Luton Medical Services Overwhelmed by Influenza

Bute Hospital, Luton 1914 [Z1130/75/5/2]

Friday 8th November 1918: Luton has also been hit by the influenza epidemic, leaving local doctors utterly overwhelmed by the large number of cases. All those doctors who have not themselves been taken ill are working from early morning until late at night to cope with crowded surgeries and are able to do no more than issue medicine and general advice. The Luton Medical Officer, Dr. Cox is concerned that this epidemic seems more virulent than the previous one, with more complications brought about by the illness. This has led to an increase in the number of deaths from about twenty a week ago to a total of fifty, all of them adults. Although the effects appear to be less serious in children the schools have all been closed and are likely to remain so for the time being. Restrictions on churches and places of amusement have also been introduced in an attempt to reduce opportunities for infection. About 600 workers have been absent from George Kent’s and about 200 from the Diamond Works due to the illness, but it is hoped that the spread of the disease in industrial establishments has been halted and matters are improving. Dr, Cox has also expressed a belief that the epidemic has now reached its peak and that the number of new cases is falling.

Source: Luton News, Source: Luton News, 24th October and 7th November 1918

Absentee Found at Dunstable

Former administration block, Horton Hospital, Epsom [Wikipedia]

Tuesday 3rd September 1918: Mrs Rosetta Balchin, of Great Northern Road, Dunstable, has appeared at Dunstable Police Court charged with unlawfully concealing Private Mansell, an absentee from the Military Hospital Asylum at Epsom, who had previously been billeted with her. Police Sergeant Palmer said that he and Police Constable Paxton went to the house at 11 p.m. on August 6th and said they believed there was an absentee there. She admitted there was, and he found Mansell on a bed made up on the floor in one of the back rooms, in uniform. She admitted she had tried to keep his presence quiet.

Police Constable Paxton said that about the end of February Mansell had been billeted at his house, and had asked if he could stay at his old billet. P.C. Paxton would not agree, but Mansell had stayed with Mrs Balchin one weekend in six. At the end of April she said Mansell had been to her house and gone again. She was worried about him because he was “very peculiar in his mind”, and promised to let the police know if he returned. One morning she brought them a letter which she said Mansell had sent from Windsor Hospital. She said she was surprised when Mansell came to her house and had no idea he was an absentee. She was very busy at the time as she had friends at her house, and had no intention of doing wrong. Mrs Balchin’s husband, a soldier, read a letter his wife had sent him, in which she said that she heard groaning at about 11.30pm, went out and found Mansell, who was ill. The case was dismissed, and Mrs Balchin was warned to be more careful.

Source: Luton News, 5th September 1918

A Luton Soldier's Narrow Escape

Wardown House, Luton 1914 [Z1306/75/8/2]

Wednesday 17th April 1918: Drummer J. W. Hyde, of 32 Ridgway Road Luton and a former member of the Salvation Army Band, has written to the Luton News from Wardown Military Hospital where he is now a patient:

“Sir, - You will remember me asking, through your valuable paper, for a cornet (about a year last Christmas). Well, I got one all right. I am very pleased to be here, as it is just like heaven, although it was hell that I went through to get here. I was with my battalion just before Wancourt, a few miles to the right of Arras, but our flanks dropped back, compelling us to retire immediately behind Wancourt. Well, I shall never forget a fortnight yesterday. “Jerry” opened out his barrage at about 3.15 a.m. and kept it up until 3 in the afternoon – that is, when I left, as he was right on the top of me by then. So we got ready and destroyed all our letters etc., as best we could, although I think he got the mail and everything, including a nice large parcel I had received and not even opened. But, as Providence would have it, I saw one making a dive for it, so I ran with him. Ah! I shall never forget that run from Wancourt to Neuville Vitasee – all open ground, and I ran through a barrage of machine gun fire on my left and right front, and also behind (because, as I say, both our flanks by this time had dropped back and we did not know it), and also a heavy barrage of all kinds of shell. Although the bullets whistled through my legs and by my head and all around me, nothing touched me, only that I got gassed and had shell shock. But I managed to bring a wounded man down with me for about four or five miles, and we were shelled all the way, with about fourteen Boche planes over our heads firing at us also, so the shooting could not have been very good. I landed at the base after visiting about three hospitals, was taken to Cambridge, and now they have kindly sent me to Wardown, and I am being looked after lovely; in fact, as I have already said, it’s like heaven. I have heard from one of my unit, who didn’t happen to be in the trenches at the time, and he tells me that I and one more (who is wounded and in “Blighty”) are the only two left, so you will see how lucky I was.”

