Tyne Cot Memorial

Rifleman Arthur Hawes

Rifleman Arthur Hawes, 41477, 11/13th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, was killed in action on August 16th, 1917. Three months later he was still listed merely as missing, leading to an appeal by his widowed mother for information.

Private Harry Crawley

Pte Harry Crawley, 205822, 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action near Passchendaele on October 30th, 1917. He was aged 24.

Born in Luton in 1893, he was the son of Harry and Amy Gertrude Crawley, of 12 Rothesay Road, Luton. Before joining up he had been employed as a clerk in the Borough Surveyor's office of Luton Corporation for about four years. He had joined the Beds at the outbreak of war and was stationed at Maresfield and in Ireland for training. He went to the Front in April 1917.

Sergeant Edward Bradshaw

Sgt Edward Bradshaw, 14620, 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action near Passchendaele on October 30th, 1917. He was aged 20.

He was one of nine children of Emily and the late Henry George Bradshaw (died 1910). At the time of the 1911 Census, the family comprising widow Emily, two sons and seven daughters (one just two days old) were living at 70 Ridgway Road, Luton, but by 1913 they were at 79 Dallow Road, Luton, elder brother Frederick being a butcher in the firm of Bradshaw and Gadsden.

Private Frederick Titmuss

Pte Frederick Titmuss, 67893, 7th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, was killed in action in Belgium on October 30th, 1917. He was the second son of George and Sarah Kate Titmuss, of 40 Milton Road, Luton, to have lost his life on the battlefield.

A letter to the parents from one of Frederick's chums said he had died a hero and it was the writer's regret that he was not with him at the end as they had been the closest of chums during the short time Frederick was out there.

Sergeant Stanley Edward George Day

Sgt Stanley Edward George Day, 235790, 24th (Tyneside Irish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, was killed in action in Belgium on October 15th, 1917.

A former Bedfordshire Territorial (No. 3098), the 23-year-old was mobilised with the Northumberlands at the outbreak of war. He did not go to the Front until September 17th, 1917, and survived only for a month, killed "in the performance of his duty," as Capt James McIntyre wrote to widow Emily at 27 Chase Street, Luton.

Private Albert Edward Swann

Pte Albert Edward Swann, 34011, 1/7th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment, was killed in action near Ypres on October 4th, 1917. He was aged 28 and had been in the Army just over eight months.

In a letter to his widow, Capt E. J. Nicholls said Pte Swann went over in an attack north-east of Ypres. He was reported missing after the engagement, and his body was subsequently found and buried.

Lance Corporal Henry Morgan

L-Cpl Henry Morgan, 41476, 13th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, was killed in action on August 16th, 1917, although for a long period afterwards he was reported only as missing.

He had enlisted in the Bedfordshire Regiment (No. 3929) in September 1914 and was drafted to Gallipoli in the Dardanelles campaign the following year. He was invalided home with dysentery and septic poisoning, before being transferred to the Irish Rifles in January 1917 and sent to France.

Private Ernest Rodell

Pte Ernest Rodell, 14864, 13th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment, died at Gheluvelt, near Ypres, on October 18th, 1917, from wounds sustained in action. He was aged 23, single and had lived with his parents at 3 Surrey Street, Luton.

One of his chums wrote to Pte Rodell's sister stating that he was wounded on October 17th and died like a hero, happy and conscious to the last. Only a few minutes before he died he asked his chums to shake hands with him. "They did so, and were with him to the last."

Private Harold Smallbones

Pte Harold Smallbones, 37164, 1st Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment, was killed in action on September 26th, 1917.

Second Lieut V. W. Rudkin wrote that Pte Smallbones was sleeping at the time he met his death when a shell exploded nearby. A chum who had a lucky escape said he was only ten yards from the spot where Harold was killed by the shell.

Private Harry Chalkley

Pte Harry Chalkley, 50129, 8th Battalion Suffolk Regiment, was presumed killed in action on October 13th, 1917, according to a letter from the Front. He had enlisted in the Suffolks in July 1916 and went to France the following November.

A chaplain writing to widow Ellen Laura Chalkley at 40 Avondale Road, Luton, said her husband had been missing since October 13th and he was not optimistic about his fate.

Private Sidney Charles Fensome

Pte Sidney Charles Fensome, 38731, 2/8th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers, was killed in action in Belgium on October 9th, 1917. He had joined the Colours in March 1917 and been in France only since May.

He was the eldest son of the late Mr Sidney Fensome, baker, of Brache Street and Wood Street, Luton, and Kate Fensome. He was with his father in business until his death, when he transferred to baker Mr Fuller and later Messrs Frost and Cooper, of Ash Road.

He left a widow, Rose, and a 10-month-old child, living at 21 Granville Road, Luton.

Private Herbert Gerald Bigmore

Pte Herbert Gerald Bigmore, 203195, 2/5th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) was killed in action near Ypres in Belgium on September 26th, 1917.

In a letter expressing sympathy to his sister Florence, the Officer Commanding wrote: "Your brother was posted missing after action on the 26th September. On that day the Battalion went into action in an attack, and your brother, I am afraid, was one of those for whom we could not account after the Regiment had come out of the line."

Private Gerald Noel Lovell

Pte Gerald Noel Lovell, 31617, 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in Flanders on October 9th*, 1917, according to military records.

He had enlisted in the Bedfords in November 1916 and was drafted to the Front the following April. His death came when a shell burst near him, also wounding two comrades.

Private Frederick Stevens

Pte Frederick Stevens, 17371, 11th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment, was killed in action in Flanders on September 26th, 1917. He was aged 19 and single.

A letter from a comrade to parents Frederick and Martha Annie Stevens at 49 Stuart Street, Luton, said their son was buried where he fell and a cross was erected over his grave. As Pte Stevens is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium, the location of the grave was presumably subsequently lost.

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