Digest of stories from the Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph: May 11th, 1918.

The accidental death of Driver Thomas Alfred Ernest Rickard, of 34 North Street, Luton, was the subject of an inquest at Darlington, where he died on Thursday from the effects of being kicked by an Army mule. 

The mother of deceased, Mrs Charlotte Eliza Rickard, gave evidence of identification, and said her son, who was 19, was a moulder in civil life, and had been in the Army three years. He had been stationed with the Royal Engineers at Guisborough, near Darlington, for eight days.

L-Cpl Albert Henry Bennett said that on Wednesday morning last, deceased and others were taking the mules to water. He was leading a pair when one of them broke loose and galloped away. Attempting to follow, the other dragged deceased with it, kicking him all the time. Rickard fell and the mule dragged him along for about 30 yards, still kicking. He then let go, or the mule broke away, and when witness reached deceased he found him cut about the head and unconscious. He then procured assistance, and deceased was removed to hospital.

Witness added that the mules were usually very quiet, and it appeared to be quite an accident caused by the first mule's collar coming off.

A verdict of accidental death was returned by a jury.

• On the success of today's effort for the Bute Hospital, Luton, will depend to a great extent the facility with which its work during the coming year will be carried out, but judging from the way in which the townspeople have responded to the appeal there will be but little cause for anxiety on the part of Hon Secretary Mr Williams or any of his colleagues who manage the affairs of the institution.

• An important meeting of the Luton War Savings Committee was held on Thursday evening at the Town Hall to consider the preliminary arrangements for the forthcoming Tank Week. Negotiations for the Tank Week had been going on since December 8th and the National Committee had promised the week beginning June 24th. Bank managers invited to the meeting suggested that representations should be made to have the occasion postponed to a more convenient date in July. Failing that, the date already offered would be accepted.

• Through some unknown cause, a fire broke out after one o'clock this morning in the machine room on the first floor of Mr Holt's manufacturing premises, Russell Rise, Luton. The Fire Brigade turned out and speedily succeeded in extinguishing the outbreak, but a considerable amount of plait was destroyed.

• About midday on Thursday a tramcar and a motor car belonging to Messrs E. W. Hart & Son Ltd, the dyers, collided at the top of Alma Street. The tramcar was being driven to the top of Upper George Street, and the motor car was turning the corner. The tramcar caught one of the wheels of the car and wrenched the axle round, breaking the steering gear. The tramcar was not damaged.

• An alarming accident occurred about 3.40 on Wednesday afternoon in Dunstable Road. A pair of horses attached to a van laden with barrels, belonging to Mr Thomas Oakley, Hitchin Road, was being driven along Bury Park Road from the direction of Moor Street by Charles Hudson, of 3 Waller Street. As the van was crossing Waldeck Road a motor ambulance belonging to the R.F.A., Biscot, going along Waldeck Road, collided with one of the horses, catching it on the head. The startled animals swerved sharply into Waldeck Road and bolted into Dunstable Road. With considerable pluck Hudson held on to the reins and got his animals under control close to Kenilworth Road. In the mad rush the barrels were jolted of the van and were strewn along the road. Fortunately there were no personal injuries, but the pole attaching the horses to the van was broken, and the harness damaged.

• Mr J. H. Dony, of 2 Crawley Green Road, Luton, read with mingled feelings of astonishment and pride the news that his nephew had been awarded the Victoria Cross. The recipient is Pte Richard George Masters, R.A.M.C., of Southport, Lancs, and from the record of his bravery it appears that, owing to an enemy attack, communications were cut off and the wounded could not be evacuated. the road was reported impassable, but Pte Masters volunteered to try and get through. After the greatest difficulty he succeeded, although he had to clear the road of all sorts of debris. Pte Masters, a well-known Northern racing cyclist, was the son of Mr Dony's eldest sister.