Digest of stories from The Luton News: Thursday, December 13th, 1917.

There are now prospects of a definite scheme being launched in Luton for the benefit of wounded soldiers. Taking the form of a straw trade school, under the aegis of the Chamber of Commerce, it promises well, as outlined by Mr P. Currant at the meeting of the Chamber at the Free Library on Friday night.

Presenting the report of the committee appointed to formulate the scheme, Mr Currant supported the suggestion of Mr W. J. Mair, of the Luton Trades and Labour Council, that there should be a technical school as a memorial to those who had died for their country.

A factory with four blocking machines and other equipment has been secured, and it is estimated the cost will work out at £600 per annum. The scheme allows for the training of 20 machinists and ten blockers and stiffeners, the former for six months and the latter for four months, thus training up to 70 men per annum.

No wages will be paid during training of seven hours a day from Monday to Friday inclusive. Men who have lost one or both legs may be trained as machinists, but blockers must have the use of both arms and legs, although they are not barred if they have an artificial leg.

When proficient it was estimated that the average weekly earnings of a machinist would be about £2, and a blocker about £2 10s. Men taking up training must live in the neighbourhood.

• Although the Luton hat trade is bound to be affected by the National Service proposals, in great measure a wave of relief should sweep over the town when we state that no violent action is to be taken, and that before any drastic measures are adopted the trade will be consulted by the National Service Ministry. This is the result of a conference in London on Tuesday at which a local deputation was present. Speeches made at last Friday evening's meeting of the Luton Chamber of Commerce had included the grave announcement that the hat trade was threatened with stoppage after Sir Auckland Geddes, Director of National Service, had recently stated that labour engaged in the manufacture of ladies' hats was really wasted labour.

• An inquest was held on Monday touching the death of a 14-year-old boy named Harry Thomas Seaman, of 63 Manor Road, Luton, who died in the Bute Hospital on Thursday from the effects of injuries sustained the previous day in an accident at the Vauxhall Works, where he had been employed as an apprentice for about six months. He had caught his right hand in an unguarded machine saw and had become violently sick when a pre-operation anaesthetic was administered at the hospital. A postponed two-hour operation revealed that a deep wound at the back of the right forearm, and most of the tendons, muscles, nerves and blood vessels were severed. The patient recovered in reasonable time, said Dr Ferrier who was called to the hospital, but there was considerable doubt over the cause of later death. Most probably it was due to a very virulent toxin which might have got into the wound. A verdict of accidental death in accordance with the medical evidence was returned by a jury.

• Question had been asked at the inquest about a lack of immediate medical attention from a doctor on the boy's arrival at hospital. As a result, a letter published in The Luton News advocated the appointment of a resident doctor at the Bute Hospital to handle emergencies. The letter pointed out that the hospital at Tunbridge Wells in Kent, a town with about half the population of Luton, had two house surgeons, while the Bute Hospital, "the only hospital in the district for at least nine miles, does not even boast one resident doctor". Little seemed to be being don in Luton to safeguard the lives of workers whose mental and physical efforts were being applied to the great war machine. "As a considerable amount of money is allotted each week from the wages of workers in Luton's largest workshops, and as the existence of this institution [Bute Hospital] depends upon the workers of this town, is it not due to them that when the ever-present dangers which beset the lives of everyone, especially the workshop worker, do manifest themselves, that they should have the confidence of the immediate surgical aid necessary for which they pay?"

• At the monthly meeting of Christ Church C.E.M.S. [Church of England Men's Society] the Secretary reported that six new war shrines had been erected at Lansdowne Road (for Studley, Lansdowne and Marlborough roads and Alexandra Avenue); at New Bedford Road (for Manchester Street, New Bedford Road and Cromwell Hill); at Old Bedford Road (for Old Bedford Road, Nursery Cottages and Bute Street); at Wellington Street (for Hastings Street, George Street West, King Street and Wellington Street); and at Victoria Street (for Castle Street, Victoria Street and Regent Street). The total number of shrines now in the parish (exclusive of All Saints) is 53. It was decided to have a shrine for Bury Park and Waldeck roads.