Source: Luton News, 18th April 1918

Thanks for Leighton Buzzard War Hospital Depot

Workhouse at Grovebury Road, Leighton Buzzard in use as a hospital c.1915 [Z1432/3/12/2]

Saturday 23rd February 1918: Mrs. Cowper, the Secretary of the War Hospital Depot at Leighton Buzzard, has received the following letter of thanks from the Edmonton Military Hospital:

“I am most anxious that the lady workers in your depot should know how much their assistance is valued. The numerous gifts which you have sent us, including various kinds of splints, personal garments, and surgical supplies, have all been urgently needed, and it has been very gratifying to me to know that my appeal to you met with such a ready response. If the ladies who make these things could occasionally visit a hospital where the numerous demands are made for them, they would realise how much their efforts were appreciated. When attending a depot week after week, I feel sure they must sometimes wonder what becomes of all the garments they make; but I can assure you that without their voluntary help we should not have been able to carry one as easily as we do at present, and I thank them most gratefully for making it possible for me to supply the wants which are daily made at the gift store.”

Source: Leighton Buzzard Observer, 19th February 1918

Blood Donation by Bedford Soldier

Carluke War Memorial (© Kevin Rae, Wikimedia)

Friday 23rd November 1917: In a heroic act of self-sacrifice a soldier from Bedford has allowed a large quantity of his blood to be transferred to a dying soldier in France. Sapper H. E. Greenaway of the Royal Engineers, the son of Mr. E. Greenaway, a dairyman of Iddesleigh Road, was a member of the Salvation Army Band at Bedford before the war. He joined the Royal Engineers Signal Service on 30th September 1914 and has been in France since September 1915, attached to a number of different companies. He was wounded in July this year. While in hospital at Rouen a volunteer was needed to give a blood transfusion to Gunner Andrew Selkirk of the Royal Field Artillery, who had been wounded at about the same time. Sapper Greenaway came forward and a large amount of his blood was taken. Sadly, the transfusion was not able to save the life of Gunner Selkirk, from Carluke in Scotland. He had been brought into the hospital with an extremely severe wound to his back and left leg from a shell explosion, which was followed by blood poisoning. The soldier’s widow said in an interview that she did not know how to thank Greenaway for the sacrifice he made to try to save her husband, “a noble act” which showed the quality of many of the men fighting for their country.

Source: Bedfordshire Standard, 23rd November 1918

A Chapter of Accidents at Luton

Architectural drawing of Bute Hospital, Luton c.1902 [Z1306/75/5/1]

Thursday 27th September 1917: Four patients have been admitted to the Bute Hospital at Luton this week following accidents. On Saturday morning Mrs. Ada Meakins was coming downstairs at her house at 12a, Cardigan Street when she twisted her right ankle. She sent her young son for the doctor, who found it was fractured. She was admitted to the hospital yesterday. On Monday afternoon Driver Arthur Wright of the Royal Field Artillery at Biscot was doing a special riding drill when he fell from his horse and also fractured his leg near the ankle.

On Tuesday evening Walter Saunders suffered a serious accident at Messrs. Kents’ works, sustaining severe injuries to his right leg, both hands and arms, and his face. He received first aid at the scene before being treated in hospital. To complete the chapter of accidents, yesterday morning Cyril Glenister, aged 17, of Dane Road was working a stamping machine at the Diamond Foundry when one of this fingers of his left hand was injured and part of the top taken off. He was also given first aid before being taken to the hospital.

