For King and country: September 24th, 1914

People making military news in The Luton News of September 24th, 1914.

Mr Charles Ansell, only son of Mr and Mrs Frederick Ansell, of Beechwood Road, Leagrave, was in the North Sea disaster on Tuesday. He was serving as armourer's mate on HMS Aboukir, one of three British cruisers sunk by German submarines. No news of their son has yet been received by the parents. Mr Ansell had been in the Navy for three years and only recently celebrated his majority. Mr and Mrs Ansell visited their son at Chatham on Sunday of last week when the Aboukir returned to port with boiler trouble.

  • Yesterday's casualty list contained among the names of officers reported wounded those of four officers of the Bedfordshire Regt: Major C. C. Onslow, Capt F. H. Edwards, Lieut H. Courtnay and Lieut J. H. Mayne. Earlier in the week Lieut W. W. Wagstaff, of the same regiment, was reported wounded.

  • Mr H. G. Merrick, the manager of the Luton Tramways, has joined the Public School Corps, which is at present undergoing training at Epsom.

  • Eight employees of hat manufacturers Messrs A. R. Child and Co, Williamson Street, have enlisted. The names are H. Day, M. Goodman and W. Aylott (R.A.M.C.), H. Aylott and P. Linger (24th London, Queen's), A. Bunker and W. Lawson (5th Battalion, Beds Regt) and A. Seabrook (Kitchener's Army).

  • Bedfordshire Yeomanry Surgeon-Capt H. Skelding promoted to Surgeon-Major.

  • Capt Guy F. Reynolds, of the 9th Lancers, son of Sir Alfred Reynolds, and well known in hunt circles in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, is in the list of wounded admitted to King Edward Seventh's Hospital.

  • Mr W. E. McNamara, a native of Luton and a former Queen's Scholar of Ipswich School, is serving as a sergeant in the 1st Battalion of the Old Public Schools and Universities Men's Brigade of Kitchener's Army, and is training at Epsom.

  • The following five young men went to Bedford and there joined the Luton detachment of the 5th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regt: W. Richardson, E. Richardson, P. Webdale, P. Impey and S. Turner.

  • Mr Ronald Alfred Webb, youngest brother of Mr Stanley Webb (Webb Bros, Luton), who joined the 5th Leicesters as a Territorial volunteering for foreign service while awaiting a commission, is now a 2nd Lieut in the Northampton Regt (Regular Army). His other brother, Mr Atholl Webb, who is in Canada, has joined the Canadian Grenadiers who are under orders for the West Indies.

  • Major W. Archibald, who has been in Luton for a few days to deal with matters connected with the formation of the new Field Ambulance, returned this morning to Woodbridge, Suffolk, taking with him nine men to complete the foreign service unit.

  • Mr J. H. Brigg has been appointed 2nd Lieut in the Bedfordshire Yeomanry.

  • Lieut Forrest, of the 5th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regt, has been promoted to captain.

  • The following employees of hat manufacturers Messrs Smith and Small Ltd, George Street, have joined His Majesty's Forces: Messrs A. Pakes (5th Battn, Beds Regt), L. Marshall, R. Clark, S. Thripp, W. Hurry (Beds Yeomanry), W. E. Fisher and F. Gentle (23rd Battn, County of London Territorials).

  • Four Luton casualties of war were photographed at a residence in Fornham All Saints, near Bury St Edmunds, that had been place at the disposal of the Royal Engineers for use as a hospital. Sapper Fensome was suffering from internal pains, Sapper Vass was recovered from a strained heart, Driver Haffenden was suffering from a mosquito sting, and Sapper Johnson was convalescing. The nursing staff were seated, all but one of the patients were standing.