• Thomas Hobbs and his wife Elizabeth in 1926

On July 7th, 1917, the biggest German air raid on London to date took place. Extensive damage was caused in the East End and 57 people were killed.

Digest of stories from The Luton News: Thursday, July 5th, 1917.

From July 3rd to 14th, 1917, King George V and Queen Mary paid a Royal visit to the battlefields of France. With them was Staff-Sgt Walter J. Twidell, who prior to the outbreak of war resided with his parents Thomas and Lizzie at 30 Cardigan Street, Luton. As a shorthand clerk he was attached to the suite of Queen Mary on the visit.

The six men whose portraits we reproduce here are associated with one of the most remarkable records of patriotic service that have been chronicled to the credit of any family in Luton - or indeed anywhere.

Digest of stories from The Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph: June 30th, 1917.

Digest of stories from The Luton News: Thursday, June 28th, 1917.

Digest of stories from the Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph: June 23rd, 1917.

Former Mayor Councillor Albert Oakley [photo by Frederick Thurston] met with a very severe accident on Thursday afternoon, and is now in the Bute Hospital suffering from painful injuries.

Digest of stories from The Luton News: Thursday, June 21st, 1917.

• George Street scene 1914

Yesterday a number of cases out of the ordinary were heard at the Luton Borough Court. They were prosecutions for exceeding the 10 mph limit in certain areas of Luton, and they marked a new departure in police procedure.

After having served and been wounded in France, and coming to England in order to prepare for further duty abroad, it has been the sad fate of Pte George Charles Fensome (pictured above), son of Mr and Mrs Fensome, of 93 Hitchin Road, Luton, to meet his death as a result of an accident while at bombing practice.

An interesting letter has been received by the relatives of Cpl Harvie G. Clayton (Army Service Corps), of Biscot Road, and son of Mr and Mrs Clayton, of 84 Cromwell Road. Until January last he was employed by hat manufacturer Mr F. S. Biggs, of Guildford Street, as an accountant. On joining up he immediately got his stripes.

On the way to Salonica he had some exciting experiences through his ship being torpedoed, but he arrived safely at last. In his letter dated May 17th, Cpl Clayton described the details of his journey by rail and boat. He then continues:

Digest of stories from the Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph: June 16th, 1917.

Digest of stories from The Luton News: Thursday, June 14th, 1917.

It has been the sad lot of Pioneer William Manning, whose wife lives at 64 Frederic Street, Luton, to attend at a cemetery behind the line in France the funeral of his son, Pioneer Harry Manning, of the Royal Engineers, who was recently killed in action.

• Artillery barrage near Messines [Canadian official photo published in The Sphere, June 1917]

A graphic account of the Battle of Messines comes from Gunner Sidney R. Bailey, R.F.A., son of Mr Frank Bailey, of 17 Crawley Road, Luton. In a letter to his parents he says:

Digest of stories from the Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph: June 9th, 1917.

The wife of a soldier who had been serving in Egypt for a year was described as "a menace to public health" when she appeared at the Borough Court this morning. Nellie Smith, of 15 Park Place, Luton, was charged with neglecting her three children, aged three, five and seven, in a manner likely to cause them unnecessary suffering or injury to health.