Source: Luton News 27th September 1917

Luton War Pensions Committee has a Complaint

Alderman J. H. Staddon, Mayor of Luton and President of the Luton War Pensions Committee, as High Sheriff of Bedfordshire 1938-9 [Z49/261]

Monday 2nd July 1917: The Luton War Pensions Committee has expressed considerable indignation over regulations regarding massage treatment which appear to be thoroughly unreasonable. A number of military cases have been receiving massage treatment from William Lawson, the Luton Town Football Club trainer. However the authorities at Bedford Military Hospital have objected, stating that a special form of massage has been devised for military cases which can only be given at a suitable hospital; no fees will be paid to private masseurs. The Military Hospital will accept men sent there for treatment, but the level of inconvenience this would entail is extreme. One man was sent there for treatment on Friday and was told to come back three days a week. Between railway fares and compensation for lost work time this would cost the Pensions Committee around thirty shillings a week, when the same treatment could be given in Luton for four shillings and sixpence without interrupting the man’s working week. When the secretary telephoned the authorities and explained this ridiculous situation he felt the official there agreed and it is hoped that a satisfactory resolution will be found.

Source: Luton News 5th July 1917

Luton Soldier's Experiences in a Shell Hole

Melson Arms, John Street, Luton [WB/Flow4/5/Lu/MA3]

Sunday 20th May 1917: Private Sydney Allen has written from a Birmingham hospital to his wife at 34 John Street, Luton, describing the circumstances in which he was wounded and his terrible experiences while waiting for help:

“When I was first hit, we went ‘over the top’ to the attack, and at half-past four had to retire. I got with Jock in a trench; he bobbed his head up and a sniper put a bullet through the back of it. I had a ‘ricochet’ all over my face. That means, a bullet strikes the ground and the stones fly up, hitting one in the face. Jock said, ‘Come on, chum! Down to the dressing station.’ I said, ‘It’s a bit risky,’ but we waited for a bit and then decided to chance it. We had got about 20 yards, when bang! And poor old Jock got another bullet in the back of his neck, which killed him. I ran to get into a shell hole, and the Boche started on me with a machine gun over the hole. I waited a bit, as I had about 50 yards to go to our trench. I chanced it again, and when I got about 20 yards farther – bang! – right in my leg. As luck would have it, I was close to another shell hole, but when I reached it they broke my leg with an explosive bullet. I laid out three days without anything to eat or drink, and the third day I chanced it again. It was absolutely torture to crawl along, it took me 15 minutes to get about 8 yards, and just as I got into another shell hole they again started playing the machine gun over it, and then, when it was nearly dark, I called for a stretcher-bearer. He said, ‘Keep low until dark, and we will get you in.’ So you see I have had the awful experience of being nearly tortured to death. I might say that for the three days I was lying out they were firing over that shell hole the whole of the time. I don’t know if, when my leg gets well, I shall be able to walk properly. Maybe one leg will be a little longer than the other, because when I went under an operation the doctors took a lot of shin bone away, so it will take a long time to get better. When the swelling goes down I shan’t mind, as I shall be more comfortable. You would be surprised if you saw it, and yet my wound is nothing to those of some of the poor beggars. That is why I don’t worry so much, as some of them have half their backs or half their thighs blown away.”

Private Allen is now making satisfactory progress in hospital, although the matron says it will be some time before he will be able to sit up.

Source: Luton News, 24th May 1917

Luton Doctor in Egypt

Bute Hospital ward 1913 [Z1306/75/5/3]

Monday 15th January 1917: News has reached us of Dr. Robert Daniels Bell, a respected Luton medical man. Before the war Dr. Bell had a practice in Dunstable Road, and also worked with the Bute Hospital, the Children’s Hospital, and the Luton Union House. For the past year he has been serving in Egypt the Royal Army Medical Corps. While home on leave Dr. Bell has told the Saturday Telegraph:

“I saw a lot of the Luton boys. They were among the pluckiest, the cheeriest, and the most determined out there, despite the fact that the lads I saw were probably wounded or invalided. Several of them recognised me, and they all asked me how Luton was getting on. They had been away a very long time. I am afraid the soldiers who get out to places like Egypt and Mesopotamia are not so much thought of as those nearer home. It is believed that they have an easy time of it, but in those tropical climates they have a lot to put up with. It is a hard existence in the desert, and I hope those at home will show as great kindnesses to our lads out there as to those elsewhere, for they deserve it.”

