Death of a Crimean War Veteran

Royal Oak, Friday Street, c.1925 [WL800/2]

Thursday 5th July 1917: The funeral has taken place today of Leighton Buzzard’s last remaining veteran of the Crimean War, who has died at the age of 82. George Wilson, of 85 South Street, enlisted on Midsummer’s Day 1844 in the 46th Regiment, now the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry. He was sent first to St. Helena and then to the Crimea. By the time he was twenty had spent two winters in the trenches at Sebastopol, where he suffered hardships from lack of suitable food and clothing which exceed any that British soldiers have to endure in the current war. Although a piece of shell took the heel off one of his boots and another knocked a pipe out of his hand, he was never wounded, though he suffered sores from lying on hard ground. He was present at the Battle of Inkerman where he helped to bury the dead.

After the Crimea he went to India where he helped to put down the Indian Mutiny. He was among the soldiers who relieved Lucknow; he also attended the consecration service at the infamous well at Cawnpore, into which the bodies of women and children killed during the mutiny had been thrown. He was discharged after twelve years’ service. In 1882 he became the landlord of the White Swan Hotel at Hockliffe, and  later of the Royal Oak in Friday Street, Leighton Buzzard. He and his wife had seven children (four of whom are still alive) and celebrated their golden wedding two years ago. His wife’s grandfather fought and Waterloo and four of her brothers were in the Army. Two of his sons-in-law are serving as Sergeant-Majors, and four grandsons and four nephews are serving in the Forces. One of his grandsons was badly wounded at Gallipoli. Despite poor health for the last year or so he remained bright and alert, and had been following the present war with interest. Once he became unable to read the newspapers he had the whole of the war news read to him daily.

Mr. Wilson’s funeral was attended by a large number of people. The local police and a detachment of Royal Engineers from the Dunstable Depot led the funeral procession. The body was carried from the house in South Street to the Cemetery. on a gun carriage drawn by six horses, and was covered by a Union Jack onto which Mr. Wilson’s medals had been pinned.

Source: Leighton Buzzard Observer, 3rd and 10th July 1917

Sunday Morning Beer

Crown Inn (left) [Z1432]

Tuesday 29th August 1916: The 71 year old landlady of the Crown Inn at Leighton Buzzard, Mrs Margaret Gotzheim, has appeared at the Leighton Police Court following a raid on the Crown and an adjacent cottage, as a result of which she was charged with selling intoxicating liquors during prohibited hours, and for selling beer to a child which was not in a sealed container. Her case was heard together with those of two men and a women who were charged with being on licensed premises during prohibited hours and with sending a child for beer. Two of these co-defendants were Henry James Dover and his wife Amelia, a daughter of Mrs. Gotzheim, who lived next door to the Crown at 2 Bedford Street.

Police Superintendent Matthews wished to read the statement from Mrs. Nellie Mell of 78 North Street to the court, but the defending solicitor objected as she was present to give her own evidence. Superintendent Matthews complained that she was now a hostile witness making statements the opposite of those she made to his police sergeant. Mrs Mell admitted signing a statement but said she was not responsible for what she said as she was so upset; she was looking after two invalids and had not been to bed for thirteen weeks. The sergeant had come into the yard on Sunday morning as she was “doing her vegetables” without invitation. He asked what had been brought to her from Mrs Dover’s house and she said milk; she also said some beer had been brought, but did not say when. The beer had actually been brought round on Saturday evening but as she was upstairs with her invalids she did not find it and drink it until just before the police came. She agreed that by then the beer was rather flat!  

Evidence was given by the police to the effect that jugs full of beer were being taken from the back door of the Crown into the Dovers’ house next door, where they were being drunk or passed on to others. The situation was complicated by the reluctance of family members to give evidence which might support the police case. One of Mrs. Gotzheim’s forty grandchildren, Henry Charles Samuel, admitted seeing his aunt, Mrs Dover, drink a half pint, but said he had never seen any beer sold before opening hours on a Sunday. Another co-defendant, Mr. George Short, was found in the Crown Inn, but said he was delivering papers, as he had done regularly for several years; he denied having been served with anything although there were drops of beer hanging on his moustache. No beer was found by the police in the Dovers’ house. 

