Diary: Yellow Devils' gallantry praised at last

 

Stories from the Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph: July 15th, 1916.

Gallipoli in memoriam

A Luton News tribute to the Yellow Devils that would be published to mark the Gallipoli anniversary in August

Nearly 12 months later comes official recognition of the gallant exploits of the Territorial Regiment, so largely drawn from Luton and district, at Gallipoli on that August Sunday. Yesterday the list of officers and men mentioned in despatches was issued by Sir Charles Munro, who was in command of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force at that terrible time.

Among the names: Lieut-Col E. W. Brighten C.M.G.; Temporary Sec-Lieut C. R. Wodehouse; Co-Sgt-Major (Acting Sgt-Major) A. Milton, 2092; Cpl Albert Payne, 2289; Pte H. Bryant, 3785; and Pte F. King, 4363.

Everyone who has read the glorious story of the struggle and the tributes of the men will agree that the Commanding Officer fully deserves whatever honours come his way, for the bald announcement that he is mentioned in despatches gives no adequate idea of his courage and the capacity for leadership which was tested in the fullest degree in that ill-fated campaign.

Of the other names mentioned the best known is that of Cpl Payne. Mentioned as corporal he had been made Lance-Sgt and was serving as that at his death, and both he and his brother Nathan were the subject of a special commentary by Lieut-Col Brighten.

It should not be forgotten that bravery may be shared by many, but commendation only by a few, and Luton is not likely to forget that among the sons who fell fighting bravely, with faces to the enemy, were Capt Brian Cumberland, Lieut F. E. Shoosmith, Capt C. T. Baker and others.

  • "No charity for those who have fought and suffered for the country" was the indignant cry of Labour at a meeting of the Luton War Pensions Committee on Thursday evening. The protest was against the suggestion from the Government that local committees should raise money so that the whole burden of pensions and allowances will not fall upon the State. On a previous occasion Luton has already taken the lead in a similar protest.

  • Official notification has been received by Mrs Warner, of 6 Bolton Road, Luton, that her brother, Pte Harry Bacchus, 9272, 2nd Beds Regiment, was killed in action in France on June 29th.

  • A brave Luton lad to fall in the advance on July 1st is Pte Stanley Walter Fensome, of the 7th Bedfords, who would have been 21 years of age next month. He was the eldest son of Mr Walter Fensome, bootmaker, of 63-65 Duke Street.

  • A bare announcement in the casualty lists on Thursday listed the death of Pte H. Lewin (Luton), Bedfordshire Regiment. News of his death in hospital in Egypt from heat stroke was received by his widow and eight children two days before his last letter home arrived at 33 Brunswick Street. The letter included a necklace of shells and beads he had woven for his eldest daughter as a keepsake. [Pte Lewin's family name was Lowin.]

  • From a message received by Mr and Mrs Henry Hill, of 94 Cobden Street, Luton, they now know that their young sailor son, Seaman Henry Shedrick Joseph Hill, is recovering from wounds he received before he was rescued from the sea when the destroyer HMS Turbulent went down during the Battle of Jutland. He is now a prisoner of war, after his death was erroneously reported by the Admiralty.

  • A letter has been received from Pte Bert Silsby, Beds Regt. who is in the 1st Southern General Hospital at Birmingham, by his parents at 104 Ashburnham Road, Luton. Describing his experiences in the big push, he writes: "I went over the top with the rest at 7.30 on July 1st and got a packet in my right shoulder, a machine gun bullet. I got as far as the German third line when the bullet hit me and knocked me over like a ninepin. Then I crawled into a shell hole to take cover, and the lumps of iron were whizzing about. Afterwards I crept back to our lines, and that took me three hours. There I was dressed and then we had to walk six miles to the nearest village. Since then I have been all over France, and have finished up at Blighty at last."

  • An old offender fined 10 shillings, or seven days in jail, for using obscene language while under the influence of drink in Manchester Street last Monday still owed 5s after appearing in court last August, the Borough Court heard this morning. Ephraim Gore, of Waller Street, said he had paid a total of £175 into the court from previous offences - "enough to pay 1,000 soldiers". He said he would pay what he owed as soon as he got the money, but was told, "you have to pay it today". He was given a little time, however.

  • Luton should be prepared to loyally carry out the Government's wishes to sacrifice the customary August Bank Holiday closedown of firms in the town, especially those involved in the production of munitions. The comments came from Mayor Alderman J. H. Staddon ahead of a meeting with the Chamber of Commerce and the Retail Traders' Association. The Mayor said he thought it would be unwise to create a holiday atmosphere in the existing circumstances, and Luton workers generally should reconcile themselves to the fact there would be no official Bank Holiday closing.

  • Mr E. Graham Falcon, proprietor of the Grand Theatre, Luton, and a member of the British Sea Anglers' Society, has again had excellent sport while fishing at Ballycotton [Ireland]. His mammoth catch of 640 lb included a magnificent halibut of 91 lb, a 20 lb cod, a 38 lb ling and a skate of 147 lb.