Comrades of the Great War

George Street, Luton 1905 [Z1306/75/10/23/2]

Sunday 10th February 1918: The organisation “Comrades of the Great War” has recently established itself in Luton. It is hoped that a club and headquarters will soon be opened in premises at 5 Upper George Street, which had been occupied by the military authorities for some time but have now been taken over by the Comrades. The object of the organisation is to create a fellowship among those who have served the country in his Majesty’s Forces, on land, at sea, or in the air. The social club is intended to provide members with some home comfort and also to offer an employment bureau for demobilised men. The promoters also hope to eventually be in a position to give practical help to the dependents of men lost in the war. Last week the membership stood at 288, with over 200 in Luton. The organisers are at pains to stress that they are not in opposition to the Discharged Soldiers’ Federation, and if that impression had been given by anyone it was deeply regretted. Politically the organisation is neutral, with men of any political inclination welcome. The chief desire of the leaders of the movement in Luton is to establish a club which will be a boon to any men who return from the war friendless, and will help to cement friendships and the spirit of comradeship acquired by sharing the fortunes and misfortunes of war. The membership fee is one shilling, with one shilling extra for the badge; the cost of enjoying the social side of the club is expected to be one or two pence a week.

Source: Luton News, 7th February 1918

Luton Hat Trade Training Scheme Delayed

Straw hat stall at Luton market, 1920 [Z1306/75/17/43]

Thursday 31st January 1918: At a meeting of the Luton War Pensions Committee a strong protest has been made against the holding up of the scheme for training discharged men for the hat industry. The Committee appointed to oversee the scheme were almost on the point of resignation due to the procrastination of the two Government departments responsible, which apparently had a difference of opinion as to how it should be carried out. Rumour in the town blamed the manufacturers, on the one had for trying to make something out of the scheme, and on the other for holding it up because they could not make anything out of it! In fact the manufacturers were anxious for it to go ahead, not for profit but simply to assist in the good work of training the disabled. A minimum of twelve trainees was required for the scheme to start - there were currently eight applications from men hoping to be trained, but there had been many other enquiries which came to nothing because the work was not ready. The Committee agreed to protest strongly to the Government departments which were causing the delay.

Source: Luton News, 31st January 1918

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

Bedfordshire National Reserve

Shire Hall, Bedford [Z1306/10/58/8]

Friday 6th November 1914: Older men who are veterans of the armed forces have been wondering how they can put their military experience to use in the current conflict. An answer to this question has been provided by the following notice which has appeared in the local press:

Bedfordshire National Reserve        

Men who have served in the Army, Navy, or Volunteer Forces should apply to be registered in the above Force, stating age and previous service. 

They will be registered in two classes:
            Class 2 … … Ages 42 to 50
            Class 3 … … Ages 50 to 55

Men under 42 can only be registered at this time if medically unfit for General Service. The Bedfordshire National Reserve has already provided over 170 Men for H.M.Forces, since mobilisation, in addition to the Railway Guarding Company of 120 men. 

It is hoped to raise two more companies of Guards. 

            Apply in writing: -
                              MAJOR JARVIS, SHIRE HALL, BEDFORD

 Source: Luton News 5th November 1914

"I Could Cook for the Chaps"

Crimean War cannon on the Bedford Embankment, c.1906. The cannon was removed and scrapped during the Second World War [Z50/9/91]

Monday 17th August 1914 (Luton and Biggleswade): A recruiting office has opened at the Volunteer Club in Park Street, Luton where men can sign up to join the new army being raised by Lord Kitchener. Men whose teeth are too poor to be accepted into the army are being given free use of the dental clinic so that they can be passed fit by the recruiting officer. Once accepted they are sent to Bedford for a full medical examination. 

A story has been going round about an old soldier from Biggleswade, George Smith. A veteran of the Crimean War and the Indian Mutiny, he wants to go with the Expeditionary Force despite being 82 years old. He admits he is too old to fight, but says “I could cook for the chaps: I could make a pie or pudding with any of them”.

Source: Luton News 20th August 1914