Mrs. Gotzheim’s solicitor pointed out that his client had a clear record except for one occasion the previous year when she appeared in court on a charge of travelling to Luton without permission while registered as an alien; this would not have happened except for the war and she had held a licence for 35 years without any problems. He argued that the police evidence was based on suspicion, and all the coming and going was natural enough when those involved were relatives. The whole case hinged on a jug found at Mrs. Mell’s and the half pint drunk by Mrs. Dover. Mrs. Gotzheim explained that her daughter normally cooked a Sunday joint for her as she had a gas stove whereas the Crown did not, and she usually gave her a glass of beer for her trouble. The magistrates concluded that there was insufficient evidence and dismissed the case.

Source: Leighton Buzzard Observer, 5th September 1916

Inquiry into Licensing Hours

Red Lion Hotel, High Street, Bedford 1914 [Z1306/10/33/70]

Thursday 29th June 1916: The Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) has held an inquiry at Northampton Town Hall into a proposal that the counties of Bedford and Northampton should be scheduled as an area by Order in Council. The inquiry lasted eight hours and deputations from the local authorities and representing the licensed victuallers and brewers were heard. In Bedford market last Saturday a petition was signed by 400 farmers and tradesmen requesting the Central Board not to restrict the hours during which intoxicating liquors can be sold. They consider that any restriction will cause great inconvenience and seriously affect the agricultural industry in Bedfordshire. Statistics show that drunkenness in the boroughs and the county has much decreased since the beginning of the war.

If the Order is made it is expected that the hours for indoor consumption on licensed premises or clubs will be limited to between noon and 2.30 p.m. and 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. on weekdays, with the existing hours returned for Sundays but with an evening closing time of 9 p.m. Hours for consumption off the premises would be similar except that sales would stop at 8 p.m. Off sales of spirits would only be allowed during the mid-day period, and then only from Monday to Friday. There would also be a “no-treating” regulation forbidding the supply or consumption of liquor ordered or paid for by a third person. No person would be allowed to treat another, except to a meal, and men would not be permitted to treat their wives with liquor on licensed premises.

Source: Bedfordshire Times, 30th June 1916

Leighton Buzzard Brothel Keeper Gaoled

Friday Street, c.1925 [WL800/2]

Tuesday 30th May 1916: Mrs. Rose Phillips of 25 Friday Street, Leighton Buzzard, has appeared at the Leighton Buzzard Police Court charged with permitting the premises to be used as a brothel. The defendant, a “tall, smart looking woman” aged 23, whose husband is a soldier at the Front, was allowed to be seated during the hearing. All women were asked to leave the court. Police Sergeant Dennis stated that he had known Mrs Philips for some months and had kept observation on the house from 25th March. At various times he had seen men and women enter the house between 11 and 12 p.m., both in couples and singly. Another girl lived with Mrs Phillips, although her parents lived in the town. He gave the names of a soldier and other men he had seen visiting the house, but admitted he never actually saw anything wrong between the parties who went there. Two other policemen had seen men entering the house and observed Mrs Phillips associating with men in the street. One had seen her behaving familiarly with two men at the corner of Friday Street and had heard her say to them “Let us come to business”.

Mary Adcock, the wife of the licensee of the Royal Oak next door to the defendant’s house, said Mrs Phillips had been in the public house with men, left by the back way and went with them to her own house. On the day after Good Friday she had two girls and two men with her. They went into 25 Friday Street at 3.30 p.m. but she did not see them come out. On Easter Monday another man bought some sandwiches at the pub then went to Mrs Phillips’ house; again she did not see him leave. She had occasionally been into her neighbour’s house but had never seen any “impropriety”. Thomas Underwood of 6 Friday Street lived opposite Mrs Phillips. He had also seen men visit the house; some came out drunk and he once saw a man leave at 4.45 a.m. He had given Mrs Phillips his opinion of her character and told her she should be ashamed of herself. He did however admit that despite claiming to have a “pretty good character” himself he had been convicted about thirty times for poaching and drinking! His wife Emily Underwood stated that two other women were living with Mrs Phillips, and she had often seen men coming out at about one in the morning. There seemed to be some suspicion that Thomas Underwood had himself wished to “visit” Mrs Phillips but had been refused.

