Stories from The Luton News: Thursday, July 13th, 1916.

The Saturday Telegraph gave news of the "Great Advance" or "Big Push" at the start of the Battle of the Somme in its July 1st edition. The Luton News followed up with first details of those killed and wounded before and during the action. Many more were to follow.

Whilst everyone in the country is rejoicing over the news of the "best week of the war," said the Luton News report, the hearts of many have been saddened by intelligence of the great individual sacrifices by which the "great advance" has been rendered possible. Amongst these there are, unhappily, not a few in Luton, some of whom are recorded below. and keen public sympathy will be felt for the bereaved relatives.

Sgt Percy Edward Rickard, 7th Bedfords, was aged 23 and a fine athlete, well-known in running circles in Luton. Official confirmation had not been received by his father at 45 Crawley Road on Tuesday, but he had no doubt whatever that his son had died in action last Saturday week [July 1st, 1916] in the "big push" forward made at 6.30 am. Letters from comrades who saw him fall and killed instantly had placed the matter beyond all doubt.

Sgt Percy Rickard and his brothers with their sports trophies.

Among other families plunged into sorrow in Luton as a result of the big battle begun on July 1st is that of Mr and Mrs C. T. Armstrong, whose son, Pte Frederick William Armstrong, of the 7th Beds Regiment, has died from wounds in the action. Aged 20, he was a member of the Celtic Football Club (the local butchers' club).

Mrs Harris, of Slip End, has been notified of the death of her husband, Pte Thomas Frederick Harris, of the 6th Bedfordshire Regiment, which occurred from wounds on June 25th. He leaves a widow and three young children.

Rifleman Arthur Thomas Mahon, London Rifle Brigade, son of the Rev E. B. Mahon, pastor of Kings Street Congregational Church, was believed to be missing. The news was contained in a letter from L-Cpl A. Webdale in a letter to his own father. It was hoped the clergyman's son may have been taken as a prisoner of war, but it was eventually confirmed that Rifleman Mahon was killed in action on July 1st.

Pte Percy John Clark, a London Rifle Brigade comrade of Rifleman Mahon, was reported to have died of wounds on July 7th. He was the son of Mr John Clark, of Dunstable Road, who was formerly manager of Luton Labour Exchange.

L-Cpl James Dennison, aged 29, 3rd Seaforth Highlanders and from Orkney, had also fallen in France, on June 26th. For six years he had been manager of hat manufacturers Messrs Copestake, Crampton and Co's Luton branch in Guildford Street.

For other families the news was that sons had been wounded. Sgt Sam Impey wrote from a base hospital on the coast of France to say he had been wounded in the head by shrapnel on July 1st. He was aged 19 and had been brought up by his aunt, Miss Impey, of 7 Stanley Street, and joined the 7th Bedfords in September 1914.

Pte Horace Preece (standing, left) with Luton area comrades of the Beds Regiment.

Also in hospital, but in England, Pte Horace George Preece, 25694, 2nd Bedfords, wrote home to tell of a lucky escape from death when a piece of shrapnel pierced his helmet and struck the back of his head during the advance. The former secretary of Ivydale FC also had wounds in his left forearm and left foot. He lived at 207 North Street.

From a different sphere of the war, news had just been received of the death in Egypt of Pte Henry Custance, of the 1/5th Bedfords, aged 21 and the son of Mr and Mrs Custance, of 15 King's Road, Luton. He had fought at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli, and come through unscathed, but died from illness in hospital in Egypt.

• On a happier note, a real-life wartime romance culminated in Arthur R. Hayward, an artillery sergeant at Biscot Camp, marrying Miss Charlotte Rose Marsh, of 112 Leagrave Road, Luton, at Christ Church yesterday. The couple had met at a military concert in Luton.

• Monday was Pound Day at the Bute Hospital, when donations were made by weight. Around 4,000 lbs of food and goods were realised at last year's event, and on Tuesday Matron Miss Poulton thanked donors for rice, cabbages, potatoes, rhubarb, onions and all kinds of provisions. A dray was borrowed to collected produce from local schools.

• Volume III of the publication of the Bedfordshire Historical Record Society has just come to hand, though the volume is somewhat smaller than its forerunners on account of the Publication Committee's doubt as to their duty in these serious times. Included in this volume is 'The Domesday Water Mills of Bedfordshire,' by William Austin.

• Is prohibition possible? This question was well discussed in the small lecture hall at the Free Library on Monday evening, under the auspices of the B.W.T.A. and the Luton Temperance Federation. The main object of the meeting was to consider what part the Temperance party should take upon the question of memorialising the Government for prohibition during the period of the war and for six months after.

• One of the worst of the horrors of vividly brought home to Lutonians early on Tuesday afternoon. On the Midland Station was a young, active man in charge of a burly Red Cross attendant, who kept him under close guard. Frequently the patient, whose reason was evidently unhinged, made attempts to run at civilians pacing the platform, and but for the gentle but forceful restraint of the Red Cross man would have succeeded. A remarkable fact was his genial attitude to the 'Tommies' who were on the platform. He was taken by train to another hospital, but prior to his departure his actions were sufficient to impress passengers and spectators on the bridge with an idea of the sufferings and dangers of the lads at the Front.