24th Londons

Lance Corporal Eric Arthur Grace

 

L-Cpl Eric Arthur Grace, 2534, 24th Battalion London Regiment (The Queen's), died on January 31st, 1917, from acute bronchial pneumonia, the day after being admitted to a Canadian Casualty Clearing Station in Flanders. He was aged 22.

In a letter to parents retired confectioner Arthur and Annie Grace, of 2-4 Bury Park Road, Luton, a Sister at the clearing station said their son had been admitted on the morning of January 30th in a very serious condition. He got worse rapidly and died on January 31st at 11 pm.

Corporal Percy Bertram Stimson

 

Cpl Percy Bertram Stimson, 2723, 24th Battalion London Regiment (The Queen's) is recorded as dying of wounds on September 17th, 1916. But a sergeant who wrote to his parents said he had been seen by comrades to be wounded during a charge on September 18th but was not among the men picked up by his regiment's stretcher bearers.

Cpl Stimson, who had celebrated his 22nd birthday six weeks before his death, was the son of Frank and Annie Stimson, of 45 Alma Street, Luton. He had been employed in the warehouse of Messrs Vyse, Sons and Co.

Private Gustavus (William) Eames

 

Pte Gustavus 'Will' Eames, 2537, 24th County of London Regiment, died on February 13th, 1916, from wounds sustained in action in Flanders. He was buried at Bethune Town Cemetery, Pas de Calais.

Born in Luton in 1897, he was christened Gustavus but appeared in some Census returns as Augustus and in military records as William or Augustus William. He was popularly known as Will.

He was the son of retired painter and decorator William Eames and his wife Harriet, of 107 Cambridge Street, Luton. Before enlistment, Will worked in the office of the Luton Co-op Society.

Private Frank William Gilder

 

Pte Frank William Gilder, 2430, 1/24th Battalion, County of London Regiment, was killed in action at Loos on December 30th, 1915. He was aged 19.

Born in Luton in May 1896, he was the third son of William Everard Gilder and Sarah Sanderson Gilder, of 35 Moor Street, Luton, and had been with the 24th Londons since the outbreak of war. His younger brother Claude had been a member of the Luton News staff.

Private Percy Frank Linger

 

Pte Percy Frank Linger, 2833, 1/24th Battalion London Regiment, was killed in action in a charge by his regiment near Givenchy on May 26th, 1915, an engagement in which several Lutonians were killed or wounded. He was aged 21.

It was not until early August that his father, Mr Thomas Linger, of 6 Lyndhurst Road, Luton, was officially notified of his son's death, although Pte Aylott, of the same regiment had said unofficially shortly after the death that Pte Linger had been wounded and was missing.

Private Hedley Euinton

 

Pte Hedley Euinton, 2726, 1/24th London Regiment, was killed in action in a charge near Givenchy on May 26th, 1915.

Born at Wingfield in 1895, he was a brass finisher living with Parents Alfred and Hannah at 19 Bailey Street, Luton, at the time of the 1911 Census. He had two younger brothers, Ernest and Alfred, and a toddler sister, Janet,

Private Charles Frederick Hyde

 

Pte Charles Frederick Hyde, 1/24th Battalion, London Regiment ("The Queen's"), was killed in action on May 28th*, 1915. He was a single man aged 20.

The old boy of St Matthew's School lived with parents George (a brass finisher) and Lavinia, plus an older brother George and younger sister Agnes, at 93 High Town Road at the time he enlisted. He had worked for builder Mr Martin before joining the colours and was a member of Luton United Harriers and West Ward Rangers. At the time of the 1911 Census, Charles was an errand boy in the straw trade.

Private Percy Francis Darby

 

Pte Percy Francis Darby, 2676, 1/24th Battalion, County of London Regiment ("The Queen's"), was killed in action in a charge against German trenches near Givenchy on May 26th, 1915. He was aged 19.

He was the son of George and Emily Darby, of 31 Biscot Road. His father was manager of the hat manufacturing factory of Messrs Smith & Small in Bute Street.

Corporal Douglas Blake Brodie

 

Cpl Douglas Blake Brodie, 2433, 1/24th Battalion County of London Regiment ("The Queen's), was killed in action in a great charge on German trenches near Givenchy on May 26th, 1915. He was aged 23.

The son of William and Amelia Brodie, of Rathfarlam, 157 Dunstable Road, Luton, he was among a group of 19 young men from Luton photographed by The Luton News at the Midland Road station on their way to St Albans on September 1st, 1914, to enlist in the Londons. Although named in the newspaper, he was not specifically identified in the W. H. Cox picture at the time.

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