A police sergeant from Winslow (Bucks) told the court he had known Mrs Phillips for 4½ years. Her husband had been a respectable farm labourer before he was called up. At the end of 1914 he had warned her to behave herself. She had told him she was doing nothing wrong and “there was no harm in talking to soldiers”. In December 1915 her house had been placed out of bounds for the men of the 2/5th Norfolks stationed at Winslow. She moved to another address, but soldiers used to stay with her for weekends and the landlord gave her notice to quit. She had then moved to Leighton Buzzard. Mrs Phillips’ solicitor submitted that all the evidence was circumstantial and there was no case to answer; nobody had proved that anything wrong had happened at 25 Friday Street. The magistrates disagreed. Mrs Phillips was convicted and sentenced to one month’s imprisonment with hard labour. An appeal was made for a fine as an alternative as Mrs Phillips had four children aged under five, but the magistrates refused. When told her fate Mrs Phillips laughed and said she did not mind, but then broke down and sobbed bitterly.

Source: Leighton Buzzard Observer, 6th June 1916

Chequers Inn, Eaton Bray

Wednesday 17th May 1916:  An application for the transfer of the license of the Chequers Inn, Eaton Bray from Leonard Charles Durrant to Walter Long was discussed at Leighton Buzzard yesterday. Mr. Long said he was 32 years old, and had no previous experience in managing a public house. When asked if there was any reason why he should not go to the Front he replied that he expected he would be called on, but had not attested. The Chairman of the Bench was surprised that he wanted to take on the responsibility of a licensed public house when he would have to go, but he explained that his wife would look after it in his absence. He also added that he had four children. Despite this he was certain that she would manage it all right, although she also had no experience.

The Chairman said he was a brave man to sink his savings into a business of which he knew nothing, but Mr. Long was clear that he wished to proceed. He was told “It will be no good coming to the Tribunal saying you have invested your money in a public house and asking for exemption from service on that account” and that he was “running a big risk to take this house and then leave your wife in charge”. Mr. Long did say he had a “slight idea” that he would not pass the Army medical examination. The Bench agreed to grant temporary authority for a month; Mr. Long was to report back in a month’s time on his position regarding military service.[1]

Source: Leighton Buzzard Observer, 23rd May 1916

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[1] Licensing records show that Mr. Long remained the licensee of the Chequers until 1920.

Abusive Soldier at Leagrave

Royal Oak, Leagrave c.1907 [Z1306/75/12/26]

Monday 8th May 1916: Private J. Berridge of 76 Beech Road, a member of the Royal Defence Corps has been summoned for refusing to leave the Royal Oak public house at Leagrave when asked to do so by the landlady. Arthur Lawrence said that he kept house for his aunt, May Ann Bent, at the Royal Oak. Berridge had entered at about 8 pm and used bad language. He was asked to leave and refused any further drink. Berridge refused to go and continued to swear. A special constable who was in the Royal Oak at the time said the soldier had become very abusive and offensive and had ignored requests to leave from the landlady, her nephew and himself. He did not appear to be drunk. Private Berridge said he did not remember anything about it. He was fined £1 and allowed a week to pay.

Source: Luton News, 11th May 1916

Military Goods on the Black Market

Market Place, Sandy c.1912, Lord Roberts pub on left [Z50/99/48]

Friday 28th April 1916: Frederick Sawford, a mechanic from Blunham, has appeared at the Biggleswade Petty Sessions on a charge of buying a pair of army issue boots from a soldier. Police Inspector Pedley told the court that on 11th April together with a Sergeant-Major he had been making enquiries into missing property and had called at the Lord Roberts public house. They questioned Mr. Sawford about the boots – which were new - and he stated he had given 8 shillings for them. He claimed the soldier had told him they were no good to him and he had had them for some time; the soldier had also said they were his own and were bought and paid for. Mr. Sawford admitted feeling uneasy about the transaction and now felt it was very foolish. Sergeant-Major Barker identified the boots as army issue, with a value of 21 shillings.

Before making a decision the Magistrates decided to hear a second case in which James Spring, publican of Sandy and licensee of the Lord Roberts, was charged with buying two shirts from a soldier. When Inspector Pedley visited the pub and enquired about the sale of property Mr. Spring had mentioned Frederick Sawford’s purchase of the pair of boots, but at first denied purchasing anything himself. A few minutes later he “remembered” buying two new shirts from a Norfolk Regiment soldier to make up an amount owed to him for beer. Sergeant-Major Barker said a good deal of property had been lost which they could not trace.

This was a first offence for both Frederick Sawford and James Spring; they were both of good character and the Magistrates had received several testimonials on behalf of Sawford. Nevertheless, it was a serious offence and they were determined that this selling of Government property must be stopped. Sawford was fined 10 shillings as it was possible that he was simply buying a pair of boots. Spring’s offence was considered more serious as he was a publican and it was more obvious that the soldier could not have had any legal right to the goods. He was fined £2.

