Luton trams taken out of service in 1932 - photo: Luton News

Stories from the Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph: August 12, 1916.

The passengers riding on the top of tramcar No. 12 about 6.45 on Thursday evening had a bit of a shock, for as the car was passing the top of Burr Street on its way to Round Green the over-guard wire broke and fell across the running wire, causing the guard to fuse.

Mrs Nichols, of the Butchers Arms [Hastings Street], and Thomas Nudd, aged 10, who is staying at the Butchers Arms, and who were on the top of the car, appear to have been chiefly affected. The end of the wire fell across them.

The boy was burnt on the neck, and Mrs Nichols' blouse was damaged. Motorman James was driving the car, and fortunately no one else was injured. Mrs Nichols said she was considerably frightened but had recovered from the shock. There is a brown scar about two inches long on the boy's neck.

We understand this is the first time such an accident has occurred at Luton. A more common accident involving a tram occurred last night, however, when the one driven by motorman Thorne collided with a car outside the Queen's Hotel, Chapel Street.

• Amongst the many casualties [on the Somme] on July 1st was Pte George Golby, who is aged 18 and now lies in the Chester Royal Infirmary suffering from injuries to the back. His mother, who resides at 25 Wood Street, Luton, had a letter from him yesterday stating that he was progressing favourably. Pte Golby was for six months in the Reserves prior to the outbreak of war.

• The parents of Pte Stanley Angell and Pte Stanley Rolph, of Breachwood Green, have been notified that their sons are in hospital (the latter in a Canadian hospital) in France.

• Pte John Burley, 2nd Bedfords, was set to return to the Front after sick leave at home at 71 Warwick Road, Luton. He was hit by a bullet in the left forearm on July 1st and treated at the Clearing Hospital at Rouen before being transferred to Eastley and later Mile End hospitals. It was his first time he had been wounded in 20 months at the Front, although he had been buried twice by shells and a piece of shrapnel had gone through his haversack.

• From "somewhere with a devil of a lot of sand" [by the Suez Canal in Egypt], Coy-Sgt-Major Fellows, from Luton, wrote that the 1/5th Bedfords were experiencing temperatures of 118 degrees in the shade but had found time for a couple of cricket matches. Scores were low given the conditions but in one match the sergeants scored 40 all out against the corporals (15 all out). In a second game a team of 16 players managed to score only 12 all out with their opponents hitting 41.

• Pte Percy James Osborn, son of Mr Abel Osborn, of Dunstable Road, Luton, has written home to say he has been mentioned in despatches. Writing from one of the base hospitals in France where he was recovering from the effects of gas, he had been attached to an ammunition column for six months after joining the Transport service. Prior to enlistment he had worked for Messrs Adams, Morris and Co, cycle and motor agents, of 33 New Bedford Road, Luton.

• As the 59th (North Midland) Divisional Ammunition Column were expecting to leave Luton, a farewell concert was held in the Beech Hill YMCA hut last Friday. The hut was crowded and an excellent programme was provided.

• A young man named William Bradley, of Court Road, was working at Vauxhall Works on Tuesday when his left hand was caught in a grinding machine. Two finger were badly crushed, and he was taken to the Bute Hospital.

• The Luton and District Master Bakers' Association announced that the price of bread was to be increased to 6½d and 9d on Monday next, owing to the rapid rise in the price of flour.

• Hat manufacturers Messrs Woolley, Sanders & Co Ltd, of 44 Bute Street, saw net profits rise to £9,324, as again £6,643 the previous year. The average net profit over the past five years was £7,345.

• A third audacious robbery occurred in a jewellery shop in Luton. On this occasion the shop of Mr Jeffs at 15 Manchester Street was forcibly entered overnight. The shop window was stripped and the haul amounted to over £200. Evidently the thief or thieves had been disturbed as many valuable articles were left, as were the whole of the shop's takings in the till.