Lieut Shoosmith.

• We learn from Bedford this morning that officers of the 2/5th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment will go out to Gallipoli to replace those who have fallen.

• Arrangements have been made for a memorial service to the late Capt Brian C. Cumberland, of the 1/5th Beds Regt, to be held at St Mary's Parish Church, Luton, on Tuesday nest at 12.30pm. The service will be conducted by the Vicar, the Rev A. E. Chapman.

• Among the first letters to arrive in Luton from the 1/5th Bedfords since their landing on the Gallipoli Peninsular were from Signaller Albert Mayes, son of Mr and Mrs Leonard E. Mayes, of 18 Mill Street.He said the boys only landed five days earlier and were up nearly as many miles as days. They were fighting what seemed like thousands of snipers. "They are all in green - painted legs and everything green."

• We are glad to be able to state that Sgt Arthur Woodcroft, of the East Anglian Casualty Clearing Section RAMC, whose home is at 73 Ivy Road, Luton, and who was on the Royal Edward, the ill-fated transport which was recently sunk in the Aegean Sea, had written to his mother to say that he is safe.

• We regret to hear that Mr and Mrs Clarke, of 7 Park Road West, Luton, have been informed by the War Office that their son, Ewart Clarke, who joined the Royal Army Medical Corps last April and was on the Royal Edward, has not been listed among the saved. Previously he was employed by the Luton Co-operative Society.

• Further letters have now been received from Pte Walter Cyril Allen, of 15 Rothesay Road, Luton, who sailed on the Royal Edward from England. It is now clear, however, that he was not on the vessel when she was sunk by the enemy submarine. He appears to have left the vessel at Alexandria.

• Lower billeting rates from September 1st are announced in an Army Order issued yesterday, the change mainly affecting the occupiers of private houses. Lodging and attendance will remain at 9d for one soldier, reduced to 6d for each additional soldier. The rate for breakfast will be 5d (previously 7½d), dinner 1s 1d (1s 7½d), supper 3d (4½d).

• Sordid tragedy marks the end of Henry Saunders, a Luton man who wast one time a dealer in a considerable way of business. Until about a fortnight ago he lived at 4 Hartley Road, but had differences with his wife, and the husband arranged to stay with a brother in Boyle Street. But he left that address on Monday morning, did not return again, and on Thursday afternoon his body was dragged from a pond in a brickyard at Stopsley. This afternoon a jury decided that he committed suicide by drowning himself while of unsound mind.

• Mrs Buckingham, of 82 Collingdon Street, Luton, writes asking us to warn people against allowing their children to paddle in the River Lea where it runs by the Moor, owing to the danger they run from broken glass in the river bed. "It is an awful gash in the foot and had to be sewn up with several stitches. The child is now confined to bed through the mishap", she wrote. The luton News commented: "While the River Lea is not the most attractive bit of water for a paddling ground, some children do delight to play about in it. It is a pity their pleasure should be spoiled and serious injury result from the thoughtless act of someone throwing broken glass into the water."

• Following Monday's annual meeting of Luton Town FC, the Saturday Telegraph said that in the absence of competitive matches in the coming season the football lovers of Luton are hoping that a serious effort will be made to arrange a respectable programme of friendly games. "There will probably be troops billeted in Luton during the winter, and from a brigade it is usually quite possible to select several good teams. Not only from troops in Luton, but also those at St Albans, it should be possible to arrange matches. Would it not also be possible to arrange games with the Sportsman's Battalion, or the Footballers' Battalion?"