Stories from the Luton News: Thursday, January 13th, 1916.

Those interested in the Luton Town Football Club will regret to hear the news that Pte John 'Jock' Jarvie, 11278, of the 2nd Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, is posted as missing.

Mrs Stuart Clark, of 14 Union Street, Luton has received the news in a letter from Lieut A. Sinclair Thomson, asking him to inform the relatives of Pte Jarvie [pictured left] that he was reported missing on January 2nd. He and 13 others were blown up by an enemy mine explosion, and he could only be reported missing, as his body was not found.

Jarvie, who played at back, came to Luton from Tottenham in 1913. He played during the whole of Luton's first season in the [Southern League] Second Division. He then went home to Glasgow in Scotland, and enlisted soon after the outbreak of war. He had since spent only one weekend in Luton.

[* Pte Jarvis is listed as killed in action on January 2nd, 1916. He is commemorated at Cambrin Cemetery Extension, Pas de Calais]

• Mrs A. E. Chapman, wife of the Vicar of Luton, last night received news that her brother, Lieut Woodward, 97th Deccan Infantry, Indian Army, had been killed in Mesopotamia. He was the son of the Rev R. F. Woodward, Vicar of All Saints, Eastbourne, and was part of the relief force sent out to Kut, where the had been some very heavy fighting. He is reported to have been killed between January 6th and 8th.

• Two Luton men were among those mentioned in Sir John French's recent dispatch, including Acting-Cpl Stanley Brown, Army Service Corps, whose home is at 76 Talbot Road. He has since arrived home on seven days' leave having been mentioned for general good work under adverse conditions. He was a reservist when war broke out and, after reporting himself at Aldershot, was soon sent over to France. He is at present in the Investigation Department.

• The second man mentioned by Sir John French is Cpl W. J. Twidell [pictured right], 35693, R.A.M.C., General Headquarters, British Expeditionary Force, France. From Avondale Road, Luton, he enlisted at the outbreak of war and has been in France for 13 months, where he is clerk to Surgeon-General Sir A. Sloggett, Director-General of the Medical Service in France.

• On Tuesday night, the town's special hero, Coy-QMS Arthur Andrews, of the 2nd Highland Light Infantry and winner of two Distinguished Conduct Medals, arrived home by mail train on unexpected leave. He had been unable to give advance notice of his arrival and arrived home at 15 Adelaide Street, to discover that his wife was suffering from influenza.

• Last Thursday Pte F. L. Pedley, a Luton lad who enlisted in the 24th County of London (Queen's) Regiment, arrived home at 73 Conway Road for a week's rest from the trenches on the Continent.

• Pte Wilfred Turney, 2/7th Middlesex Regiment, and son of Luton grocer Mr John Turney, revealed that men bathing on a deserted Egyptian beach found several large cases of eggs washed up. Using pants with the legs tied, helmets, pockets, towels etc they managed to bag over 430 eggs and all over Christmas it was eggs with everything.

• Yesterday at Luton Borough Court the Thermo Electric Ore Reduction Co secured an ejectment order against William Dennis, of Taylor Street. It was stated that the ground was needed for the extension of the works. Three other cases had been settled.

• Half of the receipts of the Commer Cars annual Christmas fund have been donated to the Bedfordshire Territorial Comforts Fund (£75) and the Luton Prisoners of War Fund (£25).

• In the South Beds and Hitchin and District areas of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children 21 cases were investigated during November involving 51 children. Of 3,781 complaints of neglect and cruelty investigated by the NSPCC during the month, 3,476 were found to be true. Warnings were issued in 3,170 cases and 161 people were prosecuted, resulting in 158 convictions.

• Luton and District Master Hairdressers' Association agreed at a meeting on Monday evening to shave free of charge wounded soldiers who were about to arrive in Luton. If the authorities accepted the offer, hairdressers would take it in turns to provide the service.

• Yesterday the farmers in the area covered by the Luton market had a big sale at Messrs J. Cumberland and Sons. sale yard, New Bedford Road, in aid of the British Farmers' Red Cross Fund. The sale was opened by Lady Wernher, of Luton Hoo, who also acted as an auctioneer, offering the bouquet with which had been presented for auction. It first sold as a whole and then individual blooms were auctioned, raising well over £100. The sale raised about £900 to be added to previously £250 subscribed cash. Lasy Wernher is pictured auctioning her bouquet.