Stories from the Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph: September 16th, 1916.

Rumours in Luton that two wounded soldiers had died from shock in the fire which broke out on Thursday evening that devastated the Wrest Park mansion - in use as a military hospital - brought an emphatic denial from Dr Kirkwood, the Medical Officer.

"All the men are extraordinarily well," he declared. "There was absolute order, and all the men were got out very quietly and quickly. Every patient had been transferred and was tucked up comfortably in bed long before midnight.

"On the outbreak of the fire ambulances were at once sent for. The serious cases were transferred to Woburn, and the sitting up cases to the Ampthill Training Camp, where everything was in order for their reception. The great point is that everything was carried out in perfect order, and all the men are very happy and comfortable."

Luton Fire Brigade was among those that helped estate firemen fight the blaze at the mansion, which had been in use since November 1914 as a hospital for wounded soldiers. Five or six rooms in the east wing at the mansion were completely gutted and a large section of roof fell in. There was also smoke and water damage to other rooms.

The fire broke out in an upper bedroom connected to the main boiler. Sparks apparently caught old timbers, starting a blaze that ran through the inside of the roof towards the central dome of the hall. Staff detected the smell of the burning wood and within ten minutes had the building evacuated.

• A justly proud family is that of Mr George Harmer, the well-known manufacturer of Waller Street and Adelaide Street, who home in at 'The Leas,' Downs Road, Luton. Son Guy, with the 24th County of London (Queen's) Regiment, has won the Military Medal for gallantry, while his older brother, Harold, had been promoted to chief engineer in India of Birmingham electrical engineering firm Osler and mad received a gold and jewelled watch for his work from the Rajah of his province.

• News has been received at Leagrave that Lieut Francis David Odell (pictured right), of Toddington, and formerly a master at Leagrave Council School, has been wounded. It transpires that Lieut Odell and another officer with the 184th Brigade R.F.A. were out inspecting the communication wires on one of the Somme sectors on September 2nd when a shell burst near them but they were not hurt. But a a second shell came and both officers were knocked down. They got up and ran about 30 yards, but Lieut Odell fell, for there was shrapnel in his back. His gunners brought him in and he was sent to a London hospital, where he is going on well. A large photograph of Lieut Odell is hung at Leagrave Council School.

• A selective five per cent war bonus for teachers in Luton was met with grave dissatisfaction by the profession, a concensus showing the proposed scheme was unpopular, even among those who benefited. One unnamed teacher of many years' standing said there were invidious distinctions in the scheme that should not exit, a result of the Education Committee not being in touch with teachers.

• With White Hart Lane commandeered by the Government for war use, Luton Town travelled to Arsenal's ground at Highbury for their London Combination match against Spurs. Tempest equalised an earlier Spurs goal but Luton went 2-1 down at the interval. Two second half late goals from Dyke made the final score 3-2 to Luton.