Stories from The Luton News: Thursday, August 17th, 1916.

Some of the Luton girls engaged in the production of munitions are very indignant at what the local correspondent of the Hatters Gazette said with regard to "pampered munition workers," and one of them, writing on behalf of herself and co-workers, says:

"No doubt readers will have seen the paragraph about the pampered munition workers and their holidays, but the small photos - sent herewith - will show that they can enjoy themselves equally to the girls in the straw trade, and without losing time from work in which they are doing a bit of good for their King and Country. If more girls turned round and went to munition work, the boys in the trenches would not have to wait for shots.

"I don't think holidays will worry many of the girls. But I must refer to the writer of the paragraph, who may be a bit of a slacker himself. If he is, I hope he will soon turn round and do something worthwhile. Where would any of us be if there were no munition workers? They have certainly done their bit, so from my point of view they ought to have a holiday more than the straw girls, for many of the latter don't think of turning out of bed before nine o'clock, while the shell girls are up and at it a long time before that.

"And they enjoy themselves too. Look at the small photo and see them enjoying half-an-hour's recreation before working. As for being overpaid, the girls have to earn it before they get it, but I think some of the girls have a jolly sight more pluck than some of the men.

"Anyway, they don't mind waiting until the war is over before they think of taking a holiday, although they well deserve a rest. I think it would be better if the slackers would help a little, and then the war would be over a bit sooner."

• Tuesday, August 15th, the anniversary of the gallant charge of the 1/5th Bedfordshire Regiment in Gallipoli when so many of our brave local lads fell for the honour of King and Country, was fittingly celebrated by the 3/5th Bedfordshire Battalion at Halton Park Camp by a short service followed by a march past in review order. A letter writer asked if Luton had forgotten the anniversary - a memorial service to mark the event would have been appreciated after so many local boys fell at Gallipoli.

• After some terrible experiences during the war, another Luton hero has found his last resting place on the battlefield of France. Mrs Allen, of 47 Chase Street, Luton, has had the sad news of the death of her son, Pte Frederick Allen, originally of the 1st Bedfordshire Regiment. After being wounded and in hospital twice, he went back to France on July 9th and was transferred to the 10th Manchesters, with whom he was killed in action on July 30th.

• The parents of Pte Josiah Webb, of Farley Green, on August 2nd received official notification that their boy had died of wounds on July 12th which news, following upon that of the death of another son, Charles, three days previously, came as a dreadful shock. Josiah Webb was employed on the Stockwood Estate prior to enlistment.

• The village of Slip End has to add another name to its grim toll of the war - L-Cpl John Prime, of 2 Front Street, who has met a hero's death in France. A letter from comrade Pte D. Field said: "Jack was killed in action on July 31st about 10.30 in the morning. He was struck by an enemy shell which mortally wounded him. He was unconscious for about half an hour or so, and was later buried by another shell."

• Mr A. Snoxell, of 84 Grange Road [now St Peters Road], Luton, has been notified by the War Office, under date August 15th, 1916, that no further news having been received of his son, Pte Cyril Snoxell, of the 1/5th Bedfordshires, the Army Council have been regretfully constrained to conclude that he is dead, and that his death took place on 15th August, 1915.

• Cpl James Crawford, of 18 Clifton Road, Luton, is now in the 14th Scottish General Hospital at Glasgow suffering from shrapnel wounds in his side and arm and a fractured shoulder. He met with his injuries on July 1st.

• Cpl Tom Harris, a native of Luton whose mother lives at 23 Jubilee Street, has been wounded a second time, in the great advance, and is in a Birmingham hospital. Before enlistment in the 1st Bedfords he was employed at the Diamond Foundry.

• Soldier-poet Pte F. E. Butterfield, aged 19, returns to duty this afternoon after being home at 24 Bridge Street, Luton, on sick leave, wounded for the fifth time while being cut off for five days at Trones Wood. An uncle of the former employee of Mr G. Powdrill was killed at Gallipoli after passing through the Boer War unscathed.

• Pte Ebenezer Logan, aged 21, whose widowed mother lives at 8 Windsor Street, Luton, is convalescing after being a patient at the Queen Victoria Hospital at Bristol suffering from wounds in both legs. The former employee of the Luton Bleaching and Dyeing Company, Chapel Street, had been in the firing line in France for about 12 months.

• Pte Fred Hurst, of the Beds Regiment, was wounded in the leg at Trones Wood on July 10th after taking part in the big push, and is in the Clopton War Hospital, Stratford-on-Avon. He is the son-in-law of Mrs Gutteridge, of 23 Ash Road, Luton, and had gone to France on June 22nd, ten days after he was married.

• Pte J. Garratt, who is now with the Mechanical Transport, A.S.C, in Egypt and whose home is at Wellington Street, Luton, wrote that his job took him many miles every day delivering rations. He also drove Company officers in a Vauxhall D type "and I am pleased to say it does not give me five minutes trouble". He is pictured above with the Vauxhall car.

• The story of Pte A. Bozier, whose home is at 59 May Street, Luton, is rather a sad one. He had a wife in a sanatorium at Chesterfield, and six little children. He himself was wounded by shrapnel in the battle of Loos, and for many weary months was laid up in Reading and Wokingham hospitals. Today he is at Bedford engaged in light duty, owing to partial paralysis due to "trench foot".

• We understand on excellent authority that Sgt Frank F. Croot, formerly a labour master at the Luton Union Workhouse since May 15th, 1912, has been recommended by the Colonel of his regiment for a commission. He is a married man with one child and joined the R.A.M.C. at the outbreak of war. His father is deputising for him at the workhouse during his war service.

• Away from the battlefield, the news that Mr Frederick J. Hunt (pictured right), formerly hon secretary of the Luton Supporters Club, had passed away on Sunday morning will come as a shock to many in Luton, and more especially to those interested in local football and athletics. He was only 27 years of age and had been ailing for about 12 months. He had also been assistant secretary of Luton Canine Society. He lived at 277 High Town Road and had been employed as a clerk at Messrs Laporte's, Park Street. He was married about two years ago.

• Mr C. D. Leiper has been promoted from the postmastership of Buxton [Derbyshire] to that at Luton. For many years he was a newspaper special telegraphist. He is due at Luton at an early date in succession to Mr David Alfred Brown, who has retired for health reasons. Mr Brown should have retired in June 1915 but was requested to remain in the service due to the depletion of postal staff by the war.

• Yesterday at Luton Borough Court, Henry Bumstead, of Castle Street, was summoned at the instance of the RSPCA for having worked a horse in an unfit state on August 7th, and his employer, Daniel Millward, licensee of the Bell Hotel, was summoned for having permitted the horse to be worked. The court was told that the horse's back was sore and the animal was in pain and unfit to work. Both men denied the offence - Bumstead fined 10 shillings, but the case against the employer was dismissed as he did not seem to know about the horse's condition.