Rifleman Frederick Horace Rookwood, 3253, 17th Battalion London Regiment (Poplar and Stepney Rifles), was killed in action on the Somme on October 1st, 1916. He was aged 27.

Widow Kate and parents James and Clara, of 14 Ashton Street [later Gillam Street], Luton, heard the news first from Frederick's brother-in-law, who said he had seen Frederick's grave, "which is very nicely laid out". [The grave was probably lost as Frederick is recorded on the Thiepval Memorial for soldiers with no known grave].

L-Cpl Bert Holdstock, 2836, 1/24th County of London Regiment (The Queen's), was killed in action on the Somme on September 16th, 1916. His role was as a bomber.

Born around Christmas 1894, he was the youngest of five serving sons of Charles and Annie Holdstock, of 22 South Road (formerly Foundry Lane), Luton. He was single, aged 21 and 6ft 2in tall.

Prior to enlistment in the Londons when war broke out, he worked in the straw trade. He trained at St Albans and was wounded twice while serving for nearly two years in Flanders.

L-Cpl Alfred Warren, 8134, 1/2nd Battalion London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers), was killed in action on the Somme on September 23rd, 1916. He was the son of Frederick William Warren of and his wife Jane (nee Williams), of 3 Dunstable Road, Leagrave.

Born at Olton, near Solihull, Warks, in 1897, he enlisted in the Bedfordshire Regiment (3548) at the age of 17, but before going to France was transferred to the London Regiment.

Rifleman Henry Oliver Philip Foster, 471290, 1/12th Battalion London Regiment (The Rangers), was killed in action on the Somme on July 1st, 1916. He was aged 20.

He was the son of Thomas Arthur and Annie Caroline Foster, who were living at 108 Bury Park Road, Luton, and later 12 Cromwell Road. In the 1911 Census Henry is described as a postcard hawker, then aged about 14.

Cyclist Henry Albert 'Harry' James, 3164, 47th London Divisional Cyclist Company, was killed in action in action in France on January 21st, 1916.

He was one of 17 employees of the Diamond Foundry in Dallow Road who joined the 17th Battalion London Regiment as a rifleman in September 1914 and transferred to the Cyclist Company when it was formed.

Harry was the only son of Job and Lizzie James, of 2 Wimbourne Road, Luton. He was aged 23.

Pte George Cox, 1428, 1/4th Battalion London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers), was killed in action in Flanders on April 27th, 1915. He was aged 27.

Born at Watbridge, East Hyde, he had worked on the Luton Hoo Estate for seven years until going to London to work for about three years. He joined the Territorials prior to the war, and on the outbreak of hostilities he was mobilised as a member of the 4th City of London Royal Fusiliers.

He was reported wounded and missing on April 27 during a bayonet charge. Six months later his family were still awaiting further news.

Pte Horace George Chapman, 2678, 1st/24th London Regiment, was killed in action in a charge at Givenchy on May 26th, 1915. Born in Luton, he was aged 24 and was the son of Harry and Sarah Elizabeth Chapman, of 31 Ashburnham Road.

He was at first thought to have been wounded and in hospital, but in early July he was reported missing. A friend with whom he enlisted, L-Cpl Edward Cannon, of 62 Chapel Street, Luton, was with Pte Chapman when the order was given to charge but lost sight of him in the ensuing smoke.

Rifleman Sidney William Dorrington, 2630, 17th Battalion London Regiment, was killed while on lookout duty in the trenches on May 14th, 1915*, according to comrades. He was struck in the head by a dum-dum bullet.

In a letter to Mr Jesse Dorrinton, the deceased's father, Rifleman C. A. Scales wrote: "He was not conscious any part of the time, as morphia was injected. But he was already too far gone to feel any pain. He succumbed one hour 40 minutes after being hit, and is buried in the village beside a fallen comrade, name unknown."

Horace Tysom was born in July 1895 in Luton.

In 1911 he is living at 6 Hibbert Street with his family. His father William George is 44 & is a self employed straw hat manufacturer working at home, with wife Mary 46, assisting him. Kate Elizabeth is 21 & a straw hat machinist, William 19 is a labourer in a foundry, Olive May 10 & 7 year old George Percy, are at school. Horace is 15 years old & is a boot repairer.