Diary: German prisoner's predictions

 

Stories from the Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph: September 25th, 1915.

Saturday Telegraph masthead

There has come into our hands from a Luton soldier a remarkable letter written by a German soldier who has been taken prisoner by the British. The epistle was found in his possession, was translated into English, and has been brought to England by Pte Walter J. Twidell, R.A.M.C., who is well known in Luton.

The letter of the German prisoner makes the most interesting reading, for it not only gives a clear insight into the reasons for the Teutonic optimism, but shows that those reasons have not so firm a basis as some would make us believe. The most that is hoped for to the writer of the letter is an honourable peace - a verdict that would declare the war a draw - and he openly confesses that such a peace would only be the prelude to the resumption of hostilities in 20 years time with the idea of "driving Russia from Europe and England from the command of the seas".

That is the peace which Great Britain and her allies are out to prevent, and every recruit in the British Army is a nail in the coffin of the prophecy of this German soldier, who has the shame to declare that France will help the Teuton in his desire to "dominate the world" and the modesty to admit that in his prophecies he is "not infallible".

  • Among men reported to have been killed at Gallipoli were Pte Horce Arthur Goodship, of Stopsley Green, and Pte Frank Turner, Australian Imperial Force. The family of Pte Cyril Snoxell, of 84 Grange Road [St Peter's Road], Luton, were still awaiting news.

  • Pte F. S. Everitt, son of Mr Walter Everitt, of 16 Hastings Street, Luton, is in hospital in Alexandria suffering from dysentry after recovering from a bullet wound in the left arm.

  • Mr Cyril Dudley, of 41 Collingdon Street, on Thursday received a letter from his brother, L-Cpl Frederick Dudley, 3890, machine gun section, 1/5th Beds Regt, stating that he is in hospital at Alexandria suffering from serious wounds in the chest and side. Pte Dudley is the son of Mr Dudley, of the Red Lion Tap, Dunstable. Before the war he worked at Hubbard's Dye Works, Luton.

  • Pte Alfred Pollard, 1/5th Bedfords, a Luton man who was wounded at Gallipoli and sent to a hospital at Chelmsford, came home on Saturday on five days leave.

  • Cpl-Major Byron, a Guardsman who was in the Luton Borough Police Force until at the outbreak of war he was recalled to his regiment and who has been at the Front ever since, has been given special leave this week in order that he might come to Luton to be present at the funeral of his little daughter, Biddy. His home is at 32 Naseby Road, and on the 18th his daughter Marion Rebecca (Biddy) Helena Byron, who was nine years and five months of age, passed away. The funeral took place on Thursday at the Church Cemetery.

  • Today is Russian Flag Day, as is amply evidenced by the display of buttonhole flags which nearly everyone in Luton is making. It is the first local effort for the Russina cause, and the money raised will go to help improve the lot of Russian wounded, who are said to greatly exceed in number those of either of the other Allies. It is hoped that a substantial sum will be raised as Luton's tribute to her hard-pressed Ally.

  • We regret to record the death of Mr Robert Samuel Lloyd, managing director of Messrs Hayward Tyler and Co Ltd, of Luton, which occurred on Thursday morning at his residence at Brooklands,Upper Lattimore Road, St Albans. He had been ill since Easter.

  • Football rivalry between Luton and Watford was firmly established by the time of World War One. A letter from Town supporters serving in France asked how many times Watford had beaten Luton in the Southern League. The Telegraph said Luton had never lost to Watford at home until the 1914-15 season. The scores were 1-0 (1901-02), 4-1 (1902-03), 2-1 (1904-5), 2-0 (1905-06), 2-0 (1906-07), 1-1 (1907-08), 1-0 (1908-09), 4-2 (1909-10), 3-1 (1910-11), 1-1 (1911-12) and 0-2 (1914-15).

  • Another disappointing crowd for Luton Town's friendly against Leicester Fosse. It had been hoped that Leicester soldiers based at St Albans would help swell the crowd to 5,000, but they were under orders to attend the Divisional Sports being held there at the same time. Roe opened the scoring for Luton, and added a second before Freeman replied for Fosse. Buitcher made the half-time score 3-1, but Hogg scored the only second half goal to make the final score 3-2 in Luton's favour.