Stories from The Luton News: Thursday, August 3rd, 1916.

The grand finale of the recruiting week in connection with the Luton Volunteer Corps took place on Sunday. In the morning there was a parade in Wardown Park, followed by a service conducted by the Rev C. Evelyn Charlesworth, and then by the swearing in of the new recruits by the Mayor.

The Corps met as usual at the headquarters, and the parade was an extremely large one, there being close on 400 present, including a few from Dunstable. The recruits, who wore the armlet with the letters "G.R.," were a straw-hatted brigade, but they all appeared very smart and marched with a good swing.

The bugle band, it was noted, carried the new drums which had been presented to the Corps. The Wesleyan Central Mission Band, too, was present and took their turn in providing the music.They also led the singing of the hymns at the service.

On arrival at the park they were drawn up in a square formed round a clump of trees, which afforded a welcome shade to the minister and the Mayor who had come by motor-car, and who conducted the service from the eminence provided by the floor of the car.

At the conclusion of the service, and after the singing of the National Anthem, the Mayor proceeded with the solemn ceremony of swearing in 138 recruits, each of that number individually answering to his name and vowing "to faithfully serve His Majesty in Great Britain against all his enemies and oppressors whatever and according to the conditions of such service."

• Gunner James Aylott (pictured right), wounded in the 'Great Push,' undoubtedly had a miraculous escape. The reservist working for Messrs J. W. Green Ltd before he rejoined his unit on August 23rd, 1914, was in a dug-out in which a shell burst, destroying a quantity of ammunition on July 23rd. He is now in the London Hospital suffering from numerous shrapnel wounds, five in the left leg, two in the right arm, one in the right ankle, three in the neck, with many scars and the loss of the right eye.

• With the increasing intensity of the struggle on the Continent the honours won by the lads of Bedfordshire are increasing. Among the latest notifications is Sgt Albert Wingrave, 108636, No 3 Signals Section, Canadian Engineers, who has been awarded the Military Medal for bravery under fire on the Ypres Salient. Sgt Wingrave, with four others from his company, clung to their position and maintained military telephone communications for 48 hours without food or rest, despite being cut off. The son of Mr S. Wingrave, the well-known hat manufacturer, of Inkerman Street, he went to Canada several years ago and joined the North West Mounted Police. At the outbreak of war he was engaged in telephone work at Edmonton, Alberta.

• Also awarded the Military Medal was Pte Ralph Garfield Flemons, 6th Brigade, Canadian Expeditionary Force. The former employee at The Luton News who left for Canada was the son of Mr and Mrs Flemons, of Dunstable.

• On Tuesday afternoon a remarkable accident happened in Wardown Park, reflecting great credit on a soldier who has been in the hospital there. It appears that a small boy got into the water and was in imminent danger of being drowned. Although there were plenty of people in boats and walking about, it was left to L-Cpl H. E. Cappell, of the 62nd Provisional Battalion and was wearing a splint, to dash into the water and bring the boy to safety.

• Second-Lieut Arthur Haworth, of the King's Liverpool Regiment, whose name appears in the casualty lists of July 29th as having been killed in action, was the second son of Mrs Haworth, until recently of 39 Brook Street, Luton. The former Luton Modern School pupil was just 20 at the time of his death.

• Sad news has been received in Luton of the death of one of the town's most popular amateur actors in the person of Sgt William Phypers, of Cambridge. He was with the Royal Sussex Regiment and passed away at a casualty clearing station in France on July 17th. The former clerk at the London County and Westminster Bank, Luton, had been severely wound on June 29th.

• One of the many men who have completed their connection with the theatre of war is Sgt William Henry Pocock (pictured right), of 30 Milton Road, Luton, who was in the Somerset Light Infantry when war broke out and was immediately drafted to France. He was wounded in the arm and leg in December 1914 and his nerves were affected, He was in hospital for 12 months, and was discharged temporarily some months ago. He has, therefore, an indefinite period of rest, and is now employed at Messrs George Kent's Ltd. [William Pocock died in Luton in 1955, aged 61].

• Cpl O. E. Newbury, a Lutonian serving with the Military Mounted Police in Salonica, described the broiling-hot sun all day, a scarcity of water and many different medical complaints the doctors there had to contend with. "In all my travels I haven't found a place yet that will beat dear old England for health, home and beauty," he wrote.

• Yesterday, a very interesting sports day was held at Round Green by the men of the Welsh Divisional Veterinary Hospital stationed in the district. There was a good attendance, and the fine programme of events was a preliminary to a coming sports competition between this unit and the North Midland Veterinary Hospital in London Road.

• On Tuesday afternoon, Hettie Beard, of 65 Edward Street, Dunstable, was at work at Messrs Kent's Chaul End works when she was badly cut and burnt about the hands and face. First aid was administered at the works and the girl is now going on well at the Bute Hospital.

• General regret will be felt at the news of the death of Pte Ernest George Foord, 27058, 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, attached to the 10th Worcesters. Aged 30, he had been booking clerk at the Luton Great Northern Railway Station, Bute Street, for ten years. He was killed in action by a shell.

One of the early adverts appearing in the local Press for information on men who had not reported for military service

• The staff at Wardown Hospital is kept very busy nowadays by the continued arrivals of wounded soldiers. Yesterday, 13 more brave lads arrived by train from Cambridge Hospital. They were met at the station by friends with their motor-cars.

• Great interest has centred this week in the sight of Luton postwomen (pictured below) wearing their new uniforms. They look very smart and businesslike. In the new uniform the skirt is short and bound at the edges by a leather-like material for hard wear. The coat or tunic is rather like a sports jacket with a band and brass button at the back, and side pockets. The cloth is navy blue, with red facings, and the brass letters "GPO" are affixed to the collar. The hats will be of straw of the sailor kind, with a navy blue band.

Photo: Luton Scene Again - Ken Cooper