Pte Arthur Lane, 57871, 15th Battalion Cheshire Regiment, was killed in action in France on March 27th during the German Spring Offensive of 1918. His mother Rose at 36 Chobham Street, Luton, was first informed he was missing on that date. Joining up in July 1915, Arthur trained with the Royal Engineers, but on going to France in December 1916 he was drafted to the Cheshires. Born in St Albans in 1896, he came to Luton at around the time of the outbreak of war and became a machinist with hat firm Clydesdale & Sinfield, of 5 Williamson Street, Luton.

Pte Albert Joseph Tompkins, 203540, 2/4th Battalion Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry, was reported missing and later confirmed killed in action in France on March 21st, 1918.

He was the son of Albert Edward and Mary Jane Tompkins, of Crutchmore Farm, Mangrove. He had been in France for 18 months, having joined up in 1915 at the age of 17. He was last on home leave four months earlier.

Pte Arthur William Biggs, 46000, 11th Battalion Essex Regiment, was killed in action in France on March 21st, 1918. He was single and just approaching his 20th birthday.

Parents William and Sarah Elizabeth Biggs, of 23 Vicarage Street, Luton, were informed that their only son was wounded and missing but were unable to find out more at the time, and no messages had arrived from his comrades.

Pte William Mather, 202793, 1st Battalion Hertfordshire Regiment, is recorded as killed in action in France on March 30th, 1918. He had been Superintendent of the Beech Hill Children's Homes in Dunstable Road, where his wife Emily was Matron.

William had joined the Colours 18 months previously, rising to Corporal but reverting to Private on going out to France. He was initially reported as missing.

Pte Herbert Cecil Aylott, 17850, 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards, was killed in action during a heavy enemy shell bombardment on the Western Front in France on March 30th, 1918. He had been married for only a year and had a baby daughter.

Gunner Alfred Arthur White, 196693, 187th Brigade Royal Field Artillery, was killed instantly at about 9pm on April 15th, 1918, when a shell hit the dug-out he occupied on the Western Front in France during a heavy shelling of his battery. He was aged 23 and single.

Born in Castleford, Yorkshire, in 1894, he, parents Walter George and Sarah Jane White and 12 siblings had moved to Luton via Kettering and Dunstable. His father died in Luton in 1915 and his mother was living at 56 Norman Road, Luton.

Cpl Henry (Harry) Meeds, 25317, 11th Battalion Suffolk Regiment, was killed in action in Flanders on April 29th, 1918. He had volunteered just before his death to return to the firing line, having for a considerable time beforehand been doing police duty for another battalion, journeying to and fro with German prisoners of war.

Harry was the son of former undertaker William Meeds and his wife Jennie, of 2 Windsor Street, Luton. He was born in Boscombe, Bournemouth, and was single.

Cpl Lionel Burt Evans, 720752, 24th Battalion London Regiment, was killed in action in Flander on April 5th, 1918. His widow Isabella was given the official news at her home at 219 High Town Road, Luton.

Lionel had joined the Londons at the outbreak of war and was trained at St Albans. He went to France in March 1915 and was wounded at Givenchy, returning to France after recovering from his wounds.

He was a son of Joseph and Elizabeth Jane Evans, born in 1895. He married Isabella Donna Everett at St Albans in 1915 and they had a young son.

Pte John Rogers, 128958, 30th Company Machine Gun Corps, was killed by a shell which exploded as he stood by a dug-out door on the Western Front on April 22nd, 1918. He was single and aged 20.

Prior to joining up in November 1916, John (full name Frederick John Rogers) was employed by his father in the bleaching and dyeing firm of Rogers & Ashby, Dunstable Road.

At first he was in a Labour Battalion stationed at Newhaven, but afterwards transferred to the Machine Gun Corps and went through training at Grantham. He had been in France only two months.

Pte James Charles Bent, 325189, 1/5th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment, was killed in action on April 21st, 1918 in Flanders. He was single, aged 20 and had served in the Army for 2½ years..

Expressing his sympathy, a military chaplain informed parents Owen and Rosina Bent at 135 North Street, Luton: "He was killed while going into the trenches on the night of the 21st, and was buried next day near the battalion headquarters."

Prior to the war, James had worked for hat manufacturer Mr A. Impey, of 50 Reginald Street.

Pte Ralph Crawley, 225040, at Battalion London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) was reported missing, presume killed, in action in France on March 21st, 1918, on the opening day of the German spring offensive.

Lieut Normal Sworder, Royal Air Force, died of wounds sustained in aerial combat over France on April 17th, 1918. His Luton-born wife Emily Murial was living at Burnham, Maidenhead, at the time.

A letter written by his Major to Emily said the aircraft in which Lieut Sworder was an observer was attacked by five enemy machines. The pilot had his right leg fractured by a bullet and lost control of his machine. Her husband was all the time firing at the enemy and got off in all 300 rounds, although himself wounded.

Cpl George Thomas Hunt, 14574, 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on April 24th, 1918. He was aged 28 and single.

The news was contained in a letter to his widowed mother Elizabeth at 13 May Street from Sgt Walby in Cpl Hunt's company. He wrote that her son was hit by a machine gun bullet while they were going over the top on the night of April 24th, and he died a few minutes afterwards.

L-Cpl William Gentle MM, 13200, Royal Army Medical Corps, was killed in action at Meteren in France on April 14th, 1918, while tending the wounded on the battlefield. He was attached to 11th Field Company Royal Engineers.

Chaplain the Rev Lincoln Dudley wrote to widow Kate that her husband had gone out on an errand of mercy and, on his return, was hit by a splinter of shell and killed instantly.

L-Cpl Jesse Hugh Smith, 42775, 14th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, was killed in action at Bailleul in France on April 19th, 1918.

An officer wrote to tell his mother, Ann Louisa Smith at 34 Peach Street, Luton, that her son was killed by shell fire while carrying rations from the transport waggon to the dug-out. A piece of shell penetrated his heart and death was instantaneous.

The officer added that L-Cpl Smith was buried at Mont Noir, near Bailleul, in a shady spot in the grounds of a chateau.