Some marvellous escapes on the part of a Luton lad at the front have just come to light. He is Cpl Sidney Philpott, son of Frank and Georgina Philpott, of 46 Cardigan Street, the father being a hat manufacturer.

Sidney (pictured) went to Canada seven years ago, and was getting on well when the war broke out and the call came for service with the colours. Like a true Luton lad, he was off to the recruiting office on the very first day of the war, and he went into training with the first Canadian contingent.

He is now in a convalescent home in this country (near Folkestone) following his last narrow escape, and his commanding officer has just written to him telling him that he has been mentioned in dispatches for gallant conduct for a second time.

Mrs Philpott has given some facts as to her son's remarkable adventures. He had been an instructor in bomb throwing at the front and on one occasion he went to get the mails under fire, leaving his chums in the trench and was not away long. When he returned he found that his trench and his chums had been blown up.

His next experience was told by Cpl Philpott himself in a letter written home at the end of April. He wrote: "I had a narrow escape the other night. The Germans made a bombing attack on us. They threw a bomb right under my feet and it blew me up in the air, tore my overcoat and trousers in lot of places, and one piece stuck in the middle of a pocket book I carry right over my heart.

"It went through two photographs of Hilda (his sister), and a lot of plain postcards, and stopped right at a photograph of Ethel (another sister). It was a good job I was carrying that wasn't it? I never got a scratch besides."

After that he went again into the trenches, and hardly a week later his trench was mined by the enemy and was blown sky high. But his luck was still with him, for all he suffered was a strained back and shock to the nerves. This necessitated his removal home, but he is now recovering rapidly and is eager to get back with his pals and take his place in the great advance.

Mrs Philpott has the book which saved her son's life. It is khaki coloured, and a gift from a Canadian organisation. The hole made by the piece of the bomb had gone clean through that and the cards which Mrs Philpott keeps in a case. It is a treasure memento in the family now.

Meanwhile, the Corporal is not going back without carrying another pocket book (well packed) over his heart.

[Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph: July 8th, 1916]

Sidney Stuart Philpott was born in Luton in late 1887 and died in Luton in 1952.