In spite of the call to patriotism and the gallant response, there are all too many people who regard billeting unfavourably, and an instance has reached us from St Albans.

It is from a trustworthy source, but not from the Luton officer who took so much interest in the care and treated so kindly the poor wife of one of his men.

A poor woman residing in an out-of-the way corner of Bedfordshire was anxious to see her husband who was with the 1/5th Beds Regiment at St Albans, and preparing for departure abroad. She had to walk three miles to Flitwick Station, carrying her six-weeks-old baby, and from there took the train to St Albans.

She found her husband's billet, and arrived drenched to the skin. The tenants of the house told her that her husband was at the range, but they "did not admit strangers," and so she was not allowed to take shelter from the rain. She told some of the soldiers of her plight and was taken to the orderly room, there to await her husband's return.

Capt Maier, the well-known Lutonian who is with the 5th Beds, happened to visit the orderly room, and when he was informed of the circumstances he at once took the unfortunate woman and baby to the apartments occupied by himself and his wife.

Mrs Maier, according to the grateful woman's story, at once attended mother and infant. The baby was undressed, wrapped in a warm blanket, and its clothes dried, and the mother was similarly cared for, and given rest and food.

Meanwhile, Capt Maier himself undertook to bring the husband from the range so that the woman should not be disappointed in her journey, and it was a very grateful wife who returned home.

Without dwelling on the treatment of the tenants of the house where the man was billeted, we may find in this action of Capt Maier the secret of the affection which the Bedfordshires have for their officers.

It is no more than one would expect from Capt and Mrs Maier by those who know them, but all the same it is a deed worthy of record, and the thanks of the poor woman who benefited will find an echo in the hearts of our readers.

[The Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph: July 24th, 1915]