Stories from The Luton News: Thursday, September 23rd, 1915.

The work of the National Registration in Luton was completed on Saturday last. At the meeting of the Town Council on Tuesday evening a report on the work was presented by the Town Clerk, Mr William Smith.

He said little rumours had reached him from time to time that various people were priding themselves on the fact that they had escaped registration. It was scarcely necessary for him to administer a caution, but he would like to point out for the benefit of the public that any person who had been omitted, accidentally or wilfully, had not escaped at all.

The liability to register was on the individual and anyone who had not registered was liable to a penalty, and if anyone who had failed to register was found out he would make it his business to see that the person did register or was compelled to appear before the police court.

• For the future the 1/5th Bedfordshires will be known as the "Yellow Devils" on account of their fine fighting and their distinctive yellow badge which they wear on the back of their helmets. Pte G. Marlow, 4426, of the machine gun section, makes this clear in a letter to his sister, Mrs J. POwell, of 86 Reginald Street, Luton. He wrote: "We have got a name out here already. They call us the 'Yellow Devils' - so they think a little of us!"

• After fearing that her husband, Sgt H. J. Lambert was dead, Mrs Lambert, of 131 Hitchin Road, Luton, heard from him on Tuesday morning. He is now in Netley Hospital [near Southampton], and he has been wounded in the abdomen.

• Pte Harry Dolby, 3455, 1/5th Bedfords, was home in Luton on seven days leave after being wounded at Gallipoli on August 15th. The former Balmforth Boiler Works employee had been put on a hospital ship, staying at Gibraltar for a week before continuing to England and spending a week at the Battle School Hospital, Reading, where he met fellow Lutonian Pte W. Doughty, who had had his arm amputated. Pte Dolby was now awaiting orders to rejoin his regiment.

• Mr Horatio Bottomley, one of the most successful recruiters in the country, is to be invited to address a meeting at Luton in the first week of November. The use of the Assembly Hall has been given to the South Beds Recruiting Committee free of charge for this meeting.

• The Budget introduced by Chancellor of the Exchequer Mr Reginald McKenna on Tuesday afternoon contained a big surprise for Luton - provision for a tax on imported hats. Its was the last thing anyone even in the staple trade expected to be taxed. It was not clear what came under the definition of hats. If his term headwear includes hoods and the many varieties of woven hats which come her from abroad to be finished, then it was argues that the staple trade stood to benefit considerably. But if, on the other hand, these are to be considered as raw materials, it seemed to be the opinion that the import tax on finished hats alone would neither produce much revenue not benefit the home industry very much.

• In a few days time the new Limbury Road Railway Goods Depot will be open for traffic. This depot has been laid out between the Midland line and Leagrave Road. It is anticipated that the opening of the new railway depot, which will be opened as soon as the signal box and connections are completed, will help considerably in the development of that end of the town. It is in close proximity to a large area of land specially suitable for factory sites.

• A painful sensation was caused at the Commercial Cars works in Biscot Road on Wednesday by the sudden death of an employee. The unfortunate man's name was William George Cook, of 31 Adelaide Street, and he was 52 years of age. He was at work as a painter, which was his trade, when he suddenly collapsed and died. The fact were reported to the Coroner.

• Up to the present 46 Bedfordshire football clubs have sent in details of 658 players who are serving in His Majesty's Forces - an average of 14 per club. Figures from Luton clubs: Luton Amateurs 25, Silverdale 10, Wednesday Celtic 8, Clarence 12, Crusaders 10, Cocoa Works 22, Granville 12, M. R. Athletic 6, Rosedale 10, St Saviours 8, Wednesday Hotspur 11, Ivydale United 10, Rovers 9, Reliance 10, Silver Star 12, Wednesday Unity 5, Leagrave Rangers 15.