Diary: Jutland casualties and survivors

 

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Stories from The Luton News: Thursday, June 8th, 1916.

Luton casualties and survivors of the Battle of Jutland, the biggest wartime action on the high seas of World War One, and the tragedy presented by the drowning of Lord Kitchener while sailing on a diplomatic mission to Russia not unnaturally grabbed the headlines from the past week.

Two 16-year-old Signal Boys who perished at Jutland - Arthur Olney, whose mother lived in Hibbert Street, and Frederick George Darby, of Princess Street - were included in articles about the casualties, along with Seaman Edmund Charles Dexter, whose father lived in Warwick Road, Engineer-Lieutenant John McLennan Hine, who had lived for a time in Luton, and Sub-Lieut Frank A. Single, a nephew of Luton hat manufacturer Mr J. C. Kershaw.

A fateful accident may have saved the life of 21-year-old Seaman Victor Whittemore, from Luton. Due to a "temporary disablement" he had been transferred from HMS Queen Mary which was sunk in the Battle of Jutland on May 31st, 1916. He wrote to his mother Julia at 42 King's Road, Luton, on June 3rd, 1916, to say that he had come through the battle without a scratch. The unnamed ship to which he was transferred had suffered a few casualties and a few wounded. Friends in Luton had feared he was still serving with the Queen Mary when they heard it had been sunk.

Another survivor of the battle, 17-year-old First Class Boy Francis James Allen had also written to his parents in Warwick Road, Luton, to let them know he was safe.

Tuesday's Admiralty announcement that Secretary of State for War Lord Kitchener had been lost when the ship taking him to Russia - HMS Hampshire - had been sunk either by a mine or torpedo in heavy seas off the Orkney Islands at about 8 pm on Monday produced a rush to buy newspapers.

The ill news had reached Luton about 3.45 on Tuesday afternoon and when one news vendor reached George Street he was fairly mobbed. His supply of papers were positively snatched from him, so eager were the people to receive confirmation of the rumour that had reached them.

  • An open verdict of "found drowned" was returned by a jury at an inquest this morning on 16-year-old Ethel Watts, whose body was found in Wardown Park lake on Tuesday afternoon. It was decided that the Diamond Foundry employee, who lived in rooms at 38 Regent Street, Luton, threw herself into the water at a time when she was not responsible for her actions. No love affair was involved, it was stated.

  • The newly appointed committee created under the Naval and Army Pensions Act held its first meeting on Tuesday evening at the Town Hall. The Mayor (Alderman Staddon) was unanimously elected chairman and Councillor Primett was voted in as vice-chairman.

  • A record Hospital Saturday was the verdict at the close the annual effort for the Bute Hospital. The result of Saturday's collections will come out at about £220, as against £104 last year. Special efforts were made by employees at Messrs George Kent Ltd and Messrs Hayward Tyler.

  • At Park Street Baptist Church on Tuesday, the wedding took place of Pte W. J. Smith, Army Cyclist Corps, and Miss Beatrice Maud Peters, of 74 Old Bedford Road, Luton. The Rev Roberts Hern officiated.

  • The tablet to the memory of the late Capt Bryan C. Cumberland was inserted in the wall of the north aisle of the Parish Church on Monday. All who knew the gallant captain will, we are sure greatly admire this beautiful memorial.

  • An appeal is made for brass instrument players to fill up the ranks of the Luton Red Cross Band, from which all the young players have gone to the war. Since the war began they have lost 18 players, including conductor M r F. Mortimer, and the urgency to fill up the vacancies is most pressing.

  • An old offender with a long record at the Borough Court yesterday opted for seven days in jail rather than accept a fine of 10 shillings for being drunk and disorderly and using bad language. "I think I had better do the seven days, gentlemen. It will give me a chance for hay time," he said.

  • A Government decision that Whit Monday should not be observed as a bank holiday results in members of Luton Chamber of Trade as well as the Modern School deciding to remain open that day.

  • For quite a considerable time the formation of a Ladies Swimming Club for Luton has been on the table, and now, thanks to the zeal of a few members of the Luton Amateur Swimming Club, it is an accomplished fact, and the club has been started under very promising conditions. About 40 ladies attended a meeting at the Town Hall on Monday evening to ascertain support. The Waller Street Baths would be reserved for the ladies one evening a week. Between 50 and 60 ladies have already promised to join the new club. The hon sec is Miss A. Currant, 141 Tennyson Road.

  • At a private meeting of the Bute Hospital Committee held on Monday, the Mayor (Alderman J. H. Staddon) handed over the balance of the £750 which he had promised to raise the purchase of two houses in Grove Road for the further extension of the hospital. The sum was raised on St George's Day.