Source: Biggleswade Chronicle, 28th April 1916

Woman Killed by Runaway Horse

Black Diamond PH, Cauldwell Street, Bedford [Z50-9-280]

Tuesday 18th April 1916: An inquest was held this morning at Bedford Police Station into the death of 59 year old Mrs. Emma Ellen Johnson on Saturday morning after she was knocked down by a runaway horse. Corporal Newcombe of the 2/3rd Welsh Field Artillery told the court that he was coming over the Britannia Bridge towards the town when he saw a pair of horses bolt out of the Midland Railway coalyard, attached to an empty goods trolley. The Band of the 2nd Bedfords had just passed by, playing recruits to the station and a small crowd had gathered at the side of Cauldwell Street, opposite the Black Diamond public house. The horses dashed across the road past the pub. He ran down the hill and saw Mrs. Johnson standing by the railings “in a state of collapse and moaning”. She was carried into a house by Private Turner, repeating “Oh, my back!” There was black mud on her apron.

Driver C. Cooper of the 2/1 Cheshire Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, said the horses became restive when the band came over the bridge. Corporal Price came to his aid and got hold of the other horse, but as soon as the band had passed the gate the horse he was holding jumped up into the air and made off. Corporal Price was hit in the chest by a pole and had to let go, leaving him with both horses. He held on as best he could, but had to let go in front of the rails to avoid running into them. The horses ran some way down the footpath, which was how they hit the woman. The horses stopped 150 yards down the street when one fell. He had done his very best.

Private W. J. Turner had been standing at the corner of the coal-wharf, and Mrs. Johnson was standing at the corner of Cauldwell Place when the band came along. The horses bolted across the street into a group of five or six women. Mrs. Johnson and three other women were knocked down. A military doctor was summoned and found her in a state of collapse. No bones were broken but there must have been internal injuries and he believed she died from shock as a consequence. There were bruises on her hip and thigh and he thought she had been run over. The Coroner praised Driver Cooper for his efforts and expressed great sympathy for Mrs. Johnson’s family. A verdict of accidental death was given.

Source: Bedfordshire Times, 21st April 1916

Landlord’s Son Wounded for a Second Time

Corporal Jim Quenby

Monday 13th December 1915: The son of the landlord of the Swan at Bromham has been wounded for a second time. Corporal Jim Quenby was in a communication trench waste deep in mud so had to get on top to reach the firing line; while doing so he was shot through both thighs. Corporal Quenby was one of eight Bedford lands who joined the 6th Gordon Highlanders while they were billeted in Bedford. Within a couple of weeks of arriving in France they took part in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle where one of the Bedford lads was killed and four others wounded including Quenby. After eight weeks recuperating in hospital at Rouen he returned to the Front where he was the only Bedford boy left in the firing line. As an expert bomb thrower he has on occasion been in trenches only 15 yards from the enemy. Before he enlisted in October last year Corporal Quenby was a clerk in the finance department of Bedford Corporation. He is now being treated at the Lahore British General Hospital. His father has received a letter from the Chaplain stating that there has been a slight improvement in his condition.

Source: Bedfordshire Standard 10th December 1915

Aspley Guise Landlord Prosecuted

The former Duke's Head, Aspley Guise, 2008  [CR/PH]

Friday 5th November 1915: George William Kilpin, the landlord of the Duke’s Head beerhouse at Aspley Guise has pleaded not guilty to opening the premises during prohibited hours on October 16th and to obstructing a police constable in the execution of his duty. P.C. Stonebridge stated that at 11.30pm he was on West Hill, Aspley Guise and heard voices in Kilpin’s front room. Looking through a parting in the blind he saw Harold Bowler talking to Kilpin, with a pint mug of beer on the table in front of him. The policeman went to the door and Kilpin denied having Harold Bowler on the premises and refused to allow him to look round, shutting the door in his face. He pushed his way into the room and saw beer in the mug on the table; he then went to the back door and saw Bowler running across the yard and out of the back gate. He went after him and found him hiding near the corner of the gate.

Kilpin’s solicitor pointed out that there was no offence committed in choosing to have a friend on the premises after closing time and there was no dispute that this is why Bowler was there, having been to the common with Kilpin to see a sickly calf. There was no attempt at concealment – the lights were burning in the house and the conversation was loud. There was no evidence that drink had been sold to Bowler and Mr. Kilpin had no recollection of obstructing the constable, only that there had been some “conversation” as to whether Bowler was in the house. At this time it was literally true that Bowler was not in the house as he had left and was in the yard. He admitted to a lack of tact, but it was pointed out that an argument over whether the policeman was entitled to enter the private parts of the house was not the same as obstruction.

