Diary: Mayor visits 3/5th Bedfords

 

Stories from The Luton News: Thursday, September 30th, 1915.

Russian flag day

The Mayor of Luton (Councillor Walter Primett), who likes to get among the Luton lads in their camps and find out for himself how they are faring, had a very interesting time on Tuesday with Major Orlebar and his men of the 3/5th Bedfords at Bears' Rail Camp in Windsor Great Park.

It was an unofficial visit and the afternoon programme of bomb fighting went on as usual. Down on the borders of the Park there is a perfect maze of trenches and the visitors watched how one section of the Battalion were bombed out or bayoneted by the other section.

At the Recruiting Demonstration to be held in Luton on Saturday, Major Orlebar will bring from Windsor to Luton a sample of the new strength who will later find their way into the 1/5th Battalion to reinforce the Yellow Devils in Gallipoli.

  • Nearly £200 was the result which marked the highly successful Russian Flag Day in Luton last Saturday. It was the first local effort for the Russian cause, and the money raised will go to held improve the lot of the Russian wounded, who are said to greatly exceed in number those of either of the other Allies. The pictures above show a corporal of the R.A.M.C. home on leave paying toll to his sister, and three little helpers - Winnie Foster, Connie Wallace and Ena Panter.

  • Two brothers wounded and her husband a prisoner of war in Germany is the lot of Mrs R. Payne, 22 Essex Street, Luton. Brother Pte William Pinney has been wounded in the wrist and bruised on the face by shrapnel while in action with the 1/5th Bedfords. Another brother, L-Cpl Percy Pinney, also with the 1/5th Bedfords, is wounded and at Shorncliffe in England, where she had been to see him. Her husband was a reservist who rejoined the 1st Bedfords before he was captured by the Germans.

  • Pte R. D. Saunders, 1/5th Bedfords, wrote to his mother at 4 Hartley Road, Luton, that he was in hospital in Malta suffering from dysentery. In his latest letter he wrote: "I hope to be making for home...I shall be home for Christmas dinner this year."

  • Mr Cyril Dudley, of 41 Collingdon Street, on Thursday received a letter from his brother, L-Cpl Frederick Dudley, 3890, machine gun section, 1/5th Bedfords, stating that he is in hospital at Alexandria suffering from serious wounds in the chest and side sustained at Gallipoli.

  • Pte Percy Woodhead, 4996, D Company, 1/5th Bedfords, who was officially reported wounded, has now written to his mother at 20 Wood Street, Luton, stating that he was wounded in the head but was practically recovered and expecting to go back into the firing line soon.

  • Pte F. S. Everitt, son of Mr Walter Everitt, 16 Hastings Street, is in hospital at Alexandria. His parents have received a letter saying he had recovered from a bullet wound in the left arm but was now down with dysentry. He expected to be all right in a week or so.

  • Mrs Turner, of 8 Ash Road, Luton, has been notified that her son, Pte Sidney Turner, of the 1/5th Bedfords, had received a bullet wound in the right foot and was in a convalescent home in Egypt.

  • Lutonians have been glad to welcome this week one or two of the Luton lads who are serving in France with the Lincoln R.F.A, 1st North Midland Division. Driver Nelson, of 2 Crawley Road, returned to the Front yesterday, and Driver Barratt, of Peache Street, is at present in Luton. Driver Lacey, of Hazelbury Crescent, is expected home today.

  • On Thursday, September 16th, a memorial service was held at Stopsley for Horace Goodship, who had recently fallen in action on the Gallipoli Peninsular.

  • Pte Albert Smith, from Stopsley, serving with the 1/5th Bedfordshires, Cyclist Section, has had an attack of dysentery and has been removed to a hospital ship.

  • The 3/2nd East Anglian Royal Engineers now stationed at Biscot Road have formed a football club and played their first match on Saturday, the Commercial Cars entertaining them on the Clarence ground. A very keen game was witnessed, and the R.E. ran out winners by 3 goals (Moody, Wesley and Barford) to 1.

  • Giant pumpkinMr Albert Stanbridge, of 78 Langley Street, Luton, has grown a giant pumpkin on his allotment in the Park Street neighbourhood. It is far bigger than any ever known in Luton. Mr Stanbridge cut it on Monday and found that it weighs 113 lbs and is 64 inches round the smallest part and 67 inches round the widest portion. It has attracted hundreds of people.

  • Lilla Rook, 40, of 1 Jubilee Street, Luton, who had obtained employment at Vauxhall Motors Ltd on munition work, suddenly died there on Tuesday morning, and an inquest is to be held tomorrow afternoon.

  • Luton's first licensed cabby, Jabez Swain, of 17 Hillside Road, was fined £1 at the Borough Sessions on Wednesday for being drunk while in charge of a horse and cab in George Street on Saturday night. He denied the offence and alleged that the police refused to allow him to see the doctor of his choice at the police station, but the weight of evidence was against him.