Ahead of the swift and deadly German spring offensive begun in March 1918, Luton's Prisoner of War Fund was providing parcels to 31 local PoWs. Within a short period of time that number would soar, and many of the men captured were featured in local newspapers in the ensuing weeks.

It was a time of uncertainty for parents, wives and girlfriends. Had their loved one been killed or wounded in action, or was he a prisoner of the Germans? It would be several weeks before they got an answer, in some cases a happier result than previously informed with a son/husband/brother/boyfriend at least alive, even if in enemy hands.

For example, reports in two Luton newspapers of the death in action in March 1918 of Pte Wesley (Machine Gun Corps), of 32 Langley [now Latimer] Road, Luton, proved happily to be exaggerated, even though an officer wrote to his widow the following month to say the death was "almost instantaneous, and I do not think he suffered much pain".

Both The Saturday Telegraph ( April 13th, 1918) and The Luton Reporter (April 16th, 1918) included stories of the death of Pte Edward Wesley, thanks to military information supplied. In fact, the Luton soldier's name was Edmund Wesley, and neither the name Edward Wesley nor Edmund Wesley appears on the Luton Roll of Honour or the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website.

But a search of the Red Cross prisoners of war records has revealed that Lutonian Pte Edmund Wesley, 104671, 56th Machine Gun Corps, was taken as a prisoner of war at Gavrelle in France on March 28th, 1918, and ended up in Parchim camp, near Hamburg. He had served in France for eight months when taken prisoner.

Edmund survived the war and died in Luton in 1959, at the age of 72. Before enlisting he had been employed at Mr Poulton's butcher's shop in Stuart Street. He married Gertrude May Patten in Luton in early 1917.

 

 

Pte Frederick Gatward, 88016, 76th Field Ambulance Royal Army Medical Corps, was captured as a prisoner of war in France on May 27th, 1918, and interned at Limburg in Germany.

His Red Cross record has few details other than he was repatriated via Dover on December 1st, 1918. He had written to friends to say he was well in captivity but needed more food.

Frederick was a son of Maria and the late George William Gatward. He was born in London in 1892 and came with his family to Luton as a child.

In the 1911 Census he was described as a straw plait dyer's labourer living with his family at 79 Boyle Street, Luton. He had been employed by bleachers and dyers Hart Baxter & Co, New Bedford Road, Luton.

In 1922, William married Yorkshire girl Maud Louisa Boxford in Luton. He died in Luton in 1969 at the age of 77, having lived at 26 Talbot Road.

 

 

 

 

Pte Horace Frederick Hudson, 52248, 9th Battalion Welsh Regiment, was captured as a prisoner of war while serving as orderly to an officer at Montigny in France on May 30th, 1918. He was interned at Cassel and later Chemnitz in Germany.

Horace joined the Bedfordshire Regiment in November 1916, at the age of 19. He did his training at Landguard in Suffolk and, after leave, was sent to France in January 1917 and transferred to the Welsh Regiment. He served most of his time in the front line trenches around Ypres, and took part in the advance against the Prussian Guards. He came home on leave in January 1918 before returning to France.

Since his capture, parents Frederick and Hannah Louisa Hudson, of South View, High Street, Leagrave, had received only two postcards from their son, the last arriving on October 30th, 1918, when he said he was in fairly good health but very weak.

Horace was born in Leagrave on November 21st, 1897. His father was a coal merchant, and Horace had a younger sister, Gladys Louisa, and younger brother, Reginald.

Following repatriation, Horace married Lillie Squires in 1923 and they had three children – Eric (born 1927), Keith (1930) and Noreen (1934). At the time of his death at the age of 81 in December 1978, Horace was residing at 10 Capron Road, Leagrave.

 

 

Pte William Arthur Mead, G/18327, 2nd Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment, was taken prisoner at St Quentin on September 24th, 1918, and interned at Giessen and later Cassel in Germany. His sister at 9 Guildford Street, Luton, was informed of his fate in early November.

He had joined the colours at the outbreak of war, when he gave his age as 18, although he was only 16. He received a gunshot wound in the upper jaw six months later and was discharged in December 1915 due to his mis-statement of his age. He was recalled to the front on reaching the age of 18.

Before enlisting he was living at 26 Cobden Street, Luton. He appears to have been repatriated and may have married and lived at Slip End. He was awarded the 1914-15, British War and Victory Medals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pte Alfred 'Jock' Norris, 33064, 8^th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, was interned as a prisoner of war at Langensalza in Germany, where sadly he died of pleurisy and pneumonia on October 23^rd, 1918.

Born in Slip End in January 1891 to Alfred and Alice Norris, he had joined up with the Bedfordshire Regiment (4893) in 1914. He transferred to the Leicesters in 1916 and was captured at Comicy, north of Rheims in France, on May 27^th, 1918. His family first knew of his fate when he wrote saying he was well, and asking for food.

He had served in France for seven months before his capture. Previously he had gone missing for four days but managed to get back safely to his regiment.

Before joining up, Alfred, who lived with his family at 8 Church Street, Slip End, and was one of four serving brothers, had worked for plait merchant Mr J. J. Linsell, of George Street, Luton. He was described in his military records as a warehouse clerk.

 

 

 

 

Pte John Thomas Webb, 40291, 6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, was interned at Crossen in Germany after being taken as a prisoner of war in France on May 27th, 1918.

He had been wounded in 1916 and again in the spring offensive of 1918, but in a letter to his mother at Farley Green, near Luton, he said he was well but would appreciate a parcel.

Born on September 7th, 1888, he was a son of John Thomas and Ellen Webb, of Farley Green. At the time of the 1911 Census he was described as a horseman on a farm.

