Capt William Henry Coate, Munster Fusiliers*, was killed in action at Kakaraska on October 25th, 1917. He was the eldest son of the Rev Harry Coate, Vicar of St Matthew's Church, Luton, since 1894.

An architect by profession, he was born in London in 1889. In his younger days he had played a prominent role in the Church Lads' Brigade at his father's church and became a skilful bugler. as a cadet he had been chosen to play the calls at a review of troops.

He had served three years with the Artists' Rifles before the war and went to London to join up with his old unit at the outbreak of hostilities. Arriving too late for the first battalion, he enlisted in a Welsh regiment, leading to a commission in the Munster Fusiliers in December 1914. He then served at Gallipoli and Salonica.

*The Commonwealth War Graves Commission list Capt Coate with the 16th Corps Cyclist Battalion, Army Cyclist Corps. On the Luton Roll of Honour his regiment is given as the Munster Fusiliers.