Pte Horace Weedon, 14903, No. 1 Company of the 2nd Grenadier Guards, was killed in action in France on September 14th, 1914.

Pte Weedon, whose parents John and Sarah Ann lived at 53 Wimbourne Road, Luton, was a native of the town and lived here the major portion of his short life. He was only 22 years old. As a schoolboy he went to Chapel Street School until he was about 12 and then to Waller Street. For a time he was employed by Mr Treasure, of the furniture stores in Cheapside, and then went to the Diamond Foundry He left there and joined the Army for three years.

On coming out on reserve in November 1913 he joined the Birmingham police force. When war broke out he was called up and went straight to the front. The last time his parents saw him was at Whitsun.

In the 1901 Census, John Weedon and his wife Sarah Ann were living at 15 Foundry Lane [later renamed South Street], Luton, with eight children - Florence, 15, Henrietta, 14, Kate, 12, Daisy, 10, Horace, 8, Jack, 6, George, 4, and Fred, 1. John Weedon was described as a general labourer, his wife as a straw hat sewer and Florence and Henrietta as straw hat finishers.

By the time of the 1911 Census Horace and Jack had enlisted and the family had moved to Wimbourne Road . In addition to Henrietta, Kate, Daisy, George and Fred there were Frank, 8, Albert, 7, Sidney, 4, and a grandson Ronald, aged 2.

[Details from The Luton News, October 15th, 1914, and Census returns]