17th Battalion Middlesex Regiment

Private Hedley Richard Farr

 

Pte Hedley Richard Farr, G/20105, 17th Battalion Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own), was reported to have been killed in action on the Somme on August 8th, 1916. He was aged 38, single and had lived with his widowed mother Eliza (nee Groom) at 32 Liverpool Road, Luton.

Private Ernest Simms

Ernest Simms was a professional footballer with Luton Town FC when he enlisted in the Footballers Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment at Kingsway, London on 16th December 1914 with his Luton team mates Wileman, Frith, Roe, Dunn and Wilson.

Private John Dunn

John Dunn was a professional footballer at Luton Town FC when he enlisted in the Footballers' Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment at Kingsway, London on 16th December 1914 with his Luton team mates Wileman, Simms, Frith, Roe and Wilson.

In doing so he was following the example set by his team mates Roberts and Lindley who had signed up the day before. Lindley and Dunn shared lodgings at a house called Ruthaven in Shaftesbury Road, Luton. Dunn continued to be available to play for Luton in the 1914-15 season whilst undergoing military training.

Sergeant Arthur Harold Wileman MM

Arthur Wileman was a professional footballer at Luton Town FC when he enlisted in the Footballers' Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment at Kingsway on 16th December 1914 with his Luton team mates Simms, Frith, Roe, Dunn and Wilson.

In doing so he was following the example set by his team mates Roberts and Lindley who had signed up the day before. Wileman was the top-scorer in the promotion winning team of 1913-14 and continued to play for Luton in the 1914-15 season whilst training with his battalion.

Private Robert William Frith

 Robert Frith was a professional footballer at Luton Town FC when he enlisted in the Footballer's Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment in London on 16th December 1914 with his Luton team mates Wileman, Roe, Simms, Dunn and Wilson.

Although he was a married man with two children, the 22 year old half-back decided to follow the example of two other Luton players, Roberts and Lindley, who had signed up the day before. Frith was part of the 1913-14 promotion-winning Luton team and continued to play for Luton in the 1914-15 season whilst in training with his battalion.

Private Frank Louis Lindley

Frank Lindley was a professional footballer at Luton Town FC when he enlisted in the Footballers Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment at a public meeting at Fulham Town Hall on 15th December 1914.

Together with his team mate Hugh Roberts, Lindley was one of the first 35 professional footballers to enlist with the Footballers' Battalion. On returning to Luton they encouraged six other Luton players to volunteer the following day.

Private Hugh Pierce Roberts

Hugh Roberts was a professional footballer at Luton Town FC when he enlisted in the Footballers Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment at a public meeting at Fulham Town Hall on 15th December 1914.

He was one of the first 35 professional footballers  who enrolled at the meeting along with his teammate from Luton, Frank Lindley. On their return to Luton they encouraged others to volunteer and a further six Luton players joined the Footballers' Battalion the next day.

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