Kilpin stated that he had been the tenant of the Duke’s Head for ten years and also occupied land in the village. He had asked Bowler to go with him to give a drink to a sick calf, being short of labour since his brother had left him due to the war. When they got home he had asked Bowler to help with some threshing the next day. Before leaving Bowler went into the house to “speak to the missus” and left just as the knock came at the door. The policeman had told Bowler “I have got you for being on licensed premises during prohibited hours”, to which Bowler responded that he was not on licensed premises. Bowler had promised to attend Court but for some unknow reason had gone to Woburn Park instead. The magistrate announced that they were inclined to convict Kilpin, but adjourned the case to allow Bowler to be summoned to give evidence.

Source: Leighton Buzzard Observer 9th November 1915

Disgraceful Scenes at Leagrave

High Street, Leagrave 1914 [Z1306/75/12/3]

Wednesday 22nd September 1915: Complaints have been made of “disgraceful scenes” at Leagrave as a result of the National Reservists stationed there enjoying themselves outdoors on a Sunday afternoon. More generous spirits have pointed out that it would be better if the complainers used their influence to provide better facilities for the men stationed at Leagrave, such as a reading room and opportunities for games. They are there to guard the premises and business of people engaged in war work and making war profits, and those firms should make better provision for the men’s comfort.

The seventy men based at Leagrave are a mix of old soldiers, militia, and old Volunteers. One-third are on duty at any time, leaving 40 or more off duty. As they have to answer a roll call every night they are unable to get far away from the village. They are billeted in houses where there is little space and the men have to find somewhere to pass their time. Many are driven to spend time in the pub because there are no alternatives. The Reservists are mostly “elderly men who have knocked about the world” and would quite reasonably resent any restrictions on their conduct.

Source: Luton News, 16th and 23rd September 1915

German Landlady's Only Fault

The Crown, Leighton Buzzard, 2008 [ © BLARS]

Tuesday 1st June 1915: Margaret Gotzheim, aged 70, the landlady of the Crown Inn in North Street, Leighton Buzzard, has appeared at Leighton Petty Sessions today charged as an enemy alien with travelling more than five miles from her registered address on May 17th. Superintendent Matthews stated that on that day she went in a wagonette to Luton with her family, but was a German subject and had no permit. She had been seen and recognised by a police constable driving along George Street in Luton with her two daughters. Mrs. Gotzheim had registered as an alien in August and had been warned at the time that she was not to travel more than five miles without a permit.

Questioned by the chairman of the Bench the Superintendent said that there were three aliens registered in the Leighton Buzzard Petty Sessional Division and that Margaret Gotzheim had lived in the country for forty years. Her sons and daughters were all born here and are English subjects. She herself said that she had been in England for sixty years and remarked “Yes, I am German born, but that is the only fault I have got”. Mrs. Gotzheim pleaded guilty and was fined £20 with 6 shillings costs. She responded “I ain’t going to pay; I’m not”.

Source: Luton News 3rd June 1915

Anti-German Demonstrations at Bedford

The Crown Public House, 2010 [BLARS]

Sunday 16th May 1915: This weekend Bedford has seen its first anti-German demonstrations. The first took place on Friday night at the Crown Inn, at the junction of Cauldwell Street and Britannia Road. The landlord, Mr Kasteleiner, although born in Germany is a naturalised British subject and has been the licensee of the Crown for around thirty years. His wife is believed to be of English parentage. Rumours passed around the town yesterday that the public house was to be attacked, and the demonstration began soon after nine o’clock. Windows and furniture were smashed, a slot machine was broken up and the money taken, bottles of whisky and cigars were thrown out, and the buffet at the back of the bar was destroyed. Part of the wall adjoining the pub was pulled down and the bricks used to carry out the destruction. Furniture elsewhere in the downstairs rooms of the house and other articles were carried away by bystanders. A piano was overturned and badly damaged. By the time the police arrived there was little they could do; order was not restored until after midnight.

