• King Street Congregational Church, Luton, where William Young and Andrea Leroy wed.

A romance that led to the wedding of a Belgian soldier and his Luton bride inspired the following second happy story in The Luton News of a local lad who courted and married his own mademoiselle from Armentieres. In this case the story involved Driver William E. Young, of the Royal Engineers, whose parents lived in Oak Road.

Early in the war the British took the important position of Armentieres. After driving the Germans out, several British regiments were billeted there and, finding the population practically destitute, that gave them opportunity for performing many acts of kindness.

Driver Young was among the soldiers billeted at Armentieres, doing his best for a French family and forming a great affection for their youngest daughter. After six months of courtship on French soil and fearing for the safety of his fiancee, he obtained the permission of her parents to send her to "good, safe old England" to await his return from the war.

The Mayors of Armentieres and Dunkirk informed him that he must sign a promise of marriage, and also give proof that there was a home awaiting the young lady in England. Both these conditions were easily complied with, the marriage agreement being duly witnesses in Armentieres.

His brother at 68 Princess Street, Luton, at once assented to the young bride-to-be making her home there until the happy day. Accordingly, the French young lady (Mlle Andrea Leroy) duly arrived in London on February 28th, 1916, and was "recovered" by her prospective brother-in-law after a few hours of excited searching.

Meanwhile, Driver Young, as may be expected, was striving his utmost to secure permission for "leave for marriage," and this he finally accomplished on October 23rd, walking in at 68 Princess Street wholly unexpectedly (as it had been understood that all leave was cancelled) to find that his sweetheart had not returned from her duties at Messrs Kent's, where she had obtained employment within six weeks of her arrival in Luton.

"The happiness of that meeting may be better imagined than described in print, and we are modestly informed 'the next few days were quite exciting'."

Finally, after consultations with the Rev E. B. Mahon, the wedding ceremony was arranged, and the couple were happily united on October 28th, 1916, at King Street Church. After an all-too-brief honeymoon,the bridegroom returned to his duty in the battle area on November 2nd.

Driver Young and his bride survived the war.