Digest of stories from the Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph: November 18th, 1916.

Last evening a lengthy discussion took place at a meeting of the Leagrave Parish Council on the proposed erection of a parish memorial to men who have fallen in the war.

The Vicar of Biscot, the Rev S. H. Collins, inaugurated the scheme, which was discussed at a meeting of representatives from the parishes of Leagrave, Biscot and Limbury.

As a new lych gate was needed for Biscot Parish Church, it was suggested that the memorial should be combined with it, including a memorial in the form of a tablet bearing the names of the heroes from the three villages.

But Mr Andrews, another representative, maintained this was no time for expenditure on such an object and that the winning of the war was the first necessity. Then, as about 60 had gone from Leagrave, he strongly supported a memorial for Leagrave alone.

The Council decided to support the proposed memorial at Biscot Church, provided the majority of Leagrave ratepayers agreed.

• Mr Alfred Bowles, of 41 Grove Road, Luton, a V.A.D. man who was associated with the Wrest Park Hospital from December 1914 until October's disastrous fire put an end to the mansion being used further for that purpose, has just received a splendid little presentation in appreciation of his services from the Hon Nan Herbert (sister of Lord Lucas), who was in charge of the hospital. The present took the form of an illuminated wristlet watch, and was accompanied by an appreciative letter from the lady, who referred to his excellent work as operating theatre attendant at the hospital.

• A sale such as is not a common occurrence in Luton took place yesterday at the Corn Exchange, when the whole of the stock and effects of a grocer and provision dealer came under the hammer. A keen interest was taken and there was a very large attendance of the general public, evidently quite willing to speculate is bargains were going and also of tradesmen. The interest was undoubtedly enhanced by the doubt which exists in the public mind in regard to the proposed control of food supplies. The goods offered for sale were in large quantities and comprised provisions and goods of many varieties, from baking powder to tinned goods and preserves.

• Lieut William Edward McNamara, attached R. E. Signal Service and a native of Luton and son of a former resident, has been awarded the Military Cross for laying and repairing cables under very heavy fire,"displaying great courage and initiative throughout". He is now in Brighton Military Hospital after his horse was struck by a fragment of a bursting shell, breaking and badly crushing Lieut McNamara's right leg as the animal fell sideways.

• Yesterday, at a meeting of the Prisoners of War Committee, a letter was received from Miss Pryce stating that Lady Wernher was not at all well and had been ordered by her doctor to take a few weeks' complete rest.

• The sound of the bugle is once more heard in the early morning air - and in the night watches also - in the south-western extremity of the borough The 7th Training Division, comprising in its ranks the men of the Border Regiment, the Loyal Lancs and the King's Royal Rifles, appears to consist of a well-conducted set of men who go about their duties in workmanlike fashion. Unlike their predecessors, the Welsh Fusiliers, they do not sing - at least collectively.

• A striking wind-up to the proceedings ensued at Wednesday evening's sitting of the Luton Borough Tribunal, when Mr H. Gardner (the Military Representative) scathingly dealt with an anonymous letter he has received in reference to the alleged conduct of his son, who it was imputed was taking advantage of the protection of work on munitions to absolve him from the task of joining up. Mr Gardner indignantly denounced this scandalous allegation, and informed the Tribunal that he also had a son in the trenches.

• This afternoon an impressive military funeral took place at the Church Cemetery, when the body of Sgt Jim Dickman, of the Bedfords, was laid to rest with full military honours. He was with a detachment of the Bedfords at Catterick Camp, Yorks, when he contracted a fatal illness and died on Monday. Sgt Dickman, whose home was at 13 Taylor Street, Luton, leaves a widow and four young children. The band of the London R.F.A. accompanied his coffin carried on a gun carriage from the house to the cemetery, where the Vicar of Luton (Rev A. E. Chapman) officiated.

• Today's London Combination match match in London against Clapton Orient was played in miserable weather before the smallest crowd that it has been Luton Town's lot to appear before this season. With snow falling and a late start reducing the game to 40 minutes each half, Luton were well on top and finished the first half 5-1 ahead through goals from Butcher, Sims (2), Brown and Bennett. Playing into a blizzard in the second half, Luton added two late goals from Tempest, who went on to put the ball into the net again, only for the referee to award him a fruitless free kick for first being fouled just outside the penalty area.