Casualties at Arras

Unicorn Hotel, Lake Street, Leighton Buzzard c.1910 [Z1432/2]

Friday 27th April 1917: News is arriving at Leighton Buzzard of local casualties suffered in the Arras area, where intense fighting has been taking place since the 9th of April. Two sons of Mr. and Mrs. J. Stevens of the Unicorn Hotel in Lake Street, Trooper Tom Stevens of the Hussars and Lance-Corporal Jack Stevens of the Yeomanry, have both been wounded. Before the war Tom was ranching in America and Jack was farming in Canada, but both came home to enlist. They have been serving in France for two years, and were both wounded in the fighting leading up to the battle. Jack suffered a shrapnel wound in the leg while building a bridge, and Tom was wounded in both thighs during a charge. Reports say that both are progressing well in hospital. Fred Dimmock, the son of Mrs. Dimmock of 55 North Street has been reported wounded in the shoulder. His mother, a widow with a young family, has already lost seven nephews in the war. This is the second time Fred, who enlisted at the beginning of the War, has been wounded

Worse news has been received in Bedford Street, where Mr. and Mrs. Roberts have  been notified that their younger son Sidney has been killed in action. Sidney had been working in the family’s blacksmith’s business but volunteered to take the place of his brother Sidney, who was invalided out of the Army after his health broke down. Miss W. Horn of Mill Road has heard that her brother Private A. Horn of the Canadian Regiment has died of the effects of severe gunshot wounds to his thigh. Before emigrating to Canada Private Horn worked at the Leighton Buzzard Wire Works.

Source: Leighton Buzzard Observer, 1st May 1917