2nd Bedfords

Sergeant Peter Pieraccini

 

Sgt Peter Pieraccini, 19744, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on October 12th, 1916.

Born in Luton, he was the son of James and Elizabeth Pieraccini, of 19 May Street, Luton. He married Ethel May Dyer in 1906 and lived at 4 Manchester Place, Dunstable, with their six children.

A friend who was with him before they went into action wrote to his widow that Peter had been reported missing but was then found by another battalion to have been killed.

Sergeant William Ginger

 

Sgt William Ginger, 18144, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on October 12th, 1916.

The father of three sons and three daughters, he had married Mary Jane Goodge in 1898 and was living in Summer Street, Slip End. The Flamstead-born soldier was a labourer working for builders T. & E. Neville, of Castle Street, Luton, before he joined up on December 7th, 1914.

 

Private Percival Frank Buckingham

Pte Percival (Percy) Frank Buckingham, 3/7179, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, died on November 4th, 1916, from wounds received on the Somme. He was aged 22.

Parents Alfred and Annie Buckingham, of 136 North Street, Luton, received news earlier that Percy was in hospital in France suffering from shell shock. His mother then received a letter from her son to say he was much better and was expecting to rejoin his unit.

But just a few days later she received a telegram stating that Percy had again been in action and that he had died of wounds received on November 4th.

Private Charles Augustus Primett

 

Pte Charles Augustus Primett, 4/6279, 2nd Battalion Beds Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on October 12th, 1916. He was the second son of Albert and Agnes Primett to be killed on the battlefield - Cpl Frank Primett, 8th Bedfords, also died on the Somme (September 15th,1916).

Born in Ickleford on September 9th, 1887, he spent most of his life in the Hitchin area. By 1915, and possibly after he had enlisted, his parents were living at 18 Spencer Road, Luton, the address on the Luton Roll of Honour.

 

Private Alfred Edward De Fraine (Defraine)

 

Pte Alfred Edward De Fraine (Defraine), 20615, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on October 12th, 1916. He was aged 37.

Born in Luton in May 1879, to Joseph De Fraine, from London, and Mary (nee Jellis), from Luton, he is recorded in family history documents as living with grandparents William and Mary Jellis in Luton from a baby and during his childhood. His parents had married as teenagers in Lambeth in London in 1878 and seem to have continued to live there.

Private Sidney Alfred Burgess

 

Pte Sidney Alfred Burgess, 3/7212, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on October 12th, 1916. He was aged 22.

In a letter to Mrs Burgess at 23 Buxton Road, Luton, Cpl C. Smith wrote that he was fighting near to Sidney, who had suffered no pain as his death was instantaneous. He died from a bullet that hit him near the heart.

Private William Impey

 

Pte William Impey, 27561, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on October 12th, 1916.

He was the son of Alfred and the late Sarah Ann Impey (died 1901) and stepson of Elizabeth Ann (Garrett), whom Alfred had married in 1909.

2nd Lieutenant Harold George Fyson

 

Second Lieut Harold George Fyson, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on October 12th, 1916. He was aged 26.

Born in Luton in April 1890, he was a son of straw hat dyer employer George Austin Fyson and his wife Kate(nee Cooke), of 36 Leagrave Road.

His parents received a telegram on October 15th to say he had been wounded on the 12th and then a second to say he was wounded and missing. Then two letters from fellow officers confirmed his death.

Private Gerald Sidney Brunton

 

Pte Gerald Sidney Brunton. 25529, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on July 30th, 1916. He was aged 21 and single.

Born near Fakenham, Norfolk, in 1895, he was the son of Frederick William and Martha Elizabeth Brunton. Gerald was one of 12 children, 11 still living at the time of the 1911 Census, when the family were living at Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. He was then working as a farm labourer.

Private Ernest Barker

 

Pte Ernest Barker, 3/7094, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on October 28th, 1914, during the First Battle of Ypres.

Born in December 1892 in Earls Barton, Northants, he was the son of Sarah and the late James Barker, who had married on April 1st, 1888. His widowed mother and three brothers and two sisters came to Luton after the death of James in 1902 and managed a grocery shop in New Town Street. Around the time of Ernest's death they had moved to live at 26 Back Street, Luton.

Private Albert Ford

 

Pte Albert Ford, 25327, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, died on July 17th, 1916, of wounds sustained on the Somme. He was aged 19 and the second son of John and Emma Ford, of 48 Burr Street, Luton, to die on the battlefield.

Pte Ford was a "Derby" recruit and was called up five months previously. He was drafted into the Bedfords and had been at the Front only a short time. A letter from the Record Office to his mother said he son had been buried in the Dive Copse Cemetery,

Before enlisting he work at the bleaching and dyeing firm of Mr Stewart Hubbard.

Private Joseph Payne

 

Pte Joseph Payne, 18510, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, died on July 16th, 1916, from wounds sustained on the Somme ten days previously.

He was the son of Mrs E. Payne, of 15 Inkerman Street, Luton. He was aged 24 and prior to enlistment was employed at the Gelatine Works in New Bedford Road, Luton.

Private Josiah Webb

 

Pte Josiah Webb, 18683, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, died on July 12th, 1916, from wounds sustained in action near Trones Wood on the Somme.

He was a son of John Thomas and Ellen Webb, of Farley Green, Caddington, and was described in the 1911 Census as a cowman on the Stockwood Estate, where he had been employed for some years.

A younger brother, Pte Charles William Webb, 13085, 6th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action at Trones Wood on July 10th, 1916. Three other Webb sons were also serving in the Colours.

Private Edwin Benjamin Eales

 

Pte Edwin Benjamin Eales, 12902, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on July 11th, 1916. He was aged 24.

Born in Hammersmith, London, in 1891, he was the son of Kate and the late Edwin Eales, who died in Luton in 1902 at the age of 42.

At the time of the 1911 Census Edwin Jnr was a straw hat blocker living at 19 South Road with his widowed mother Kate, who in 1913 married Arthur Atkins in Luton. His mother and stepfather were living at 12 Frederic Street at the time of Pte Eales' death, and later moved to 24 Boyle Street.

Private Sydney Jesse Gurney

 

Pte Sydney Jesses Gurney, 17976, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment,was killed in action on the Somme on July 11th, 1916. He was aged 26.

Born in Tingrith in 1889, he lived there all his life, working as a farm labourer before enlisting. He is commemorated on a brass plaque in St Nicholas Church, Tingrith.

Parents Jesse and Sarah Gurney later moved to live at 'Lorenzo,' Marsh Road, Leagrave.

 

Pages

Subscribe to RSS - 2nd Bedfords