More concerns were raised at the Luton Tribunal on July 24th, 1916, over the thoroughness of medical examinations by the military and of men who were unfit being called up. Instances cited included a man with five children who was himself "deaf as a beetle" and another man who had a wooden leg.

The disquiet arose following the case of an insurance agent paid salary and commission who claimed he was a one-man business and had been rejected under the group scheme for hammer toes which would prevent him marching. Military representative Mr Gardner denied a one-man business was involved and that men were required for garrison duty abroad.

The Mayor, Alderman J. H. Staddon who was chairing the Tribunal, said: "I hope we shall get some definition of that before we let our men go."

Mr Gardner replied that there were not sufficient men going up and, unless the Army got the reserves, the active service men could not go.

Mr Lathom, for the insurance agent, said he knew of many men from Luton who had been engaged for months in making gardens for the town they were in to look pretty. Me added that his own son had been in training for two years and had not been abroad yet, although he was a good shot and anxious to be transferred.

Another member of the Tribunal said he had a cousin who was "as deaf as a beetle" and had five children and he was in France.

Mr Lathom: "If we had a guarantee that the men were being made use of it would be a different thing."

After one member suggested that they adjourn the insurance agent's case for medical examination, the Mayor said: "I oppose that. I think the men at present are not getting the examination they ought to get."

Mr Gardner said he could put two cases before the Tribunal of men who were just rejected from Bedford after having been refused exemption at Luton.

The Mayor: "If this man is kept a week he has lost his business. After all, this is a Tribunal to protect the applicants if they have good grounds for protection."

After Mr Lathom said he has heard they had passed a man with a wooden leg, the case before the Tribunal was adjourned, and the Mayor observed that they would get a ruling on hammer toes.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Mayor again raised the question of examination of the medically unfit. He said a number of complaints had been made to him in regard to the manner in which the examinations were conducted. In view of the information which he had already obtained he found it necessary to raise some complaint at headquarters as to the action which was being adopted.

There seemed to be a determination on the part of somebody in authority to pass all men who were likely to be unfit for general service for garrison duty abroad. The Mayor said he was determined to fathom this particular definition in the interests not only of the applicant, but of the work generally connected with the Tribunal when decisions were given on these grounds.

The military representative suggested, and the members of the Tribunal agreed, that the Mayor should at once get into communication with the commanding officer of the district in reference to the matter.

[The Luton News: Thursday, July 27th, 1916]

Two weeks later The Luton News reported on a Luton Rural District Council meeting at which a man described as being nearly blind, suffering from epileptic fits and with practically no strength to speak of had been considered fit for military service.

The Council's Surveyor told the meeting he had engaged the man out of charity. He could do a certain amount of work, but he was so blind that a second man had to be sent after him to clear up. Twelve months previously he was seriously ill and had been given a medical certificate a short time before he was called up, but he went to Bedford and they kept him.

"The man had practically no strength to speak of, and could not see, yet they considered him fit for service," said the Surveyor.