Two brothers – Joe and Charles – were killed in action in July 1916 within a few days of each other. Two other brothers were also serving at the time of John's capture, one in France and the other in Egypt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cpl William Sale, 16035, 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was interned as a prisoner of war at Gustrow in Germany after being captured unwounded at Morlancourt in France on August 6th, 1918. He was later transferred to the Parchim camp.

William was one of the earliest of Luton's volunteers and was in khaki within a month of the outbreak of war. He had since seen three years service in France and was wounded in the shoulder just over a year before his capture.

Born in Luton on July 5th, 1890, William was a straw warehouseman at the time of the 1911 Census, but before joining up he worked at George Kent's. Parents George and Annie Sale were living at 19 Brook Street, Luton, when they learned of his capture.

Repatriated William married Luton girl Victoria Augusta Ellerd How in Luton in the summer of 1920 and had a son, Clarence, in 1921, and a daughter, Barbara, in 1923.

The couple lived in Portland Road, later Ashburnham Road and finally at 67 Montrose Avenue, Luton, prior to William's death in 1969 at the age of 79. He had been a cardboard box manufacturer.

 

 

Pte Frederick Charles Brown, 33020, 8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, was taken as a wounded prisoner of war at Berry-au-Bac in France on May 27th, 1918. He was interned at Limburg in Germany.

Pte Brown had been with the Colours about two years and had been previously wounded on the Western Front and had been on home leave in February 1918 after recovering.

Frederick was born in Luton in 1896, one of eight surviving children of James and Fanny Brown. By the time of the 1911 Census Frederick was a 15-year-old grocer's errand boy living at 98 Langley Street, Luton, with his parents, a brother and two sisters, including Agnes, who married Bert Ellis at Luton Parish Church on August 2nd, 1913.

Following repatriation via Boulogne and Dover on December 2nd, 1918, Frederick returned to the family home in Langley Street, where Agnes and her husband were living with her father James and two other brothers.

Records suggest that Frederick died in Luton in 1925.

 

 

 

 

Pte Frederick King, 41480, Royal Irish Rifles, was captured with an arm wound at Wulverghen in Flanders on April 15^th, 1918, and interned as a prisoner of war at Stendal in Germany.

Born in Luton on January 27^th, 1894, he was the second son and one of 11 surviving children of William and Elizabeth Sarah King, who at the time of his capture were living at 60 Kenilworth Road, Luton.

At the time of the 1911 Census he was a straw hat stiffener living with his parents at 4 Hillside Road, Luton.

Following repatriation, Frederick married Edith Maud Pickering at St Paul's Church in Luton on July 24^th, 1920. They had a son, Derrick, born in 1922, and a daughter, Betty, in 1927.

They lived in Durbar Road, Luton for most of their married life, Frederick dying in 1967 at the age of 73. He was then residing at 29 Durbar Road.

 

 

Pte George Thomas Janes, 79040, 1/7th Durham Light Infantry, was captured as a prisoner of war at Maizy in France on May 27th, 1918, but sadly died after suffering from dysentery while in captivity at Crossen in Germany on September 9th that year. He was aged 41.

The former Leagrave area postman had joined up in September 1916 and went to France in January 1918. He lived at 106 Cowper Street, Luton, with wife Ada Jane (nee Walker) and their daughter Zena, born in 1905. George had married Ada at Wellington Street Baptist Church on May 24th, 1902.

Pte Janes was buried at the Berlin South Western Cemetery in Germany, and is commemorated on the Luton Roll of Honour/War Memorial and in the Book of Life compiled at St Mary's Parish Church.

 

 

 

 

 

Pte George William V. Snoxell, 43240, 2nd Battalion Northants Regiment, became a prisoner of war of the Germans when he was captured at Juvincourt in France on May 27th, 1918.

His wife at 25 Ramridge Road, Round Green, learned of his fate three months later, when a letter arrived from George to say he was quite well but interned at Cassel in Germany. He was later transferred to Limburg.

Born on February 21st, 1887, George was a son of Charles and Mary Snoxell, 87 Wenlock Street, Luton. He had enlisted in the Bedfordshire Regiment on March 1st, 1916, and later transferred to the Northamptons. He wore two wound stripes, having been shot in the leg and having suffered shell shock.

Prior to enlistment, George had worked for hat manufacturer Mr W. F. Mullett, of Guildford Street, and attended St Matthew's Church. In 1917 he had married Dartford girl Eva Elizabeth Chapman at Strood in Kent.

George was eventually repatriated and became a Ministry of Labour employment officer. He and Eva resided for most of their married lives at 32 Ramridge Road, where George died in May 1953 at the age of 66.

 

 

Pte Alfred Cumberland, 432391, Lincolnshire Regiment, was interned in Germany after being taken as a prisoner of war on May 27^th, 1918. He had been in France since February 1918.

Alfred had joined up at the age of 16 but was soon claimed out of the Army on account of his age. He had worked at the British Gelatine Works in New Bedford Road before finally seeing active service.

Born in 1899, he was a son of Alfred and Sarah Ann Cumberland, of 13 Oxen Road, Luton. He married Bertha May Claridge in 1921 and died in the Hitchin area in 1950 at the age of 51.

 

Pte Bert Arthur Plummer, 31969, 2^nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, wrote to parents Arthur and Annie Plummer at 156 North Street, Luton, to inform them he was “sound,” although a prisoner of war in Germany.

The 20-year-old was captured in France on August 6^th, 1918, two years after joining the Colours. He had gone to France in February 1917, and was wounded in the thigh the following November. A piece of shrapnel had been removed from his limb, but a second piece remained.

