Private

In the British Army, a private (Pte) equates to both OR-1 and OR-2 on the NATO scale, although there is no difference in rank. Privates wear no insignia. Many regiments and corps use other distinctive and descriptive names instead of private, some of these ranks have been used for centuries, others are less than 100 years old.[2] In the contemporary British Armed Forces, the army rank of private is broadly equivalent to able seaman in the Royal Navy, aircraftman, leading aircraftman and senior aircraftman in the Royal Air Force, and marine (Mne) or bandsman, as appropriate equivalent rank in the Royal Marines. The term as a military rank seems to come from the Sixteenth Century when individuals had the privilege of enlisting or making private contracts to serve as private soldiers in military units.

Private Hubert William Field

Pte Hubert William Field, 203270, 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was presumed killed in action on October 30th, 1917, near Passchendaele. He was aged 20.

He was the son of farm bailiff William Field and his wife Emma, who at the time of the 1911 Census were living at Wandon End Farm, near Luton. Hubert had five brothers and two sisters.

He is commemorated on the war memorial attached to Peters Green Baptist Chapel.

Private Frederick Titmuss

Pte Frederick Titmuss, 67893, 7th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, was killed in action in Belgium on October 30th, 1917. He was the second son of George and Sarah Kate Titmuss, of 40 Milton Road, Luton, to have lost his life on the battlefield.

A letter to the parents from one of Frederick's chums said he had died a hero and it was the writer's regret that he was not with him at the end as they had been the closest of chums during the short time Frederick was out there.

Private William Lawson

Pte William 'Sonny' Lawson, 89750, 65th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps, died on October 27th, 1917, from gunshot wounds sustained two days previously. The son of Luton Town FC trainer Billy Lawson, he had been serving as a stretcher bearer at the time.

Writing from the No 3 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station in France, the Rev W. L. Archer said: "Your son William was brought to our hospital on the night of the 25th, very severely wounded in the legs. In spite of every care, he lived only to the 27th. I promised to write to you and say that 'Sonny sends his love'.

Private Albert Edward Swann

Pte Albert Edward Swann, 34011, 1/7th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment, was killed in action near Ypres on October 4th, 1917. He was aged 28 and had been in the Army just over eight months.

In a letter to his widow, Capt E. J. Nicholls said Pte Swann went over in an attack north-east of Ypres. He was reported missing after the engagement, and his body was subsequently found and buried.

Private Sidney George Dimmock

Pte Sidney George Dimmock, 42561, 8th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, was killed in action in France on October 20th, 1917. He was aged 29 and a member of a Lewis gun team.

One of Sidney's chums wrote to parents William and Mary Ann Dimmock, of 'Hiawatha,' Toddington Road, Leagrave: "A bomb which burst in our trench struck him in the head and back, fatally injuring him. Death was practically instantaneous, so that he did not suffer. He is to be buried in a British cemetery lying behind the line in open, undulating country near a French cathedral town [Arras]."

Private Ernest Rodell

Pte Ernest Rodell, 14864, 13th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment, died at Gheluvelt, near Ypres, on October 18th, 1917, from wounds sustained in action. He was aged 23, single and had lived with his parents at 3 Surrey Street, Luton.

One of his chums wrote to Pte Rodell's sister stating that he was wounded on October 17th and died like a hero, happy and conscious to the last. Only a few minutes before he died he asked his chums to shake hands with him. "They did so, and were with him to the last."

Private Bertie Hawkes

Pte Bertie Hawkes, 88018, 3rd Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps, died in the No. 14 General Hospital, Wimereux, France, on October 17th, 1917, suffering from the effects of gas poisoning. He was aged 20 and single.

His mother Rosa was living alone at 21 North Street, Luton, after her old soldier husband Alfred and her seven sons - Bertie plus Edward, Arthur, Cyril, Jesse, John and Norman - were serving in the Army either at home or abroad.

Private Frank (Franklin) Fane

Pte Frank (Franklin) Fane, 202749, 1/4th Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment, died in a casualty clearing station in Mesopotamia on October 13th, from severe neck wounds sustained in the British advance on Baghdad. His death had followed a week of intense suffering.

The second son of the late George Fane (died 1907, aged 55), of Herne Farm, Toddington, and Emily Fane, he was a Territorial who was with his company training at Ashridge when way broke out. After a period of further training he was sent out to Mesopotamia and was engaged in most of the battles in that region.

Private Harold Smallbones

Pte Harold Smallbones, 37164, 1st Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment, was killed in action on September 26th, 1917.

Second Lieut V. W. Rudkin wrote that Pte Smallbones was sleeping at the time he met his death when a shell exploded nearby. A chum who had a lucky escape said he was only ten yards from the spot where Harold was killed by the shell.

Private Harry Chalkley

Pte Harry Chalkley, 50129, 8th Battalion Suffolk Regiment, was presumed killed in action on October 13th, 1917, according to a letter from the Front. He had enlisted in the Suffolks in July 1916 and went to France the following November.

A chaplain writing to widow Ellen Laura Chalkley at 40 Avondale Road, Luton, said her husband had been missing since October 13th and he was not optimistic about his fate.

Private Sidney Charles Fensome

Pte Sidney Charles Fensome, 38731, 2/8th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers, was killed in action in Belgium on October 9th, 1917. He had joined the Colours in March 1917 and been in France only since May.

He was the eldest son of the late Mr Sidney Fensome, baker, of Brache Street and Wood Street, Luton, and Kate Fensome. He was with his father in business until his death, when he transferred to baker Mr Fuller and later Messrs Frost and Cooper, of Ash Road.

He left a widow, Rose, and a 10-month-old child, living at 21 Granville Road, Luton.

Private Harry James Boustred

Pte Harry James Boustred, 235101, 1/4th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, died of wounds on October 11th, 1917, while being conveyed to a base hospital in France by ambulance train.

Pte Boustred had sustained severe wounds in the arm and thigh while fighting with the Gloucesters and died from exhaustion, according to a hospital sister in a field postcard sent to widowed mother Priscilla Boustred at 26 Russell Street, Luton.

Private Herbert Gerald Bigmore

Pte Herbert Gerald Bigmore, 203195, 2/5th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) was killed in action near Ypres in Belgium on September 26th, 1917.

In a letter expressing sympathy to his sister Florence, the Officer Commanding wrote: "Your brother was posted missing after action on the 26th September. On that day the Battalion went into action in an attack, and your brother, I am afraid, was one of those for whom we could not account after the Regiment had come out of the line."

Private Walter Stanley Peck

Pte Walter Stanley Peck, 33072, 8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, was killed in action in Belgium on October 1st, 1917. He was aged 24, single and a former employee of the Diamond Foundry, Dallow Road.

The son of Walter and Eliza Peck, of 66 Oak Road, Luton, he had enlisted in the Bedfordshire Regiment (5608) in November 1915 and was transferred to the Leicesters in December the following year in France.

Private Gerald Noel Lovell

Pte Gerald Noel Lovell, 31617, 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in Flanders on October 9th*, 1917, according to military records.

He had enlisted in the Bedfords in November 1916 and was drafted to the Front the following April. His death came when a shell burst near him, also wounding two comrades.

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