Pte Ernest George Chamberlain, 14553, 6th Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment, was reported missing on October 7th, 1916. But it was not until more than 10 months later that his widow Edith in Luton was informed that he was presumed killed in action on that date.

In August 1917, nearly eleven months after he was first reported wounded and missing, Guardsman Cyril Bernard Bryan, 18447, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, was acknowledged as presumed to have died on the battlefield on September 25th 1916.

Cyril Bryan was born in London in 1892 and came to Luton about three years before the outbreak of war to work for outfitter Mr Mares, of George Street. He had been the first member of the firm to join the Army after hostilities broke out, and had been wounded three times before going missing.

Pte Frank (Francis) George Miller, 27839, 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in France on March 14th or 15th, 1917. Official records give the date as the 14th, letters from the front said 15th.

Lieut Harry T. Trowman wrote to widowed mother Mrs Miriam Miller at 17 Oxford Road, Luton: "It is with great regret that I write to tell you about your son, F. Miller. He was killed on the 15th when the battalion was about to attack in the neighbourhood of Achiet.

L-Cpl Cecil Clement Robinson, 16318, 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action near Achiet-le-Grand in France on March 15th, 1917. He was aged 37.

Gunner Horace Clark Sanders, 800520, 255th Brigade Royal Field Artillery, died of wounds received while in action in France in 1917. The date of his death is most generally recorded as February 27th, although some military records say March 2nd, and the family memorial at Luton General Cemetery says died of wounds received in action February 26th, 1917.

Pte Harry [also Henry] Dennis Gutteridge, 27949, 7th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, was presumed killed in action on the Somme on February 5th, 1917 - the last time he was seen alive, but wounded.

Pte Gutteridge joined up in April 1916 and went to France on July 27th. In early March 1917 official intimation was received that he was wounded on February 5th, but no news had been received by either the War Office or the British Red Cross in the weeks since.

Pte Bert Lathwell, 43154, 6th Battalion Northants Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on February 17th, 1917. He was aged 24.

Chum Pte Hanby wrote to parents John and Clara Lathwell at 3 Clifton Road, Luton, saying their son was killed by a sniper's bullet that struck him just above the heart. He lived for only four minutes, but "died a hero".

Bert Lathwell had been employed in the straw trade since leaving school, having worked for his brother.

Pte Aubrey Julian Pearce, 19182, 7th Battalion The Buffs (East Kent Regiment), was killed in action on the Somme on February 26th, 1917. He was aged 20.

Although born and living in Wheatheampstead, he was an old boys of Luton Modern School and is included on the Luton Roll of Honour.

After leaving school he entered the service of the London and South-Western Bank at the Wood Green branch, from where he joined the Army on April 3rd, 1916. After a period of training in Kent, he went to the Western Front on November 27th.

Trooper Harold Anderson, 1707, Household Battalion [Life Guards], was killed in action on the Somme on February 18th, 1917. He was aged 27.

Born in Toddington, he had enlisted at Biscot with the Royal Field Artillery in the summer of 1916 and was then drafted to the Life Guards, with whom he went to France.

Before joining up, Harold Anderson assisted his father, Thomas, in his grocery and provisions business at 83 Langley Street, Luton.

Pte Charles Henry Pearson, 43204, 6th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on February 17th, 1917. He was aged 32, the youngest son of Kent farmer George Pearson.

Prior to enlisting, he had been for four years a salesman and window dresser in the drapery department of Blundell Bros' department store, where he was known as Tony. He was one of 30 of the firm's employees who had joined up.

Pte William Impey, 43127, 6th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment (ex-Beds Regiment, 26564), was killed in action on the Somme on February 17th, 1917. He was aged 21.

He was the elder son of William and Harriet Impey, of 53 Cowper Street, Luton. Prior to enlistment he worked for Mr Bailey, straw hat manufacturer, of Crawley Road, Luton.

Drummer John (Jack) Copley, 15563, 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on February 17th, 1917, at Boom Ravine on the Somme.

A letter to his father, Walter, at Danesbury House, 98 Old Bedford Road, Luton, from his adjutant said John had been killed in action on February 12th (although the Boom Ravine battle was on February 17th). He wrote that the battalion was in action in front of Miraumont and John was killed by shell fire while delivering despatches. He was buried on the field of action and a cross marked his grave.

Pte Arthur Robert Goodman, 23081, 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on February 5th, 1917. He was aged 20.

Cpl Herbert Henry Strange, 18463, 2nd Battalion Wiltshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on October 18th, 1916. He was aged 31.

Born in Calne, Wiltshire, in 1885, he married Elizabeth Jarvis, from Markyate who was then living in Russell Street, Luton, in Luton in 1909. Living at 7 Dunstable Place, they had three children - Phyliss, born 1909, Herbert in 1911 and Arthur, born in 1914, just two months before his father enlisted in January 1915.

Sapper Clarence Sidney Ellerd How, 146239, 82nd Field Company Royal Engineers, was killed in action on the Somme on November 18th, 1916. He was aged 24 and his home was at 37 Stockwood Crescent, Luton.

The youngest son of the late Mr William Albert How, he went to France in August 1915 and was slightly wounded on October 26th but continued to fight in the trenches.