Following his release, Pte Plummer was admitted suffering from diarrhoea to the General Hospital, Etaples, in France. He was soon transferred via ship to Dover and a hospital train to the Fulham Military Hospital in London.

Bert was born in Luton on December 26^th, 1897. Before joining up he had been assistant in the furniture shop of Mr Gale in High Town Road. He was also connected with the Wenlock Street Baptist Mission before the premises were bought by St Matthew's Church as a parish hall.

Bert was demobilised in July 1919, and in 1925 married Ethel Kirby in Luton.

He lived for much of his life in North Street and died in 1984 at the age of 86.

 

 

Pte William George Rogers Hoar, 237050, 4th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, was captured as a prisoner of war in France on May 27th, 1918. He was interned at Gustrow in Germany.

The son of widow Jane Hoar, of 220 Park Street, Luton, he was born on January 5th, 1899. Prior to joining up he had worked at Vauxhall Motors.

He was repatriated and went to live in Wiltshire, where he married Louisa Mabel Taylor in 1922 and had several children. He died in the Salisbury area in 1985, at the age of 86.

 

Pte Reginald William Holland, 204950, 1/15th London Regiment, was captured as a prisoner of war in France and interned at Limburg in Germany. Earlier reported wounded and missing, his Red Cross record shows only that he was repatriated through Dover on December 2nd, 1918.

Reginald, born in June 1898, was a son of William and Louie Holland. His mother died in 1904 at the age of 36, and William married Reginald's stepmother Emily Annie (Turney).

Reginald married Lilian Lavinia Hall in Luton in 1923 and they had three children – sons Geoffrey and Roy and daughter Brenda.

He worked as a painter and decorator and lived much of his married life at 22 Newcombe Road, Luton. He died in 1979 at the age of 82.

 

 

 

 

 

Sapper Frederick Clarence Wells Dickens, 524487, 51st Division, Royal Engineers Signals, was captured at Le Cornet Malo, near Armentieres in France, on April 12th, 1918.

In a letter to his married sister, Mrs Florence Rance, of 35 Kingston Road, Luton, he wrote that he was all right, but asked for food – “if only bully beef and biscuits”.

Sapper Dickens had joined the East Anglian Royal Engineers at Luton in June 1915, his military record describing him as a clerk living at 8 Guildford Street. After training at Maidenhead and Silsoe, he undertook a course on field telegraph and was sent to France in March 1917, attached to the 51st Division. He fought in all the battle involving his division in 1917, eventually coming home on leave from the Cambrai front in March 1918.

On his return he went straight into the German offensive and came safely through it. After a short rest he took part in the next phase of the German offensive around Armentieres and was captured and interned at Gardelegen camp in Germany. He was repatriated via Dover on November 29th, 1918.

Sapper Dicken was born in Shepherds Bush, London, on May 2nd, 1887. On his return to civilian life he married his long-time fiancee Blanche Emily Swallow, of Harpenden, in 1925.

The couple lived much of their married life at 60 Wenlock Street, Luton, where Frederick was residing at the time of his death in the Luton and Dunstable Hospital in May 1954, at the age of 67.

 

 

Pte Christopher Buckingham, 67221, 2/2^nd London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers), of 83 Ridgway Road, Luton, was captured unwounded as a prisoner of war at Landrecies in France on March 21^st, 1918. He was interned at Giessen in Germany.

In a letter to his mother Emily he said he was well, but hungry. He was getting parcels now, but these were still insufficient to stay his hunger.

Christopher had been serving since February 8^th, 1917, and had been wounded the following October at Passchendaele Ridge. He received treatment without being brought to England.

Prior to joining up, he worked with his brother for his uncle, hat manufacturer Mr F. S. Biggs, of Guildford Street, Luton.

Christopher, who was born in Luton on July 17^th, 1898, was repatriated and in 1922 married May Ralley in Luton. He returned to the hat trade as a deputy manager. The couple later lived at 10 Argyll Avenue, Luton, until Christopher's death in 1970, at the age of 71.

 

 

Pte Percy Llewellyn Luck, 33055, 8^th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, was interned at Lamsdorf in Poland after being taken as a prisoner of war at Cormicy in France on May 27^th, 1918.

It was three months later before his family at 61 Park Road West [later Strathmore Avenue], Luton learned of his fate. He had initially been reported missing.

Percy had enlisted in the Bedfordshire Regiment on March 21^st, 1916, and trained at Halton Camp. He was transferred to the Leicesters before going to France in November 1916.

Born on March 24^th, 1889, he was a son of Llewellyn and Susan Luck. At the time of the 1911 Census he was living with his parents, three brothers and a sister at 61 Park Road West. He was employed as a drayman by coal merchant Mr C. Franklin.

Percy was repatriated, and on October 23^rd, 1920, married Ruth Nattrass at St Paul's Church in Luton. The couple lived most of their married life at 59a Park Road West/Strathmore Avenue, and had two daughters, Edna (born 1921) and Doris (1923), and a son, Raymond (1928). Percy died in 1963 at the age of 73.

 

 

 

Gunner Richard Harry Lawrence, 301556, 13th Tank Corps, was captured as a prisoner of war at Kemmel in Flanders on April 25th, 1918. He was unwounded, but during the course of his internment he smashed a thumb while having to work on the railway.

It was not until September that his wife Lydia, at 35 Newcombe Road, Luton, received postcards and a letter to inform her what had happened to him and that he feared the loss of his thumb. Richard had been in hospital in France and later at Gottingen, near Hanover, in Germany. His prisoner of war record shows him having been interned variously at Friedrichsfeld, Gottingen and Hameln.

