Munition girls at George Kent's.

Speaking to munition workers in the Winter Assembly Hall on February 28th, 1916, the Mayor of Luton (Alderman J. H. Staddon) said Luton was doing its share towards the war effort.

To his knowledge there had been very little trouble with the workers in Luton, and he was quite certain they were all doing their bit. He had had the opportunity of visiting some of the works, and it was a credit to all the works to see the intelligent work which was being put in for the work of munitions, both by male and female labour.

"You chaps will have to look out," said the Mayor. "There is no question about it, the girls are coming along strong. They are taking up situations and filling the gaps in a way which had never been thought of or dreamt of in times gone by. They are to be congratulated on coming to the front as they have done to take the places of the boys who have gone away, and doing their share to keep the flag of England and the trade of England. I congratulate them."

The Mayor was speaking at a concert to solicit public support for a fund to supply cigarettes and tobacco to Luton and Bedfordshire soldiers on active service. He said he understood that a joint committee had been formed from workers at Messrs Kents, the Commercial Cars, Vauxhall Motors and the Skefko Works to make further efforts on behalf of those who were so gallantly serving us on the other side of the water, and this was the first big effort there had been on behalf of a fund which had been in existence since the early days of the war.

So far 11,700 parcels containing 353,000 cigarettes and 12¾ cwt of tobacco had been sent out to the theatre of war. Gifts had been sent to the 1st and 2nd Bedfords, the 5th Bedfords, the E.A.R.E. and local "medicals" as well as the men of several units stationed in Luton for a time.

[The Luton Reporter: Monday, March 6th, 1916]