• Some alarm was occasioned in Park Street yesterday, when a horse and four-wheel van came dashing along. There was nobody in the van. Outside the Blacksmith's Arms the horse fell, and both shafts of the van were broken. It seemed that the horse had run from Harpenden, for the van bore the name of Marshall, of that district. The horse was taken to the Blacksmith's Arms, little the worse for its long gallop.

• Shortly before three o'clock yesterday afternoon a lad named George White, of Dunstable, employed by Mr Farr, Barton Hill Farm, was driving a horse and trap down Manchester Street, when he collided with a brick cart going in the opposite direction. Both shafts of the trap were broken, and the driver pulled the horse into a tram standard on the opposite side of the road. He was thrown out and received slight concussion and was taken to the Bute Hospital in a police ambulance.

• With deepest regret we announce the death of Mr Andrew Carruthers, of George Street West, which took place on Tuesday morning at Sidmouth. Mr Carruthers, who was 70 last May, was born in Scotland and came to Luton with his parents when he was 11 years old. In partnership with his late brother George he founded the bleaching and dyeing and hat manufacturing firms bearing their names. Andrew Carruthers rose from a private to Lieut-Colonel commanding the Volunteer force in Luton, became a JP on the town and county benches and was one of the founders of the South Beds Liberal Association and of Luton Liberal Club.

• We understand that the Luton Watch Committee, at their meeting on Monday evening, have recommended the Town Council to increase bonuses and allowances for members of the Borough Police Force.

• Two freehold dwelling houses known as Lea View in Marsh Road, Leagrave, were yesterday sold at auction by Messrs J. Cumberland & Sons under instructions from Mr Healey. The properties, including outbuildings and extensive gardens, were purchased by Mr R. G. H. Sale for £500.

• On Tuesday evening, shortly before 7 o'clock, a middle-aged man alighted from a tramcar at the Dunstable Road terminus, and in the darkness collided violently with the iron railings outside the laundry. He was much shaken and sustained a nasty gash across the nose.

• There was considerable enthusiasm at the Town all on Sunday, when a meeting was held to explain the objects of the new organisation for discharged soldiers and sailors known as the Comrades of the Great War. The Mayor (Councillor Charles Dillingham) presided over a fair audience consisting mostly of discharged men.

• The awarding of the Military Medal to Cpl H. Looker (Beds Yeomanry), youngest son of Mr W. Looker, of The Briars, Osborne Road, Luton, is the pleasing news just received from the Western Front. He has been engaged with his regiment in both cavalry and dismounted work, helping the infantry in the recent severe fighting in the region of Bourlon Wood.

• Cpl William Cain (pictured right) who, in the early stages of the war was awarded the Military Medal for for showing exceptional bravery in holding a trench, has been wounded for a second time (at Bourlen Wood) and is now in the No 2 Southern General Hospital, Portsmouth. His home address is 76 North Street, Luton, but he has been serving with the Lancers in a Cavalry Brigade for nine years. Before joining the Army he worked at the Diamond Foundry.

• Pte F. E. Brown has written to his wife at 10 Colin Road, Luton, to say that while fighting with the Essex Regiment in the Battle of Cambrai he was shot by a sniper through both thighs. He has been operated on at a hospital at Cardiff and, although his injuries are serious, it is hoped that the treatment he is receiving will prove successful.

• Pte Bert George Page (Essex Regiment), son of Mr and Mrs Page, of 35 Buxton Road, Luton, is recovering in the 14th Stationary Hospital, El Kantara, Egypt, from gunshot wounds in the left thigh sustained on November 19th. Aged 28, he joined the Bedfordshire Regiment, but at Halton was transferred to the Essex Regiment. Before joining the Army he worked for Mr J. Freeman, hat manufacturer, of John Street, Luton.

• The funeral took place at the General Cemetery on Friday, with military honours, of Pte Fred Garrett, aged 18, of the Sussex Yeomanry, and son of Pte F. Garrett and Mrs Garrett, of 84 Queen Street, Luton. He died on December 1st at an Ipswich military hospital. He formerly worked for Messrs George Kent Ltd.

• Since the outbreak of war, Pte Leslie Wooding (Bedfordshire Regiment), late of 42 Chapel Street, Luton, has had many adventures, including twice wounded, being operated upon and having shrapnel extracted from him, and having a wonderful escape in an air raid. But they are now concluded, for his last wound, which he received in France on November 20th, proved fatal.