Luton Town Hall [Z1306/75/10/23/13]
Sunday 6th June 1915: On Friday we spoke of the 1st/5th
Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment’s send-off from Bedford. Yesterday they
experienced another send-off, from Luton. It was a scene unparalleled in the
history of the borough. Never before has the whole battalion been seen in the
town and this, in itself, made it a noteworthy occasion. In addition, there was
the probability that it might be the last opportunity Luton would have of
seeing the battalion before it went abroad. In these times a battalion is here
today and gone in the night and at any moment we may hear that the battalion is
no longer in the country. This very fact alone would have justified a
demonstration of the popular sentiment, and if any further excuse were needed
it was to be found in the fact that the battalion was made up largely of our
own men, who came in as a body for the first time since mobilisation and for
the first time under a commanding officer who is a Lutonian. Lieutenant-Colonel
E. W. Brighten brought his men, who had done a trek of over sixty miles in
three hot days, into George Street exactly as the clock was striking seven and
they could not have desired a more cordial reception.
Chief
Constable Teale, Inspector James and other police officers had kept the ground
well cleared for the troops and until the reception by the Mayor and other
leading townspeople was over one could hardly tell the size of the crowd which
had been drawn together. But when, the troops having resumed their march to
Luton Hoo, the public were able to take up the whole roadway, it was really
surprising to see what a crowd had gathered to have a first, and maybe a last,
look at the battalion as a whole. Indeed, townspeople able to speak with the
authority of long years of experience, said such a crowd had never before been
seen in George Street. We may hope that it will be eclipsed when celebrations
mark the return of the piping days of peace(1). But, be that as it may,
Saturday evening’s gathering will go down as one of the most memorable
occasions in the history of the borough. The Mayor’s invitation to residents to
decorate their premises was well responded to in the principal thoroughfares, a
gay show of flags and bunting being made along the lin eof route from New
Bedford Road to the end of Park Street and in some of the side-streets also.
A temporary
platform had been erected outside the Town Hall and on this the Mayor was
accompanied by various members of the Town Council, the South Bedfordshire
Recruiting Committee and other prominent townspeople. The Mayor, on behalf of
the Corporation, Recruiting Committee and town generally, gave the battalion a
very hearty welcome. They belonged, he said, to a county which had sent out men
who had done some wonderful deeds on the field of battle. The Bedfords had done
noble deeds for their country. Probably, in a very short time, this 1st/5th
Battalion would be called to face the enemy.
“We adore
every man of you” said the Mayor, amid cheers, “for the reason that you have
voluntarily stepped forward and offered yourselves and your very lives, if need
be, to protect our wives and children and the homes of Luton, of Bedfordshire
and of the country generally. Many of you have given up lucrative positions and
broken away from your home circles, to stand in the breach in our country’s
hour of peril and danger. We honour every one of you. And when you are called
upon to meet this most unscrupulous enemy, the vilest enemy that ever fought in
battle, I trust you will cherish this thought, that we are thinking of you and
we that we shall bear you up, not only in our thoughts, but in our prayers
also. In the name of every man, woman and child in Luton we give you a hearty
welcome in our midst and wish you God Speed”.
Source: Luton News 10th June 1915
(1) It may
have been eclipsed by Luton’s “peace riot” of 19th to 21st July 1919 when
ex-servicemen and others, dissatisfied by their treatment by the mayor and
civic officers, burned down the Town Hall amongst other things.
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