Pte Alfred Hankin, 8143, B Company, 1st Battalion, Beds Regt, died on October 30th, 1914, in the No. 6 Clearing Hospital, Bethune, France, from wounds received in action. He was aged 28.
He had served eight years with the colours and had 17 months to serve in the Reserve when war broke out. He was called up on August 5th.
His mother and invalid father lived at 64 Ivy Road, Luton. While on the Reserve list Pte Hankin, who formerly lived in Dunstable, had been working at the bleaching and dying works of Mr J. L. Frenay-Pirotte in Leagrave Road.
Stewart Butler Hubbard, the newest member of Luton Town Council following his election in North Ward on Monday, November 2nd, 1914, was described by The Luton News as a man whose business history would "rank among what may be termed the romances of the straw trade".
At a meeting of the Bleachers and Dyers Section of the Luton Chamber of Commerce held on Monday, the position of the industry under the present war conditions was carefully considered, and at a general meeting of the industry convened by the section yesterday (Wednesday) the following statement was confirmed and signed by the various firms: