Commer Cars Employees Do Their Bit

Commercial Cars Ltd motor bus in Biscot Road, Luton, 1908-9 [Z1306/75/18/37]

Tuesday 1st December 1914: Commercial (“Commer”) Cars Ltd has issued cards to its employees carrying the company’s logo in red and blue with the following text:

“Mr. ........ is doing his duty for King and County equally with those who have joined the Army for service in the field, in carrying out the great work of providing the Army with supplies and equipment.”

Some employees, however, are already serving in the armed forces. One of these is Corporal Charles Stangham of the 1st Life Guards, who has written to his uncle Mr Flowers Stangham of 12, Stanley Street, Luton. He says that he is the only non-commissioned officer left in his troop and that “most of my chums have got knocked out”. They have now been sent out of the fighting line for a rest. Sleeping in a barn full of straw is far more restful that the conditions they had previously been enduring. One night shells had dropped on them during the night, killing eleven horses. He saw a fellow from the “Cars” about three weeks ago who had been wounded, but only slightly. He has seen “any amount of old Commer Cars out there, and expect I helped to build some of them”.

Source: Luton News 10th December 1914