Richard had joined the 3/5th Bedfords about three years earlier. He later saw service with the Royal Flying Corps before returning to the Bedfords and eventually being transferred to the Tank Corps.

Born in Luton to William and Lizzie Lawrence on December 28th, 1882, he had married Lydia Bacchus at St Saviours Church, Luton, on March 28th, 1910. They had two children, Lizzie Ellen and Constance Mary. Before joining up he had worked as as straw and felt hat finisher for Vyse, Sons & Co, of Bute Street.

Returning the civilian life, Richard continued to work in the hat trade and to live most of his life at Newcombe Road. He died a widower in 1960 at the age of 77, then residing with daughter Constance at Kensworth.

 

 

Pte Thomas Coote, 293783, 2^nd Battalion Middlesex Regiment, was captured as a prisoner of war in France on April 24^th, 1918. He had joined up about two years previously and in August 1917 went to France, where he was once wounded. He was on home leave when the German spring offensive began on March 21^st and was captured soon after his return to the front.

Born in Luton on April 28^th, 1893, he had been employed by George Kent Ltd before working for Mr Brown, of Cheapside, prior to joining up.

In a letter to his widowed mother Jane at 96 North Street, Luton, he wrote cheerfully from internment in Germany, but, said The Luton News, “it is obvious that he, like other prisoners, is dependent upon the parcels from home.

His Red Cross prisoner of war report contains little detail, but Thomas was repatriated and in 1920 married Annie May McCabe in Luton. He lived in Tower road, St Lawrence Avenue and at 4 Turners Road, Round Green during and after World War Two.

 

 

Pte George Shackleton, 41891, 13^th Battalion Essex Regiment, died at Tournai in Flanders on March 16^th, 1918, from intestinal catarrh while a prisoner of the Germans. Parents Joseph John and Elizabeth Shackleton, of 8 Stanley Street, Luton, learned of his fate six months later.

Pte Shackleton, who was aged 31, joined up in January 1917 and went to France the following May.

Born in Clerkenwell, London, in 1887, he had previously helped in his father' hat factory.

George is commemorated on the Luton Roll of Honour/War Memorial and in the Book of Life compiled at St Mary's Parish Church.

 

 

Three members of the same Luton family who became prisoners of war of the Germans during March and April 1918 – left to right: L-Cpl Fred Goodman, Pte Ernest Goodman and Pte Lionel George Goodman.

L-Cpl Fred Goodman, 88014, 18th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps, was, according to his Red Cross records, captured at Lagnicourt in France on March 21st, 1918, then variously interned at Limburg, Parchim and Friedrichsfeld in Germany. He had joined up in September 1914 and went to France in November 1916.

Born on January 23rd, 1894, he was one of nine of the surviving children among 16 of John William and Emily Goodman, of 103 Boyle Street, Luton. He had married Kate Elizabeth Kiff on February 3rd, 1912, and had a son, Frank Charles, born later that year. They lived at 107 Ashton Road, Luton, but sadly Kate died in 1918 before Fred was repatriated. He remarried in 1921 (to Ethel Kingswell) and died in Luton in 1958 at the age of 64.

Younger brother Pte Ernest Goodman, 56361, 9th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers, was, according to Red Cross records, taken as a prisoner of war at Messines in France on April 10th, 1918, and interned variously at Termonde, Limburg and Dulmen in Germany.

Ernest was born in Luton on April 9th, 1895. He was repatriated, and on September 4th, 1920, married Clara Moss in Luton and they had three sons. The couple lived variously in Ridgway Road, Brooms Road and Tower Road, Luton.

Nephew Pte Lionel George Goodman, 800899, Royal Field Artillery, is recorded as having been captured wounded at Bullecourt in France on March 31st, 1918, and interned at Cassel in Germany. He spent time in hospital recovering from his wounds.

Born in Luton on August 28th, 1898, George's parents, Ernest George Bedford and Florrie Goodman, had not married until three years after his birth – at St Matthew's Church, High Town, on June 22nd, 1901. It was not a happy marriage and ended in separation and finally divorce. Following his repatriation he went to live with his father at 33 Highbury Road, Luton.

George married Mary A. Hough in Luton in 1921 but eventually moved to Welwyn Garden City, where they raised five sons. George died in 1968 at the age of 69.

 

 

Rifleman Frederick King, 41480, Royal Irish Rifles, who was was reported missing in Flanders on April 15th 1918, was later learned to be a prisoner of war at Stendal in Germany, having been captured at Wulverghem on April 15th with an arm wound.

Born in Luton to William and Elizabeth King on January 27^th, 1894, Fred had originally joined the 1/5^th Bedfordshire Regiment and served during the Gallipoli campaign of 1915 until he contracted dysentery. He was subsequently transferred to the Royal Irish Rifles and was in France for about two years. He came home after being wounded in the left arm, and with recovery he was sent first to Ireland and then France again.

At the time of his capture his parents were living at 60 Kenilworth Road, Luton, but had heard nothing of his fate after and anxious three months awaiting news.

Fred was finally repatriated, and on July 24^th, 1920, at St Paul's Church, Luton, he married Edith Maud Pickering. They had a son, Derrick, born in 1921, and a daughter, Betty (1927).

The couple lived for most of their married life at 29 Durbar Road, Luton, where Fred was residing up to his death in 1967 at the age of 73.

 

 

Pte Montague Norman Courthope Osborne, 103498, 10th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment), was captured unwounded at Bapaume in France on April 25th, 1918, and held as a prisoner of war at Parchim in Germany.

