Diary: Comforts Fund for 5th Bedfords

 

Stories from the Bed & Herts Saturday Telegraph: October 2nd, 1915.

A movement is on foot to inaugurate an official fund for the purpose of forwarding comforts of all kinds as the men of the 5th Battalion Territorial Regiment may find themselves in need of during the campaign in Gallipoli.

The suggestion emanates from Colonel and Mrs Brighten, and it is to be taken up officially at the Headquarters of the Battalion, 46 Gwyn Street, Bedford. Already the Battalion has made for itself a glorious name, and it is the duty of those at home to do all in their power to brighten the lives of those bearing the burden and heat of the fighting in the desolate peninsular by gifts and comforts to the full extent to which they are necessary.

The establishment of an official fund, the organisers of which will be acquainted with all the details of the particular needs of the Battalion, and in constant touch with its commanding officer, is the only real and satisfactory way of dealing with the problem. A general fund of this kind will not interfere with the individual gifts of parents and friends at home who may be sending direct.

  • The big event of the day in Luton, a rally to encourage more recruits largely for the Bedfordshire Regiment received two columns of back page coverage of the day's happenings.

  • Mrs Lewin, of 54 Grange Road [now St Peter's Road], Luton, yesterday received official information of the death of her husband, Pte Ralph Stanley Lewin, 3875, 1/5th Beds Regt, who was killed in action while serving with the Machine Gun Section in Gallipoli on September 15th. He was in his 31st years and leaves a widow and one child and had been in the employment of the Corporation when war broke out.

  • Mrs Hillyard, 29 Liverpool Road, Luton, received official notification that her son, Pte Eric Hillyard, has been wounded in action with the 1/5th Bedfordshires, and was admitted to hospital at Alexandria on September 11th.

  • Mr and Mrs A. Cook, 65 Langley Street, Luton, yesterday received official notification that their son, Pte Herbert Cook, 4088, 1/5th Beds Regt, has been wounded in action on September 19th.

  • Suffering from no fewer than five wounds, Pte C. White, 4315, in in hospital at Liverpool. He is the son of Mr H. White, 56 Frederic Street.

  • Pte F. J. W. Lemmon, 5067, whose home is at 34 Spencer Road, Luton, and who was one of the first of the 1/5th wounded to arrive in England, is now reported to be out of danger and progressing favourably. He is at Taplow, Bucks.

Bill Lawson sons

  • Billy Lawson, the popular trainer of Luton Town FC is not lacking in patriotism, with three sons serving. Trooper C. Lawson is with the Beds Yeomanry in France, Bugler W. Lawson is with the 2/1st Eastern Mounted Brigade Field Ambulance R.A.M.C. in training at Epsom, while Walter was a corporal in the 3/5th Beds Regiment at Windsor, coming there from the 1/5th, when he was sent home to resume munition work.

  • A munition worker who died suddenly on her first shift at the Vauxhall works suffered from heart disease, an inquest jury heard yesterday. Widow Mary Ann Brewer, of 140 Wellington Street, identified the deceased as her daughter Lilla Rook, aged 40, of 5 Jubilee Street, Luton. A witness said Mrs Rook became unconscious soon after arriving at work on Tuesday evening. Dr Harmer said her heart was enlarged and very slightly fatty and the valves were diseased, which was the cause of death.

  • Chancellor of the Exchequer Mr Reginald McKenna abandoned a proposed budget tax on imported hats after the Customs and Excise authorities advised against it. Luton Mayor-elect Councillor John Staddon had been spokesman for a Luton Chamber of Commerce delegation that had pointed out the trouble they would have defining what forms headwear were actually hats.

  • The new incumbent of St Saviour's Church, Luton, was formally instituted Vicar on Thursday afternoon. The Rev B. H. Winterbotham succeeds the Rev J. C. Trevelyan after 23 years stay in Luton.

  • This morning a war wedding took place at Chapel Street Wesleyan Church. Miss Olive Bennett, only daughter of Mr Sidney Bennett, a well known local musician of Moss Bank, Farley Hill, was wedded to Pte Howard Hosegood Clarke, of the 2nd Battalion Honourable Artillery Company, now in training at Richmond Park camp. Pte Clarke is the son of a Wesleyan minister, the Rev G. C. Clarke, who is a native of Luton.

  • Wretched weather conditions resulted in fewer than 500 spectators at Luton Town's friendly match away to Northampton. Gate receipts were only £10, meaning Luton's share of £5 did not even cover travelling expenses. A scrappy game on a greasy pitch produced a 2-1 win for the Cobblers, Wileman scoring his first goal of the season for the Blues, as Luton were referred to in the report.