 Dr. Bell has decided to continue his work with the military, but does not yet know whether he will be sent back to Egypt or to France. On entering his second year of service he will receive promotion to the rank of Captain. He has also expressed his thanks to his colleagues in Luton who will continue to carry on his medical practice in his absence, although “very much overworked”.[1]

Source: Luton News 11th January 1917

[1] Dr. Bell entered medical practice at Dunstable Road in 1906/7. For his second term of service he was sent to France, where he was gassed  later in 1917. He was mentioned in dispatches and after the war was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry and distinguished service in the field in March 1918. By the time he died in the 1930s the practice was based at Liverpool Road and was served by four doctors; in the late 1930s it moved to a purpose built surgery at 163 Dunstable Road. The surgery was renamed Bell House Medical Centre in 2002 in honour of Dr. Bell. [History of Bell House Medical Centre]

Bomb Explosion Near Luton

Architectural drawing of Bute Hospital frontage, c.1902 [Z1306/75/5/1]

Wednesday 20th December 1916: A serious accident has taken place during military training near Luton when a trench mortar bomb exploded prematurely. Three soldiers are now being treated at the Bute Hospital. One has a smashed elbow and a forearm wound; another has lost a first finger. The third, Gunner Jackson, is in a critical condition with a fractured jaw and serious head injuries.

Source: Luton News 21st December 1916

News from Woburn

Woburn High Street [Z1130/135]

Wednesday 29th November 1916: Staff numbers at Woburn Abbey are now so low that there are no longer sufficient to help with stretcher work when contingents of wounded arrive for the Woburn Abbey Hospital and Woburn Hospital. A number of local volunteers have been practicing stretcher drill in order to help. 

Mixed news has been received of a number of Woburn soldiers. Private H. Burgess of the 106th Field Ambulance has been in France for about five months and is now working at a hospital after taking a “lively turn” in the trenches. Lance-Corporal E. Pratt, a former employee at the Woburn timber yard whose parents live at Husborne Crawley, has returned to the Front after being wounded for the second time. He was able to give details to Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Phillips of the death in action of their son, Sergeant Arthur William Phillips. Bad news has also been received by the parents of Private William Coleman of the Bedford Regiment, who has died of wounds. He trained at the Ampthill camp and had not been at the front long. 

Albert Scott, a former apprentice at Messrs. Fisher and Son’s printing works, has been more fortunate. He has written home describing two narrow escapes:

“We had taken up our positions, and a fellow asked me to change places with him as he wanted to be next to his two mates. That was at twelve at night – the next morning at six they were blown to pieces. I was just round the corner! Forty hours later I was in a section of trench with four others – three on my left were blown to atoms, the one on my right had half his face cut to pieces; I was only stunned, and had two or three little splinters of shell in the back of the head!”

Source: Leighton Buzzard Observer, 7th and 28th November 1916

Leighton War Hospital Depot News

Lycée Chaptal, used as temporary hospital 1914-1918

[Image: Wikipedia under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 license]

Friday 27th October 1916: The Leighton Buzzard and District War Hospital Depot now has 130 workers producing items for English and Allied Hospitals. This letter of thanks from Hopital Chaptal, Paris, is typical of many received by the depot:

 “Very many thanks in the name of my numerous sons for your ever welcome present. Today I distributed the slippers, shirts and vests, and you would have been amused and happy to send them; it was quite like a Fair; and to hear their remarks of English generosity. I assure you, those who are working so generously for the French ‘Tommies’ would understand how much good they are doing for them. Poor fellows, they are so brave in suffering, and it takes very little to bring a smile even to those who are blind. If you would continue, when you have time, to send some more slippers, and please, some smaller sizes among them as my boys have little feet. Shirts, vests and socks are always welcome; also some tooth-brushes, and if you have some more counterpanes ready, as the other wards are a wee bit jealous; so amusing to hear them.”

Over the past two months 2,239 items have been supplied to hospitals, including a 92 pairs of mittens in response to a “rush” order from Mesopotamia. No doubt those who contributed to the fundraising event held on behalf of the War Hospital Depot in September  will be delighted to hear that their money is being put to such good use.