Formerly a correspondence clerk in London, he joined the Bedfordshire Regiment (22409) in 1915 and was drafted to France in October 1916, where he was transferred to the Sherwood Foresters. In April 1917 he was wounded, but recovered sufficiently to be sent out again for active service.

He was home again at Christmas 1917 for a further spell in hospital to get over the effects of further wounds. Having again recovered, he was again sent to the firing line, where he was captured after three weeks.

Born in Fulham on October 21st, 1883, Montague had married Lilian Eleanor Handley in Luton in 1905, and at the time of the 1911 Census was living with his wife and two sons, Basil and John, in Alfred Street, Dunstable. Montague was described as an assurance agent.

Lilian was a daughter of Charles and Lucy Handley, who resided at the Luton Union House [Workhouse] at 44 Dunstable Road, where Charles was employed as a drill master. Lilian returned to live with her parents while Montague was in the Army, and it seems the couple continued to live there when Montague was repatriated.

In 1925, Montague is recorded as having been transferred from a casual ward at 44 Dunstable Road and admitted by order of the Master of the Luton Workhouse to a workhouse in London in April 1925. He died there later that year at the age of 44, perhaps a victim of his wartime experiences.

 

 

Pte Ernest Arthur Clarke, 91761, Durham Light Infantry, was captured at Pontavert in France on May 27^th, 1918, and held as an unwounded prisoner of war at Dulmen in Germany. He was then aged 18, born on August 9^th, 1899.

Ernest was a son of Philip and Emily Clarke, of 181 High Town Road, Luton, and before enlistment in October 1917 he had helped in his father's building business. Four brothers and two brothers-in-law were also serving.

Following repatriation, Ernest married Rhoda Winifred Wing in Luton in 1924 and they had a son, Roy, born in 1925. They spent their married life at 168 High Town Road, Ernest residing there up to his death in 1976 at the age of 76.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pte Thomas Coombs, Lancashire Fusiliers, was a prisoner of war in Germany, captured on March 21st or 22nd, 1918. But the Luton-born soldier's circumstances were made more tragic by the fact that he was unaware his physically disabled wife had died from fatal burns at Easter 1918 and she had never learned of his fate.

Born on March 18^th, 1884, to Thomas and Agnes Coombs, Pte Coombs had been a house painter employed in Luton by Mr Tomkins. He was also a member of the Luton Salvation Army (No 1) Temple and had married Luton girl Margery Annie Thorogood in Luton in 1905. His married sister Laura Jefford was living at 65 Reginald Street, Luton, at the time of his captivity.

Thomas and Margery had moved to Rochdale by the time of the 1911 Census and the Lancashire town became Thomas's home, remarrying there in 1919 and residing there until his death in 1968 at the age of 82.

The Luton News pointed out that a Lancashire Tribunal had ignored Thomas's claim for military exemption on the grounds of personal hardship for Margery, whose disability had meant she had required the constant care and attention of her husband and she had no relatives in Rochdale to look after her.

 

 

Pte Charles Herbert Allen, 29208, 2nd Battalion Essex Regiment, who was reported missing since March 28th, 1918, was later able to confirm in letters to his wife at 5 Pondwicks Road, Luton, that he was a prisoner of war at a stammlager [base camp] in Germany.

His Red Cross record shows he was taken prisoner at Gavrelle in France on March 28th and had been interned at Parchim in Germany. His letters contained an urgent appeal for food parcels.

Charles Allen had been in the Army for about 18 months, much of which was spent invalided in England after contracting trench foot in France. He had returned to the Front on January 6th, 1918.

Born in Luton on October 14^th, 1890, Charles was a son of Henry and Harriet Allen. In the 1911 Census he was listed as a chemist's errand boy assistant living with his family at 54 Windsor Street, Luton. Before joining up he had worked for mat manufacturer Mr W. C. Gillam, of Hibbert Street, Luton.

On September 3rd, 1917, he married Lizzie Taylor, of 5 Pondwicks Road, at Luton Parish Church. They had two sons, Frank (born 1920) and Arthur (1921).

They couple eventually lived at 43 Ferndale Road until after World War Two, when they made their home in Argyll Avenue, then Applecroft Road and finally 110 Ridgway Road. Charles died in 1958 at the age of 66.

 

 

L-Cpl Cecil John (Jack) Scott, 9605, 12^th Suffolk Regiment, was captured as a prisoner of war on March 22^nd, 1918, during the first battle in France in which he had taken part.

He had been captured at Croiselles/St Leger and interned first at Parchim and later at Friedrichsfeld.

He was born in Lawford, Essex, on July 26^th, 1898, and at the time of the 1911 Census was living in Suffolk with parents John and Emily Scott. His parents moved to Luton and were living at 18 Dunstable Place when Cecil was taken as a prisoner of war. Cecil was included on the absent voters' lists at that address in 1918 and 1919.

The 20-year-old had enlisted in the Suffolk Regiment on June 10^th, 1915, and had previously been employed in Suffolk.

 

 

Pte Alfred Edward Currant, 67172, 2/2^nd London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers), was interned at Friedrichsfeld in Germany, the same camp as his uncle Frederick, after being taken as an unwounded prisoner of war in France on March 21^st, 1918.

Writing at his family at 143 Castle Street [now London Road], Luton, he appealed for strengthening foods, tobacco etc to be able to keep fit.

Born in Luton on July 4^th, 1898, Alf, as he was known, was son of Edward Currant, and before joining up worked for hat manufacturer George Rayment, of Hastings Street. He was repatriated at the end of hostilities. He married Eva May Dimmock in Luton in 1924 and spent most of his married life living at 79 Dorset Street. He died in 1981, at the age of 83, then residing at Kingsland Court, Park Town.

