Digest of stories from The Luton News: Thursday, October 25th, 1917.

Rifleman Cecil Powell, of the Royal Irish Rifles and son of Mr S. G. Powell, blockmaker, of 66 Melson Street, Luton, has been in hospital in Kent for some weeks with terribly severe wounds, and he is now awaiting a further operation.

About two months ago he was in the St Julien push when a shell burst and a piece went through his cheeks and his face was greatly lacerated. Another inch higher and he would have lost his eyesight. Several teeth were knocked out.

He was also wounded in the leg. He pluckily walked back to the nearest dressing station, and while lying there one of his chums rendered first aid. He had lost a lot of blood.

But his danger was not over, for a shell dropped at the door of the hospital and killed five, including two doctors. Although still losing blood, he got up and walked to the next dressing station, which was down a mine shaft. He was able to get into an ambulance and was then brought to England. The operation is now necessary on account of his lip being drawn by the wound.

Rifleman Powell evidently bears a charmed life, for during his eight months service in France he had a very narrow escape at a chateau, as did his chum Horace Bell, of Luton, when a shell burst just outside the building.

• It is particularly fitting that the first list of nurses mentioned to His Majesty for services rendered in connection with the war appears the name of Mrs R. Durler (picturedn right) who, in conjunction with Mrs Green, has been in charge of Wardown Hospital since it was opened by the local Red Cross Society. The list at present published is only as far as the letter 'E'.

• Mr Tom Smith, Secretary of the Luton Trades and Labour Council, sent a resolution to Luton Town Council passed on October 11th, stating that that body withdrew their member (Mr P. J. Banks) from the Food Committee as a protest against the constitution of the committee, on the grounds that one direct representative of labour is not sufficient. The Town Clerk (Mr William Smith) said he had replied that the Trades and Labour Council could not withdraw their member, as he had been appointed for 12 months, but Mr Banks could resign if he chose. He had expressed the hope, however, that the Trades Council would reconsider their decision. As he had received no notice from Mr Banks, he still remained a member of the committee.

• On Tuesday evening, Mr James Hogg MP, Hon President of the National Federation of Discharged and Demobilised Sailors and Soldiers, visited Luton and addressed a meeting of discharged men under the auspices of the Luton Association. There was a good attendance at the Town Hall meeting.

• There is deep sorrow in the local Salvationist ranks at the death of L-Cpl Horace Mayles, who was a bandsman and songster at the Park Street Temple, and sincere sympathy is felt with the young widow and her child, who reside at 14 Wood Street.

• While their son Percy 'Punch' Lovell is now en route for the United States to train American troops in European warfare, parents Mr and Mrs John Lovell, of 315 Hitchin Road, Luton, have received the painful news that another son, Pte Gerald Lovell, who enlisted as a private in the Bedfordshire Regiment last November, had been killed in action. The news came as a great shock to his young wife, who resides at 12 Langley Road.

• A hospital sister on an ambulance train in France writes to Mrs Boustred, of 26 Russell Street, Luton, with the news that her son, Pte Harry Boustred, died from wounds while being conveyed to a base hospital.

• Sad news has been received by Mrs Jackson, of 78 Frederic Street, Luton, that her husband,Pte William Jackson, of the Middlesex Regiment, who had been wounded on August 7th, is now also reported missing. [Pte Jackson was later presumed killed on that date.]

• Pte Walter John Smith, Bedfordshire Regiment, son of Mr and Mrs Smith, of 1 Blyth Place, Luton, has been posted as missing on October 7th. [He was later confirmed killed in action in Palestine on that date].

• Although official notification from the War Office has not been received by Mrs Stevens, of 49 Stuart Street, Luton, of the death of her son, Pte Frederick Stevens, a letter from a comrade breaks the painful news that he was killed in action on September 26th.

• Mrs Fane, of The Limes, Gardenia Avenue, Leagrave, has received news that her son Pte Frank Fane has died of wounds. A fortnight ago Mrs Fane had a War Officer notification saying he was wounded in the neck.

• The official notification, dated October 16th from the Record Office to Mrs Fessey, of 13 Dunstable Place, Luton, that her son Pte David Fessey had been killed in action in France on September 22nd, was a particularly sad one as before joing up the young soldier was practically the supporter of his mother and the mainstay of the household.

• The fate of Pte Gerald Bigmore, of Stopsley, has been somewhat uncertain. A Luton friend in the Sherwoods wrote that he had been missing from his regiment since September 26th. His parents looked forward to receiving hopeful news, but this week heard he was dead.

• Lutonians will learn with regret that Company Sgt-Major Arthur John Day, who some time ago was awarded the French Medaille Militaire, has been wounded in Egypt. He is now in hospital at El Arish, suffering from gunshot wounds in the head sustained on September 8th. The news of his wounds was received at his home, 6 Gaitskill Terrace, Luton, on Thursday.

• The friends of Rifleman T. Scrivener will regret to hear that he has been lying in Multan Hospital, India, since September 4th, suffering from malaria fever. The news has been received by his wife at 80 Ash Road, Luton, on Friday.

• Yesterday's casualty lists included the name of Sec Lieut H. Douglas-Stratford, of the Grenadier Guards, son of Mr and Mrs E. Douglas Stratford, of Luton. He had received a slight gunshot wound in the right leg, just above the knee, and is now comfortably settled in a private hospital in the West End.

• After a strenuous three years and more of service, Pte Charlie Burkett, of Stopsley, has been wounded in the legs and feet, but fortunately his wounds are not too serious.

• A solemn, impressive atmosphere pervaded King Street Congregational Church on Sunday afternoon, when hundreds of Luton men met to pay tribute to the late Gunner Edwin Jeffs who, as recorded in our columns last week, met a heroic death in France on October 4th. As he was leader of the King Street Pleasant Sunday Afternoon (P.S.A.) Orchestra and one of the founders and conductors of the Luton Orchestral Society, it was thought fitting that his fellow musicians should combine with the Brotherhood in paying their tribute to his memory. It was an impressive memorial service with an eloquent eulogium by the Minister, the Rev E. B. Mahon.

• For bravery under fire, Rifleman L. Barrett (pictured, right), of 93 North Street,Luton, has received a Military Medal. He belongs to the Headquarters Company, Runners Battalion, and has been in France since July.

• Last Friday afternoon, Mr and Mrs Gordon, of Maulden, honorary organisers for the 'Blackberry Scheme' in Bedfordshire, visited Norton Road Mixed School, Leagrave, and congratulated Mr P. E. Mitchell, the headmaster, and the scholars on collecting over 5 cwt of blackberries for the purpose of making jam for our soldiers and sailors. The scholars of late have been very keen on gathering horse chestnuts for making munitions of war - nearly two tons at present. [It was hoped the conkers could be used to create acetone for the manufacture of cordite.]

• In round figures, the result of Luton's 'Our Day' in aid of the British Red Cross Society was a record £3,500, but this will be exceeded because the fund is being kept open until next Saturday, as a number of contributions are still outstanding.

• The development of motor power in relation to agriculture was exemplified at Priory Farm, Sharpenhoe, on Friday, when an interesting demonstration was given of the Eros tractor attachment. The display was arranged by the Bates Motor Works Ltd, of Luton, Hertford and Essex. The attachment is applicable to any type of Ford car, and it is claimed to be equal in work of three or four horses by converting an ordinary car for the time being into a powerful farm tractor.