Source: Leighton Buzzard Observer, 31st October 1916

Fire at Wrest Park Hospital

Members of Wrest Park Fire Brigade c.1910 [Z50/142/785]

Friday 15th September 1916: Fire broke out yesterday evening in the mansion at Wrest Park, which has been in use as a hospital for wounded soldiers for the last two years. . The weekly fire drill which has been the rule at the hospital proved its worth and thanks to the prompt actions of the nursing staff who evacuated the patients coolly and efficiently there were no casualties.

Tea had been over for about an hour and a half and many of the patients were playing games of tennis, billiards and bowls when the fire broke out at around six o’clock. There were also many patients in bad as sixty more soldiers had arrived only a few days ago. These “cot cases” were in the wards formed from the original dining rooms and libraries running through the centre of the house. The fire started in the chimney of a bedroom next to the roof. The chimney is connected with the main boiler which is believed to have been defective. Sparks ignited the old timbers, causing the blaze to run along the inside of the roof towards the centre dome.

After the alarm was raised the evacuation of the patients took about ten minutes. The estate fire brigade arrived promptly and had at their disposal four 5,000 gallon tanks of rainwater, placed at each corner of the building for firefighting purposes. Ambulances from Woburn Abbey hospital and Ampthill Camp joined those from Wrest in taking the wounded to other hospitals. A detachment of 60 or 70 men from the Haynes Park camp arrived and joined in the efforts to remove furniture from the building, which continued until the early hours. Fire brigades from Ampthill, Shefford, Luton, Hitchin, Letchworth, Bedford, Holloway (London) and Kings Walden arrived to help with the firefighting after a district call was issued, bringing three motor engines, five steamers, and two manual engines. The risks run by the firemen are illustrated by this comment from Second Officer Andrews of the Luton Brigade: “One of our men, Fireman Giddings, had a rough time, and a narrow escape from suffocation. Whilst we were at work on the roof we were driving towards us, but we managed to get him clear in time. You see, the fire was running under the roof where there was a lot of thick lead sheeting, and it could not be seen until the smoke had enveloped us. No, we were not wearing smoke masks.”

Nine rooms on the east side, five at the front, and four to the left of the stairs were affected by the fire, with five or six of these completely gutted. The roof fell in, and part of the lead and zinc dome melted. Where possible the rooms had been stripped of furniture and ornaments, but the carpets could not be saved and considerable water damage was done to most parts of the building. Today Wrest is a scene of confusion, with furniture, bedding, paintings, statues and other articles lying all over the place. Marquees and tents have been set up to store the more valuable books and articles. Fortunately family heirlooms and the most valuable paintings were stored in a strong room which was well away from the fire.

Source: Luton News, 21st September 1916

The Mayoress’s Working Party: A Call for Volunteers

Friday 28th July: In the old committee room at the town hall, Bedford, the Mayoress, Mrs F. R. Hockliffe, and her party meet daily to make hospital supplies for the troops and garments for women and children in allied nations. However, over August and September, the party will be depleted and more volunteers are needed to carry on the good work. 

Since 6^th January 1916, the Mayoress and her party have sent out quantities of garments to Serbian women and children, fly-nets to Egypt (at the request of the War Office), as well as hospital shirts, socks, helmet covers and anti-vermin belts for the troops. At the beginning of the month, when the big push started, the Mayor and Mayoress visited London to enquire what work women could most usefully carry out, besides munitions work. They were instructed to organise hospital supplies. British hospitals and allied hospitals are in urgent need, owing to the increased number of casualties at the front. 

Bedfordshire Standard, 05/08/1916

The committee room at the town hall has been prepared specially for hospital work, with a target of producing one hundred garments a week. Members of the public can visit the working party and inspect the work every morning. The Mayoress is confident that the citizens of Bedford will give generously to help soldiers fighting in increasingly precarious circumstances.

