Stories from The Luton News: Thursday, September 21st, 1916.

The staggering news has reached Luton that Second-Lieut Alexander Pigott Wernher, youngest son of the late Sir Julius Wernher and of Lady Wernher, of Luton Hoo and Bath House, Piccadilly, London, has fallen on the battlefield in France.

Still a stripling he was at Eton when war broke out, and he promptly responded to the call to arms, being granted a commission in the 2/1 Royal Bucks Hussars on November 18th, 1914, and gazetted in the following April.

His abilities were speedily recognised, and in September last year he was attached to the staff of General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien in East Africa. When the General fell ill and returned home, Lieut Wernher accompanied him, and on April 11th last, such was his anxiety for active service that he got his transfer to the Welsh Guards, with whom he went to the Front on July 17th. Lieut Alec Wernher is pictured, right (photo by Frederick Thurston).

We are forbidden to give the exact place of his death, but it was one of those fortuitous circumstances which are incidental to warfare. On September 10th he was first wounded in the leg, and it was while he was being borne from the field that he received a mortal wound and was laid to rest in a soldier's grave behind the firing line.

Lady Wernher was staying at Berwick when the news came. At its meeting on Tuesday night, Luton Town Council members stood in silence to pass a resolution of condolence with Lady Wernher in her loss.

• The resolution was moved by the Mayor, Alderman John Staddon, who himself received a telegram the following evening during a sitting of the local Tribunal to say that his eldest son, Second Lieut John Wilfrid Staddon, had been reported missing on September 15. Later in the evening he was relieved to receive a second telegram stating that his son was in the No. 2 Red Cross Hospital at Rouen suffering from a gunshot wound in the back. Second-Lieut J. Wilfred Staddons had enlisted in the Inns of Court Officers' Training Corps ("The Devil's Own") and gained his commission with the East Surrey Regiment. He was a member of the Institute of Civil Engineers and held a post at Lewisham.

• Sad news, however, for Mrs E. Payne, of 15 Inkerman Street, Luton, who learned that her son Pte Joseph Payne, serving with the Bedfordshire Regiment, had died on July 16th from wounds sustained on July 2nd, just after the commencement of the great advance on the Somme. He was formerly employed at the Gelatine Works.

• The question of a war bonus for Luton teachers was referred back to the Education Committee for further consideration. Supporting the move, Councillor Murry Barford said he had never before known of an inquiry as to whether a man was married or not, or whether a female teacher lived with relatives or by herself being necessary before they gave a benefit. Such distinctions were absolutely paltry and unworthy of the Corporation.

• Owing to the increasing difficulties caused by the war, it has been decided by the conductor and committee of the Luton Choral Society that no concerts shall be given this season.

• An unusual outbreak of fire occurred on the premises of Messrs Barford Bros, abutting on the path between North Street and Frederic Street on Monday morning. Several hundreds tons of coal were stacked there, and it is thought that spontaneous combustion took place. Luton Fire Brigade got to work with a hose and separated the burning coal. They were busy at it until 3 pm.

• All Saints Mission Church now possesses it new organ, and on Sunday morning a short dedication service was conducted by the Rev W. F. Hellyar, curate-in-charge. Subsequently Mr Fred Bromfield illustrated the organ's musical possibilities with a recital.

• At the County Petty Sessions at St Albans on Saturday, Arthur Bell, a middle-aged man until recently gamekeeper to Lady Wernher of Luton Hoo, was charged with the theft of three fowls from land in the occupation of Mr Arthur Nott at Pollard's Farm, Kinsbourne Green, on September 8th, the farm being part of his beat. The Bench told Bell that for a man with 20 years good character, he had put himself in a most humiliating and contemptible position. The magistrates did not want to send him to prison, so he would be fined £3 with the hope that it would serve as a warning to him.

• After the meeting of the Luton Town Council on Tuesday night an informal meeting was held at which the question of the Mayoralty was considered. For some weeks past there have been many hints, both in public and private, to Alderman Staddon that he should retain the office for another year. The Mayor resisted until last night, occasionally taking refuge in the pressure of business considerations. But after a resolution was passed unanimously that he continue in office, Alderman Staddon said he and the Mayoress would be pleased to accept officer for another year with the hope that the war would end and they would have the privilege of leading the town in celebrations of a permanent peace.