Digest of stories from the Luton News: Thursday, November 30th, 1916.

A phone message went the rounds of the police stations in the Luton Division on Monday afternoon announcing the fact that two Germans had escaped from the Woburn Internment Camp, and the result was that all the police, including specials, were on the qui vivre.

It appears when the roll call was read over after dinner, the two Germans in question failed to answer to their names. The two men (Paul Hubner and Iron Cross ribbon holder Carl Schwarz) were arrested at 8 am on Tuesday morning by two officers and taken to Biscot Camp, whence they were conveyed to the Luton Workhouse about 11 o'clock.

They were confined in the Military Detention Barracks to await an escort back to Woburn. They gave their correct names and were wearing their grey uniforms, but had secured civilian caps. Their smart and early capture is regarded as highly satisfactory by those in authority.

• About midday on Tuesday considerable public interest was aroused by a visit of an airship which hovered over the town at a low altitude for a few minutes and then made off in the direction of Harpenden. The driver and pilot, who were quite visible to the man in the street, appeared a little uncertain of the direction they desired to take, but after performing a complete circle in a remarkably small area, they evidently arrived at a decision and soon disappeared.

• Followers of Luton Town FC will sympathise with Pte William Tempest, the popular left-winger, in the bereavement which kept him out of the field last Saturday. Pte Tempest was at home owing to the death and funeral of his eldest sister.

Wounded: Ptes Depledge, Cheshire and Olney

• Pte O. C. Olney, Middlesex Regiment, had the lower part of his left leg amputated at hospital in Boulogne after he was shot by a bullet that smashed the bone just above his ankle. The 25-year-old was apprenticed to printer Mr Stalker, of Wellington Street, Luton, before joining the Colours on May 19th and going into the trenches on September 23rd to take part in the attack on Thiepval three days later. He was badly wounded scrambling over the edge of a mine crater and it was after 24 hours of intense pain that he was picked up.

• Cpl R. C. Depledge, son of Mr and Mrs Depledge of 5 Edward Street, Luton, and a well-known local pianist, has been wounded in action in France, and is now in a military hospital in Kent. He joined the Northern Cycle Battalion at Newcastle a few weeks after the outbreak of war.

• Mrs Cheshire, of 60 Butlin Road, Luton, has received news that her husband, Gunner F. G. Cheshire, was wounded on November 3rd. He and other gunners were working on a big gun when a sudden explosion of shrapnel killed all but Gunner Cheshire, who received injured to his left knee, right thigh and right arm, which was so badly injured that it required amputation. the 27-year-old former Luton Industrial Co-operative Society milkman has undergone eight operations at the 3rd Western General Military Hospital at Newport, Monmouthshire. He joined the Royal Field Artillery at Biscot Camp in April.

• An inquest jury on Monday returned a verdict of suicide whilst temporarily insane on domestic servant Sarah Jane Smith, aged 18, whose body was found in Wardown lake along with a postcard addressed to a soldier at Biscot Camp who was shortly expected to be drafted to the Front.

• The families of three Lutonians reported missing in action on the Somme were still living in hope that there would eventually be good news of their sons. Second Lieut Charles Frederick Burley, son of hat manufacturer Mr Richard Burley, of Leagrave Road, Pte William Impey, son of Mr Alfred Impey, of Arthur Street, and Pte Sidney Charles Anthony, of 83 Bury Park Road, had not been seen since going into action. All three would finally be found to have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

• Men confirmed to have given their lives in action included Pte Joseph Ward, of 85 Park Road West, Luton; Sapper Bert Tomlinson, of 31 Beech Road, Luton, and Pte Charles Wood, of 74 Hitchin Road, Luton.

• No little interest will be manifested in the re-opening last week of the Park Street Picturedrome under new management. It is a splendid hall, and every effort will be made to ensure its popularity. The management is the same as that at the well-established Wellington Street hall, and Mr J. Goldberg is the resident manager.

• On Monday at 1.30 pm the Luton Town Fire Brigade were summoned to the Vauxhall Works, Kimpton Road, where a slight fire had broken out in the engine testing room. The Works Brigade were already at work, and the worst of the fire was over by two o'clock. The engine testing shop was idle at the time as the men were at lunch.

• A letter writer complained of the nuisance caused by the "loud-mouthed shouting" of the boys selling the London evening papers. "As I write tonight (November 24th) George Street is teeming with these lads dinning the news of another hospital ship sunk as if it is a fine performance on Germany's part in sinking boats used for the transport of wounded soldiers."