Stories from The Luton News, Thursday, March 11th, 1915.

Luton clergy gave their support to a Recruiting Sunday for the Bedfordshire Regiment on March 21st, the principal feature of which would be an open-air mass meeting to be held in the centre of town at 3 pm.

Anglican, Congregational, Methodist and Baptist clergy attended a meeting of the Recruiting Committee at Luton Town Hall last night to give their support.

The Mayor, Councillor W. J. Primett, said that while the 5th Battalion Beds Regt were ready to go abroad, they could not do so until the 2nd 5th Battalion was strengthened. For this 250 men were required, and Luton was asked to raise about 100 of the number.

Major Orde said the Bedfordshire Regiment had ten battalions, all looking to the county for recruits. Only three battalions had been abroad, sustaining all the losses and glory to date. He said it was essential to fill up the 2nd 5th Bedfords, but it was still more essential to fill up the battalions at the front. If recruiting efforts were limited to one battalion, others would suffer.

• Latest recruits to the Regular Army who enlisted at the recruiting office at Luton Corn Exchange: W. B. Barber, E. Cook, A. Clews, W. Dearman, P. A. Dennis, A. Hales, T. Hall, T. C. Harrop, A. Higgs, H. Higgs, F. Lodge, G. Mardell, J. Mardell, A. Mitchell, R. Norman, G. Northwood, A. Peel, T. R. Perry, A. J. Pinney, A. Slough, T. A. Stanton, A. Sparvell and A. Taylor.

• Despite the number of battalions of troops now in Luton there is only one brass band, that of the 2nd 6th Battalion Sherwood Foresters. The formation of bands for new battalions is now rather discouraged on the ground that it takes away from training for other service which might be more useful in the field. Of the 28 men under Bandmaster J. Beard in the Sherwood Foresters band, 20 were until recently better known in the brass band world as members of the New Mills Band in Derbyshire, and eight new men came along from the Thornsett Band. Luton is now happy in the possession of the best amateur brass band in the South.

• This morning it was announced the 2nd Lieut L. T. Despicht, Beds Regt, had been awarded the new Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry at Givenchy on February 20th, when in command of the Right storming party, he was almost buried by a German shell. After being extricated he was immediately shot, but crawled to the enemy's parapet and continued to conduct operations.

• In the short time it has been open the YMCA Centre at the Waller Street Plait Hall has been very popular, and every night sees a big gathering of soldiers, some having a sing-song, others playing billiards, chess, draughts and other games, writing letters, or more or less having a quiet read. All the time the temperance bar is very busy.

• A soldier at the front wrote in a letter to the Vicar of Luton, the Rev A. E. Chapman: "At the time of writing my platoon are about 40 yards from the enemy in a trench we dug ourselves, and today being Sunday the Germans are rather quiet, although they generally pick the Sabbath for an attack etc. I and my comrades are very thankful for all the kindness that the good people of England have shown us in the shape of sending us tobacco, sweets, cap comforters etc, and I can only say if they could see how much they were appreciated they would be more than satisfied."

• Pte Frank J. Lacey, an old boy of Luton Modern School whose home is at 13 Albert Street, Markyate, is home on a month's sick leave after having had an exciting time at the front with the Northamptonshire Regiment. At Ypres, following some stiff fighting, he had the tragic sight of German dead lying piled five feet high. At one time the trenches occupied by the Northamptons contained three feet of water and mud, while the communication trenches had nearly five feel of water in places. As a result Pte Lacey had been sent back to England with frostbite and rheumatism of the ankles.

• Mrs Avis Garrett, of 61 Chapel Street, Luton, learned by cable of the death of her 20-year-old son Pte Ronald F. Garrett, 2495, 6th Battalion East Surrey Regiment, at Fyzabad in India on March 8th. He had for a short time been in business in Luton but went to India with his regiment in December.

• A private with the 5th Bedfords who was charged at Luton Borough Court with being absent without leave after being found in plain clothes at his father's house, told the court that he came away from Newmarket because he did not like it. He was remanded for a military escort.

• An unusually high number of 760 patients had been treated at the Bute Hospital during 1914, a third of them - 256 - Territorials stationed in the town since August, the hospital's annual meeting of governors was told in the Town Hall. The soldiers had voluntarily raised £142 among themselves for the hospital and a further £178 had come from the military authorities for work done at the Bute for the Territorials. The extra revenue meant that the hospital was now in a position to acquire up-to-date X-ray apparatus.

• Miss Amy Charles, who has been headmistress of Old Bedford Road Girls School for 19 years, has resigned her appointment on account of ill-health. The Education Committee had hoped she would take a long rest in the hope she could resume her duties later.

• Shrubs to a value not exceeding £15 are to be planted in the grounds of the new Tennyson Road School. The Board of Education have placed the school on the list of public elementary schools recognised for the purpose of grant as from January 4th. It has provision for 300 mixed pupils and 170 infants.

• Luton Amateur Dramatic Society is to give performance this season after all. Although it had been decided to abandon performances this year due to the war, the committee decided to carry on and devote proceeds to local war funds.

• Yesterday morning the Luton Fire Brigade were called to 80 Wellington Street, a boot and shoe warehouse occupied by Mr Albert Grover. The contents of a first floor storeroom were damaged by fire, heat and water.

• The 26th list of donations brought the Luton total for the Prince of Wales' National Relief Fund to £2,664 15s 6d.

• Southern League championship contenders West Ham beat Luton 2-1 on the Town Ground yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon. Simms pulled a goal back for Luton in the second half after they were trailing 2-0 at the interval.