Source: Bedfordshire Standard 28/07/1916

Help from Luton for Napsbury Hospital

West Hall of former Napsbury Hospital (Wikimedia under Creative CommonsLicence)

Monday 3rd July 1916: Napsbury Asylum, near St. Albans, has now been converted into a large military hospital. The former patients have been moved elsewhere, and the new hospital is able to accommodate over 1,500 soldiers. While the authorities have provided all necessary medical equipment, there is nothing available to entertain the men during their stay. Mr J. C. Kershaw, who has been appointed Almoner for the Luton district to the new hospital, is appealing for help to provide equipment for both outdoor and indoor games to make the soldiers’ time there more pleasant. The list of items required includes: cricket bats, stumps, balls, pads and gloves; tennis racquets, nets and balls; croquet mallets, balls and hoops; bowls; quits; footballs; draughts; chess sets; dominoes; playing cards; bagatelle boards; gramophones and records. He has also asked for donations of money to buy items for the men, in particular tobacco and cigarettes.

Source: Luton News, 6th July 1916

Fire Alarm at Wardown Hospital

Fire engine outside Luton Town Hall after Peace Riots, 1919 [Z1306/75/10/23/20]

Thursday 22nd June 1916: There was much excitement at Wardown Hospital last night when a fire drill was held to test the speed at which the hospital could be evacuated. The nurses have been receiving instruction from the Luton Fire Brigade for some weeks, but were unaware until after the event that the report of a fire in the hospital annexe was a test. They passed with flying colours, managing to evacuate twenty five patients from their beds in two wards in only one minute, getting the men and their bedding out on to the lawn. The Fire Brigade arrived with a motor engine just four minutes after the alarm was raised. They then carried out an imaginary rescue using lines from the first floor, and demonstrated how water could be drawn from the lake to put out any fire.

Source: Luton News, 22nd June 1916

Frostbite and a Bombing Accident

Mentmore Towers c.1890 [Z465/10]

Saturday 3rd June 1916: The grandson of Mr. T. Brown of Dudley Street, Leighton Buzzard is celebrating his 18th birthday today in a hospital in Scotland. Frost bite and exposure in the trenches in France has left him with all his toes missing from his right foot; he has also lost the big toe of his left foot. Worse news has been received of Mr. Charles Cameron Douglas of the Cameron Highlanders. Mr Douglas was a member of the Mentmore Estate Office staff, well known for his sporting prowess. He played Rugby at both Bedford and Northampton, and was a popular member of the Leighton Town Tennis Club. He enlisted in March 1915 and went to the front in July. He is believed to have been killed accidentally in a bombing school.

Source: Leighton Buzzard Observer, 6th June 1916

Shefford and Stotfold Egg Collection

Royal Victoria Patriotic Building, Wandsworth, used as 3rd London General Hospital 

(Photograph: Henry Lawford under Creative Commons Licence via Wikimedia)

Sunday 7th May 1916: The village of Shefford has redoubled its efforts to collect eggs for the wounded since the Vicar published this letter from the Secretary of the National Egg Committee in the parish magazine last month:

“Rev. Sir, - The call for eggs from the Hospitals for the wounded men grows in its volume and anxiety. We have appealed to you in the past with success, and that result encourages us once again to ask you to assist us in our latest special scheme. Every week we are called upon to find more than a million new-laid eggs for this cause. Those who are in a weak state of health and require the eggs themselves are asked to contribute to our funds the value of the eggs consumed by them during Easter week.”

A successful collection was held at the church today at which no less than 771 eggs were contributed, beating the previous highest total of 660 by a considerable margin and bringing to total provided by the village to 2,604. The next collection will be held on Sunday 4th June from which the eggs will be sent to the 3rd London General Hospital at Wandsworth. This is a large Military Hospital with 1,500 beds, where the patients include both a large number of Australians and some Bedfordshires. Among them is the Vicar of Shefford’s son, Lieutenant A. E. Dakin, who was wounded in January [LINK to February 11th].