Alf's Uncle Frederick Currant (19345, 8^th Middlesex Regiment) had been taken as a prisoner of war at Cambrai on November 30^th, 1917. He was married and lived at 151 Castle Street.

Another Lutonian, Rifleman Albert Frederick Gale (205323, 7^th King's Royal Rifles), of Albert Road, Luton, was also a prisoner at Friedrichsfeld at the same time (see his story lower down the list).

 

 

 

Pte William Stanley Ward, 3286, 21^st Battalion Middlesex Regiment, was captured as a prisoner of war at Fleurbaix in France on April 9^th, 1918 – four days after his 21^st birthday. He was initaially interned at Limburg and later at Gardelegen in Germany.

Writing from Limburg, he wrote that he was faring better than many in German hands, for he had a good job as a cook and the guards and officers of the camp were very considerate and did all they could to make him comfortable.

Son of widower William Ward and the late Susan, he was born on April 5^th, 1897, and upon enlistment was living at New Bedford Road Lodge, Wardown Park. He had been in France for 22 months.

Following repatriation via Dover on November 21^st, 1918, William married Edith Maude Squires in Luton in the summer of 1920. He later became a grocery store manager. The couple spent most of their married life at 67 Marsh Road, Luton.

William died in December 1974 at the age of 77.

 

 

 

Pte Sidney Horace Tiplady, 206211, 1^st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, was captured as a prisoner of war near Cambrai in France on May 27^th, 1918. The 24-year-old, whose home was then at 83 Highbury Road, Luton, was interned first at Langensalza and later Cassel in Germany.

Previously a straw hat blocker employed by Wing, Arnold and Wing in Luton, he had had a brief spell in the Royal Navy in 1912 but was invalided out. He joined the Worcesters in September 1914 and saw a long spell of service France, including nine months in an Australian mining section.

After being gassed, contracting dysentery and sustaining shrapnel wounds, he was invalided home around Whitsuntide 1917 and returned to the Front at Easter 1918.

Born in Luton on March 28^th, 1894, to John and Sarah Tiplady, Sidney seems to have moved to Yorkshire, where he married and had three sons. By 1939 he was living at Flaxton, near York, but was incapacitated by tuberculosis. He died in Yorkshire in 1943.

 

 

 

 

Pte Bertie Charles Rolfe, 202389, 10^th Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment), was taken as a prisoner of war at Lagnicourt in France on March 25^th, 1918. He was interned at Parchim in Germany.

In a letter to his family which finally arrived in August 1918, he wrote that he was getting on all right but had only the clothes in which he stood. Bertie was repatriated on the SS Archangel through Hull on November 22^nd, 1918.

A son of Frederick and Annie Sophia Rolfe, Bertie was born in Luton on August 31^st, 1894. By 1911 the family were living at 16 Hitchin Road, Luton, and Bertie was a straw hat blocker employed by Mr C. Farmer, of 11 Hazelbury Crescent.

In 1916 he married Hilda Olive Rose Godfrey in Luton and the couple had two daughters, Olive Annie May (born 1917) and Irene Elsie (1922).

Bertie returned to working in the hat trade and he and Hilda spent most of their married life living at 39 Naseby Road. He died in December 1941 when residing at 13 St Martin's Avenue, Luton.

 

 

Rifleman Leo James Tuffnell, King's Royal Rifles, was interned at Zerbst Anhalt in Germany after being taken as a prisoner of war suffering from a broken leg and a stomach wound. He was aged 19.

The former Royal Navy man wrote to his family at 13 Frederic Street, Luton: “I am a lot better than I was. I am in a convalescent camp now, but don't think much of it. I expect I shall soon be able to walk, though I cannot yet. I shall be glad to see the old town after being shut up here and not having much to live on.”

Leo had spent two years in the Navy before being invalided out. He trained on the Powerful in 1914, and later on HMS Collingwood, where he saw fighting in the Dardanelles in 1915. Following his discharge, he joined the King's Royal Rifles.

Born in Slip End on March 19^th, 1899, Leo was repatriated and in 1934 married Lila May Marshall in Luton. He spent his married lived living in Park Road West, which became renamed Strathmore Avenue. He was still residing there, at No 38, at the time of his death in January 1976.

 

 

 

 

Pte George Thomas Janes, 79040, 1/7^th Durham Light Infantry, was captured as a prisoner of war at Maizy in France on May 27^th, 1918, but sadly died after suffering from dysentery while in captivity at Crossen in Germany on September 9^th that year. He was aged 41.

Born in Luton on December 21st, 1876, the former Luton postman had joined up in September 1916 and went to France in January 1918. He lived at 106 Cowper Street, Luton, with wife Ada and their daughter Zena, born in 1905. George had married Ada Jane Walker at Wellington Street Baptist Church on May 24^th, 1902.

Pte Janes was buried at the Berlin South Western Cemetery in Germany, and is commemorated on the Luton Roll of Honour/War Memorial and in the Book of Life compiled at St Mary's Parish Church.

 

Rifleman Albert William Gale, 205323, 7^th Battalion King's Royal Rifles, was taken as a prisoner of war on March 21^st, 1918, the opening day of the German spring offensive. He was interned at Friedrichsfeld in Germany.

A son of Frederick William and the late Emily Rose Gale, of 79 Albert Road, Luton, he was born on January 26^th, 1899. He was an old scholar of Bailey Hill School and became a member of Luton Rifle Club.

Prior to joining up in March 1917 he had worked as a hairdresser in his father's business in Albert Road. He had been in France just a little over a month when he was captured.

