Last autumn the Saturday Telegraph's revelations of the conditions of Luton men who are prisoners of war in Germany stirred the whole town, and we believe that much good resulted, that the funds for the unfortunate heroes were considerably assisted, and that many of our gallant lads have been cheered and comforted more than they were before.
We are now able to add to the story of that occasion, and it will be noted that the conditions so far as the barbaric taskmasters are concerned are probably worse than ever - that these gallant lads are under-fed, and their staple support is the the food sent by their families and other friends.
In one case, that of Cpl William Smart, whose home is at 12 Wenlock Street, he has received no parcel from anyone except his mother and a lady in Scotland, and it seems a thousand pities that the local fund cannot be extended to embrace these lads, or a separate fund inaugurated solely for their benefit. We are none the less proud of them because they joined some other than the county regiment, and they are none the less entitled to our sympathy and support.
We would point out that we have no means of knowing the exact state of affairs in Germany, but it is patent that the Germans are not getting enough to eat, and we have learned enough of German nature to know that they would not under any circumstances allow their prisoners to be better fed than themselves, and it is only by these parcels that we can hope to give adequate sustenance. There would be no scruples of honesty, and it is therefore evident that Luton lads are short of food.
They are paying an unjust penalty for patriotism, and it is a Christian duty rather than a Christian charity for us to see that they are fed. They do not parade their complaints at all. They only ask for the necessities of life, and British bread in particular.
Cpl Smart's mother receives an allowance of seven shillings a week from her son's pay, and more than that is swallowed up in the parcels she sends him. She is a widow, and it is obvious she cannot do all that is in her heart to do. She is doing her best, however, and her son recognises this.
He says in one communication that he has not received one parcel from the Mayor of Luton. By the latter he means the local fund for prisoners of war, and he would not have mentioned it had he not been asked.
In a letter-card he says: "I can assure you I am in a bad position. You must, if possible, send each week. I get a parcel from Scotland each week, but it is not like yours. I ask you to do as I wish for I must have the necessary requirements if my health is to remain the same until my return. I should like you to see me and my chum at the puddings and a good cup of tea. Don't worry about delay; all will come well in the end for all of us."
Another prisoner of war from Luton, is Rifleman G. Hepworth, whose home is at 100 Langley Street. His home is a model cottage, and his brave wife keeps it going for the sake of her husband who longing to return she so well knows. He has every reason to be proud of his wife and children.
A Vauxhall employee, the firm have looked after him very well, and Mrs Hepworth is grateful accordingly.
Rifleman Hepworth's letters have been ruthlessly censored. Indeed, the only intelligible message on one is, "My Dear Wife". The frequent messages of his homecoming are particularly addressed to the children.
In one letter he said it seemed that everybody had stopped sending parcels except the Vauxhall, and in another, to the newspaper, he wrote: "I wish you could get some lady or gentleman in the district to send me out a weekly parcel. I know you have done your very best and cannot do more. This week I have had two loaves of bread, and no other from anyone." (Here the censor has worked most energetically.)
The address of the Corporal is: 3892 W. Smart, 1st Battalion, The Rifle Brigade, No. 1 Hut, Kriegsgefangenenlager, Dyrotz, Post Wustermark, Germany. [Cpl Smart was among PoWs who arrived back in England on September 7th and 8th, 1918].
The Rifleman's address is: 5631 Rfmn G. T. Hepworth, 1st Batt, The Rifle Brigade, Kriegsgefangenenlager, Stammlager, Pr. Holland XL, Germany.
[The Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph: June 10th, 1916]
The image used above, from The Luton News in August 1916, shows British prisoners of war at an unnamed German camp in which Pte W. Smith (7605, 1st Bedfords whose parents lived at 73 North Street, Luton) was held.