The children of Stotfold have also provided over 600 eggs. A correspondent in the village says “the egg collectors at Headquarters have “the cheek of Lambley Jack” as they say at Nottingham, when they wish to use a simile for any specially impudent person. They showed their “cheek” by sending two more boxes to be filled, without being asked to do so. Well, the boxes had come and it seemed a pity to send them back empty, so the Vicar in turn followed the example “Lambley Jack” (whever he was) and asked the boys of the Council School, and the girls of our Church Schools, whether they could not find us some more eggs – and more, as a result have gone. Send more eggs, friends, for they provide “shells” for our soldiers.”

Source: Stondon,Shefford and Stotfold Parish Magazine [P83/30/1]

Biggleswade Man Defeats Scots in Fishing Match

Pike caught at Sutton Park, 1906 [X768/67]

Sunday 9th April 1916: Sapper F. Lenton of the Royal Engineers is in a Convalescent Home in France recovering from illness. He writes that he hopes soon to be back in the line but that meanwhile he has been enjoying “a bit of sport to pass away the dreary time. We have a stream running through the grounds and we arranged a fishing match, and by gum, fishing too it was. I and six others contested against a room of ‘Jocks’. We had about three yards of bottom each and a worm at the end of a line. Well, of tiddlers we were pulling them out two and three at a time haning to the worm, and after three hours in the hot sun we counted up our captives, which we had in jam tins of water. The result was as follows: - My team, 152 tiddlers; the Jocks, 151 tiddlers. A win for England by 1 tiddler!”

Before the war Sapper Lenton worked at a coachman at Ferguson’s livery stables, Biggleswade.

Source: Biggleswade Chronicle, 14th April 1916

Bedford Soldier Killed by a Train

Bedford County Hospital 1910 [Z1130/10/36/2]

Thursday 6th April 1916: An inquest has been held at the Bedford County Hospital into the death of Trooper Percy James Griffiths of the Bedfordshire Yeomanry, a married man aged 21. Major Pares told the inquest that Trooper Griffiths had joined the Yeomanry last September but only a few days later was kicked by a horse and was reported sick. From then onwards he never actually came on duty, and was sick more or less until he was discharged from hospital on 29th March. The effects of the injury had only lasted a short time, but he suffered from other health problems. On March 29 he appeared all right and looked fairly well. He was reported fit for duty but did not come on duty the next morning as he ought to have done. The Major did not think Trooper Griffiths cared for military work, and he suffered from hysteria.

On the morning of Friday 31st March Corporal A. F. Carnell was sent to find Trooper Griffiths and found him in bed at his home at 42 Greenhill Street. Griffiths said he was too ill to attend and asked for a doctor to be sent. He was told he was reported fit for duty and advised to get up. The Sergeant Major had asked Griffiths why he did not attend at the miniature range the day before as instructed; he claimed that he had been and found no one there, but this was contradicted by the Sergeant Major. On the Friday Griffiths again failed to turn up for parade and Corporal Carnell was sent to fetch him. He saw the man’s mother-in-law, who said Griffiths had told her he had to report himself to the doctor. He had appeared quite rational.

Another witness, Frank Gosling, told the inquest that he had been cycling from Wootton Pillinge to Bedford on Monday evening at about 9 p.m. As he passed under Cow Bridge he heard someone call for help from the railway bank. He got off his bicycle and called for some soldiers, who went to a nearby cottage to see if it had a telephone. Mr. Gosling found Trooper Griffiths at the bottom of the bank, with both his legs cut off by a train. The soldiers had managed to telephone the hospital, and he contacted both the signal box and the station master. Griffiths was taken to the hospital, where he died at about one o’clock the next morning.

Griffiths’ mother-in-law, Ellen Chambers of Biggleswade, said she was nursing Griffiths’ wife. She had last seen him on Friday morning; he had complained of his head and looked “wild in his eyes”. He had also complained about his head on Thursday night. He worried about his wife and children, but was a very steady man who never took too much drink. Griffiths’ mother said that she had three other sons in the Army who were all doing well. Percy was trying to do his bit, but could not manage it. When he was two years old he had a severe illness, and it was then considered that he had brain trouble. He worked as a warehouseman and his manager had told her that her son suffered from loss of memory.

The jury returned a verdict that Trooper Griffiths had committed suicide, but that there was insufficient evidence to show his state of mind at the time.

Source: Bedfordshire Standard 7th April 1916