Last night a second attack took place, this time on the premises of Mr. A. Scheuermann, a pork butcher, at 13 Tavistock Street. Mr. Scheuermann is also a naturalised British subject; one of his sons is with the British Expeditionary Force in France and his daughter is a military nurse. Although soldiers were on duty outside the shop the large plate glass window was broken. The crowd rushed the shop but were held back by the soldiers. Reinforcements were sent who closed off that part of Tavistock Street and prevented further damage.

Source: Bedfordshire Standard, 21st May 1915

The Early Closing Order

Thursday 8th October 1914: The level of complaint about the restrictions on opening hours introduced in Luton has been such that a new order has been issued allowing licensed premises to open at any time from 6 a.m. and to sell alcoholic drinks until 9.30 p.m. After 9.30 p.m. they are allowed to remain open, but not to sell intoxicating liquor. Proving that you can never please everyone, the Luton News has published this letter to the editor:

Letter to the Editor of the Luton News Sir, - “The eating of the leek” policy adopted by the Luton Licesnsing Justices is extremely painful to all those who are desirous of a sober and decorous period, during the national crisis through which the nation is pasing, and the extra hour-and-half allowed for the consumption of minerals certainly savours of extreme ludicrousness. Where is there one patron of public-houses that would be content with swallowing cold ginger beer and lemonade these chilly October nights? It’s altogether highly farcical. I would like to ask the average working man if he cannot spend all the spare cash he has at his command for beer by 9 p.m. every night, especially in these hard and trying times. In fact, Sir, as times are, many, many shillings of our husbands spent in beer before 9 p.m. ought to go on the children’s feet or help to fill the empty cupboard, and if anyone takes the trouble upon different nights to notice when the soldiers turn out of the public houses, they will soon come to the conclusion, that in many instances, even for their welfare, the hour of 9 p.m. was amply late enough, and as regards the trade, there are many towns that have not nearly the military billeted upon them as Luton has, that have been closed at 9 p.m. weeks ago. – I remain, yours truly, A WORKING MAN’S WIFE.

 Source: Luton News 8/10/1914

Intoxicating Liquor (Temporary Restriction) Act

Plume of Feathers public house on the corner of Guildford Street and Bridge Street, Luton [Z1306/75/10/27/1]

Wednesday 23rd September 1914, Luton (Public Notice)

THE INTOXICATING LIQUOR

(TEMPORARY RESTRICTION) ACT,

1914.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Licensing Justices for the Borough of Luton have made an ORDER directing that on and from the 28th day of SEPTEMBER, 1914, and until further notice, the Sale of Intoxicating Liquors on the premises of any persons holding any retailer’s license in the Borough of Luton, and in all Registered Clubs, shall be suspended between the hours of 9 o’clock p.m. and 8 o’clock a.m. of the following day, and have further ordered that all Licensed Premises and all Registered Clubs in the said Borough shall be CLOSED daily between the said hours of 9 p.m. and 8 a.m. of the following day until further notice.

               By order,

                      WILLIAM AUSTIN,

                      Clerk to the said Justices,

                      7, George-street West, Luton,

                      23rd September 1914.

Note: The Act of Parliament authorised Justices to introduce local restrictions on opening hours for public houses and off-licenses. It was intended for areas where there were large numbers of troops and not for general application. Closing times earlier than 9 p.m. could not be introduced without the permission of the Home Secretary.
Source: Luton News 24/9/14 and 1/10/14

Sing-Songs in Public Houses

Group of people in a wagonette outside the Globe Inn, 26 Union Street, Luton c.1914 [Z50/75/246]

Friday 14th August 1914 (Luton):  While the country faces up to wartime there is talk that some restrictions should be put on the opening hours of public-houses and beerhouses to reduce drunkenness. Some people would also like to see other attractions of the public-house curtailed, as show by this letter to the Luton News: 

Sing Songs in Public-Houses
Sir. – May I be allowed through your useful paper to suggest that the above be prohibited as long as the war lasts. There are many reasons to put forward why they should be. First is, that they entice husbands and fathers to stay away from home night after night spending what the children ought to have upon their feet, or what ought to go towards providing for the bad time that is fast coming. Many families could hold out months longer when poverty begins if husbands were more careful; and again, when our partners emerge from the public-house, more or less muddled, they are apt to become a nuisance, if not dangerous to their own neighbourhood, as their beery patriotism often demonstrates. In conclusion, Sir, I am not a temperance faddist, but I think during these serious times that we are embarking upon, any and everything that entices the married man to spend his money wastefully and recklessly should be curtailed. Yours truly,
“A Mother of Seven”

Source: Luton News 13th August 1914