Digest of stories from The Luton News: Thursday, March 21st, 1918.

Many Lutonians were delighted at the weekend to see Lieut-Col Edgar Brighten, C.M.G., D.S.O., one of the town's most prominent heroes of the war.

Col Brighten was formerly a partner in the firm of Brown & Brighten, solicitors, but in August 1914 he was in camp with the 1/5th Beds Regiment. Local residents remember the battalion's stirring march through the county, and their subsequent experiences at Gallipoli with their magnificent charge which earned for them the cognomen of the Yellow Devils, at Suvla Bay.

The gallant C.O. later received his well-merited decorations, and was transferred to another unit. He has been home on short leave, and during the weekend came to Luton quite unheralded. receiving a warm welcome from the friends he visited. Among these was Major H. Cumberland Brown, O.C. of the 2nd Battalion Beds Volunteer Regiment.

Col Brighten came down from London on Sunday morning, breakfasted with the Major and afterwards rode on horseback to Luton Hoo, where the Volunteers were drilling. Col Brighten had an enthusiastic reception from officers and men, and was loudly cheered.

He was shown the instructions in progress (in an unofficial way, of course) and was greatly interested in these local developments which have taken place during his absence. He talked with the officers, and the men whom he knew, and expressed satisfaction at seeing the battalion so efficient and well equipped.

Col Brighten is staying in London with his wife and father, and will return to Palestine in the course of a few days. He was photographed by our representative during his visit to Luton Hoo on Sunday.

• After serving in the trenches for three years without injury, Pte Horace Arthur ('Jack') Clark, aged 26, of the Bedfordshire Regiment, has met a hero's end. He was a son of Mr James Clark, of Dumfries Street, Luton, and his sister resides at 46 St Saviour's Crescent.

• Mrs Cleaver, of 148 Wellington Street, Luton, has just received an official communication to the effect that no further news had been heard relative to her husband, Pte Sidney Cleaver (Middlesex Regiment), who had been missing since April 28th, 1917, and that the Army Council have been regretfully constrained to conclude that his death took place on that date .

• Mr Ralph Dillingham, the youngest son of the Mayor, is home on leave from France. He had served with the British Red Cross Motor Ambulance Unit for three years and is now a convoy leader. He crosses the Channel again on Saturday.

• Yesterday, a ceremony befitting the end of a soldier's life marked the funeral of Mr John Palfrey, aged 56, of 19 Grove Road. He had been ill for a considerable time, following an active career. He was for some years during his younger days in the old Regular Army, and saw active service in India. After leaving the Army he was gardener to Mr Harry Inwards for 14 years. He was also one of the first members of the local Volunteer Corps. The funeral at the General Cemetery was of a military character, an escort and firing party attending from the Volunteers under the command of Capt Head. The coffin was covered with the Union Jack and bore the deceased's cap and other accoutrements. The Volunteers followed the hearse, carrying arms reversed, and at the graveside three volleys were fired.

• On Tuesday evening a meeting of the Luton and District branch of the Discharged Sailors' and Soldiers' Federation held at the Co-operative Hall, accepted a suggestion to hold a demonstration to bring the organisation out into the open. The time had come to make a good show in the eyes of the public. An outdoor parade, and possibly a church parade, were suggested, with a collection to be used for widows and orphans of soldiers.

(Advert)

• Mr G. T. Cramp, President of the National Union of Railwaymen, held the attention of a fairly large audience for 70 minutes at a meeting at the Winter Assembly Hall on Sunday night.

• The influx of workers to Luton and the adjoining districts has resulted in serious overcrowding. A bad case of overcrowding at Leagrave due to war conditions was reported at the meeting of the Luton Rural District Council on Monday. The Surveyor said there were three male adults, nine female adults and two children living in one house that had only three bedrooms and a box room. There was a family of four in the house originally. The Rev F. C. Mahoney said if the Council took no action in some cases overcrowding would be on the increase. Some of the people worked at night and others occupied their beds in the daytime, a situation that should not be allowed. the council decided to serve a notice on the landlord.

• The Modern School Governors on Tuesday decided to form a cadet corps at the school. The decision was not unanimous, for Mr G. H. Latchmore opposed it as an objector to militarism.

• Mr T. G. Hobbs gave his second of a series of lectures on "My trip round the world" on Monday night. In the course of it he showed 150 photos taken by himself and thrown on the screen. Mr F. Peace operated at the electric lamp.

• There was very nearly a serious accident in Manchester Street on Monday afternoon. It began with the fall of a horse at the bottom of Alma Street, and a young carter going to the assistance of the driver left his own horse standing outside the Luton News office. For some reason that horse, which was pulling a heavy load, moved off, at no great pace, but got in the way of a tram-car coming behind it. Just as a collision seemed imminent, a young woman stepped off the pavement, raised the reins and led the horse to the side of the road. The tram just touched the off side of the cart, but danger was averted. The animal which fell took a lot of getting up, but with a number of willing helpers the task was at last successfully accomplished.

• Just before six o'clock on Sunday evening, a waggonette well filled with passengers was passing through George Street towards the Corn Exchange when one of the back wheels caught in the tram lines. The spokes giving way, the wheel collapsed and let the vehicle down. Fortunately the horse was going slowly and was quickly pulled up. The passengers were helped out, naturally very much alarmed but otherwise unhurt.

• The following notice which we saw on the door of a grocer's shop this week is typical of many to be seen in the town - "No marmalade, chocolate, cheese, syrup, lard, suet, jam, bacon." Surely it will soon be less trouble for these devotees of Mother Hubbard to display lists of the articles they can supply.