"The Soldier's Chorus" Postcard, 1914 [Z1306/75/16/56]
Friday 25th September 1914: The billeting of large numbers of soldiers in the county has brought with it a number of difficulties.This week the Luton News carried the following report:
"About thirty of the soldiers at Dunstable were attacked by an insidious enemy, which came on in great numbers and took such skilful advantage of cover that there seemed little hope of repelling it (or them) without assistance.[1] Accordingly, the soldiers retreated on the Luton Union House, the enemy hanging on with great tenacity. Here, by means of very hot baths for the soldiers and fumigation for their clothes, the enemy was completely destroyed. The soldiers stayed the night at the Union House, were made very comfortable by the Master and his staff, and next morning, after a breakfast, “went on their way rejoicing.” The enemy crept upon the soldiers very stealthily and unexpectedly, having, it is said, been brought into contact with the soldiers through the blankets which were supplied to them."
Source: Luton News
[1] It is not clear from this extract which bugs the soldiers had to contend with - lice, fleas or bedbugs. Lice were a serious problem in the trenches with as many as 97% of soldiers suffering from infestations, but they were largely confined to the Front so fleas or bedbugs are more likely culprits. For more about body lice during the war see this article at First World War.com.
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