Albert was repatriated via Dover on December 2^nd, 1918, and demobilised in 1920, then living in Mansfield, Notts. There he married Sarah E. Dawson in 1920, raised a family and remained there working as a hairdresser until his death in 1964.

 

 

 

 

Pte George William Stanbridge, 33058, 8^th Leicestershire Regiment, was reported missing at Cormicy in France on May 27^th, 1918, later to be confirmed as a prisoner of war at Crossen in Germany.

Born on February 20^th, 1891, and son of Albert and Emma Stanbridge, of 78 Langley Street, Luton, he joined the Leicesters in 1915.

He was repatriated and in 1927 married Millicent Annie Noble. The couple later lived in Chaul End Road, and later still at 67 Hastings Street, Luton. George died in 1950 at the age of 59.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pte Horace Bonfield, 41661, 8^th Leicestershire Regiment, was taken as a prisoner of war in the Champagne area of France on May 28^th, 1918, and interned at Darmstadt in Germany.

His wife and a young daughter were living at 5 Park Way [now Kingston Road], High Town. Horace had married Ada Maria Draper at St Matthew's Church on April 24^th, 1915. Daughter Norah Joan was born later that year.

Horace had joined up with the Bedfordshire Regiment (202478) on October 26^th, 1916, and was trained at Halton Camp. He was drafted out to France in March 1917 but returned to England two months later suffering from Myalgia. He returned to France on Easter Sunday 1918, when he was transferred to the Leicesters. He was reported missing after May 27^th.

Born in Luton on March 28^th, 1891, Horace was a son of Frederick and Elizabeth Bonfield, of High Town Road. In the 1911 Census he was described as a painter. He returned to being a house decorator after being repatriated.

Son Horatio Bruce was born in 1920. The family later moved to Frederick Street and later New Bedford Road shortly before World War Two. Ada died in 1942.

Horace remarried in 1946, he and new wife Lilian (nee Miller) living in Wardown Crescent. Horace died in 1967 at the age of 75.

 

 

Pte Harold Oggelsby, 26460, 8^th Norfolk Regiment, was captured at Chauny in France on March 24^th, 1918. He was interned at Friedrichsfeld in Germany.

Harold had previously been wounded about a year earlier in the Battle of Arras and had been brought back to England to recuperate. He returned to France in January 1918, and was repatriated through Dover on November 28^th, 1918.

Born in Harpenden on January 6^th, 1894, a son of Charles and Sarah Ann Oggelsby, his home was then at 17 Liverpool Road. In March 1914 he had married Edith Lilian Codling at Luton Register Office and they were to have three children – Derrick, Phyllis Hazel and Frederick Harold.

Harold had been a house painter before moving from Harpenden to Luton after the 1911 Census and he would become a paint sprayer in a Luton motor works after his return to the town.

He spent most of his married life at 11 Stuart Street, Luton, his home at the time of his death on August 26^th, 1942.

 

 

Cpl Henry William Draper, 10429, 4^th South African Scottish Infantry, had found wounds in a thigh and a smashed left arm when he was captured as a prisoner of war in France on April 9^th, 1918. He was interned at Alten-Grabow in Germany.

Henry was born in Luton, a son of Nellie and the late George William Draper, of 12 Shirley Road, Luton. His Red Cross prisoner of war record gives his date of birth as March 15^th, 1882, and, according to a report in the Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph, he had served through the South African (Boer) War. He had been previously wounded in France.

Henry had returned to England and then emigrated to South Africa in around 1907. Records suggest he married Louisa Matilda Ray at St Matthew's Church, Luton, on Christmas Eve in 1906. He certainly had a wife and three children living in Pietermaritzburg in South Africa at the time of his capture.

Henry was later transferred to Switzerland as a prisoner of war ahead of his repatriation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pte Horace Frederick Hudson, 52248, 9^th Welsh Regiment, was reported missing on May 30^th, 1918, and later confirmed to be a prisoner of war at Cassel in Germany, having been captured at Montigny in France on that date. He was later repatriated.

Horace had joined up in November 1916 and went to France after three months training at Landguard in Suffolk. He survived the fighting around Ypres and came home on leave in January 1918 before returning to the Front in the Champagne area.

Born in Leagrave on November 21^st, 1897, he was the eldest son of coal merchant Frederick Hudson and his wife Hannah Louisa, of High Street, Leagrave. He married Lillie Squires in 1923 and had two sons, Eric and Keith, and daughter Noreen.

Horace became a builder's merchant and spent much of his married life at 10 Capron Road. He died in December 1978 at the age of 81.

 

 

 

 

 

Rifleman John Henry Kempton, 5710, 1^st King's Royal Rifles, was taken as a prisoner of war and interned in Germany. At the time only a picture and a caption stating that he was from School Lane, Leagrave, seems to have been published in the local Press.

Other sources suggest that he was born in Shepherds Bush, London, in April 1884, and was repatriated following hostilities. He had married Margaret (Maggie) Braye on October 10^th, 1908, and the couple had two children – Alexander (born 1910) and Eileen (1911).

The family lived at 5 School Lane after John was repatriated. By the 1930s they were living in Beechwood Road. John died in 1968 at the age of 83 when his home was at 358 Beechwood Road.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pte Bert Cato MM, 33024, Leicestershire Regiment, was reported missing in France on May 27^th, 1918, and was taken as a prisoner of war by the Germans. His Record Cross record, however, gives no details of his capture or place of internment.

That he had been taken captive and later repatriated was confirmed by his presence at a war prisoners dinner given by the Luton War Pensions Committee in the Winter Assembly Hall in March 1919. He was among nearly 200 men from the Luton area to be entertained and was listed as one of those to give responses to the 'Our Guests' toast at the dinner.

Bert Cato had enlisted in February 1915 and was awarded his Military Medal in May for carrying messages under heavy fire while acting as a company runner. He had had one period of home leave while on service abroad, returning to the firing line in November 1917.

Born in Luton on October 30^th, 1890, he was a son of the late William and Sarah Ann , who lived in Bailey Street, where Bert was born. In 1916 he married Edith May Rolfe in Luton. Son Frederick was born in 1918 and daughter Freda Annie in 1920.

The couple had initially lived at Edith's family home at 16 Hitchin Road, Luton, but spent most of their married life at 289 Dallow Road. That was still Bart's home when he died in June 1965 at the age of 72.

 

 

Pte James William Swain, 27229, Northants Regiment, was captured as an unwounded prisoner of war near Soissons in France on May 27^th, 1918, and interned at Merseburg and later Langensalza in Germany.

He survived his ordeal and was discharged on repatriation, only to died in the Bute Hospital in Luton on September 18^th, 1919, at the age of 24.

Born at West Hampstead, Middlesex, on February 23^rd, 1895, James and his family were living in Watford in 1901. Two years later his father, Jabez, was granted a cab licence in Luton and became something of a familiar character as far as local courts were concerned.

The family were living at 17 Hillside Road, Luton, by the time of the 1911 Census. At the early stages of war, James was involved in munition work before joining the Northants Regiment in August 1916. Between going to France in December 1916 and his capture about 18 months later he was wounded twice, requiring medical attention first at Gosforth, on Tyneside, and later at Brighton.

He was buried at the Church Cemetery in Crawley Green Road and is commemorated on the Luton Roll of Honour/War Memorial.

 

 

Company Sgt-Major Charles Bert Impey, 9663, 2^nd West Yorks Regiment, was captured as an unwounded prisoner of war at Juvincourt in France on May 27^th, 1918. He was interned at Cassel and later Crossen in Germany.

Born on February 13^th, 1894, he had married Mary Kirkwood Newbury in Luton in 1917 and their home was then at 5 Gaitskill Row. After the war the couple moved to Ripon and Harrogate in Yorkshire, where Charles died in 1963 at the age of 69.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pte Harry Hawkins, 203902, 9^th East Surrey Regiment, sent a card to his wife in Luton from the Stendal prisoner of war camp in Germany to assure her he was safe and well. He had been captured at Hattencourt in France on March 26th, 1918.

Born in Harpenden on December 11^th, 1886, he was a son of Joseph John and Ann Hawkins, who by 1911 were living at 39 Stanley Street, Luton, with Harry and two brothers, Ralph and Bert. Harry was working as a straw plait warehouseman.

Harry had married Edith Geere in Luton in the summer of 1911 and she was living at 26 Avondale Road. They had a daughter, Millicent Edith, born in 1916, and a son, Bernard Harry, would be born in 1919.

Sadly Harry died on January 15^th, 1921, while residing at 26 Avondale Road.

 

 

 

Pte William Harrison, 32991, 9^th East Surrey Regiment, had been reported missing 14 weeks previously before his wife at 109a North Street in Luton learned that he was a prisoner of war, being held at Stendal in Germany. He was captured at St Quentin in France on March 21^st, 1918.

Son of Walter and Fanny Harrison, and born on September 18^th, 1886, William had joined up in February 1917 under the Derby Scheme. He was drafted to France in the following June.

He was wounded in the battle of Ypres on August 3^rd, 1917, but recovered and rejoined his battalion.

Prior to joining up, William was employed as a warehouseman by Luton hat manufacturers J. C. Kershaw & Co, for whom he had worked for 12 years. He returned to the hat trade after repatriation.

William married Winifred Maud Wilkins at Christ Church, Luton, on March 28^th, 1910, and had a daughter, Lilian, the following year. A son, Derrick, was born in 1924.

The family lived at 164 North Street until the 1930s, when they moved to 15 Woodbury Hill. William died in 1957 at the age of 70, four years before his wife.

 

 

Cpl William Franklin, 235799, 25^th Northumberland Fusiliers, was taken as a prisoner of war at Croisilles in France on March 22^nd, 1918, on the second day of the German spring offensive. He wrote to his mother at 28 Bailey Street, Luton, that he was then at Stammlager in Germany. He was later interned at Parchim and then Friedrichsfeld.

Born in Luton on October 14^th, 1896, the former head boy at Christ Church School had joined the Beds Regiment at the outbreak of war and in a short time rose from the ranks to sergeant. Due to his skill with the rifle – he had been a member of Luton Rifle Club – he was appointed a drill instructor, which meant he was serving in England but itching to go to France. With so many recruits to train, his superiors felt he was needed in the old country.

However, he finally saw service in France with the Northumberland Fusiliers, but at the same time was reduced to the ranks. He had just gained his first stripe again when he was captured.

After leaving school and prior to enlistment, William was employed by hat manufacturers C. Dillingham & Sons in their felt department. He devoted his spare time to shooting and also to football as a member of the Montrose FC.

Son of William Edward and Lily Franklin, he was repatriated at the end of hostilities. In 1920 he married Emma G. Moule in Luton. Son William was born in 1922, and the couple spent most of their married life at 171 Dunstable Road. William died in 1963 at the age of 66.

 

 

Pte Frederick Odell, 12385, 25^th Northumberland Fusiliers, was captured as a prisoner of war in France in early May 1918 and interned in Germany. He was married and lived in Sundon.

Born in Sundon on November 27^th, 1892, he had joined the Forces in September 1914 and saw service in the Mediterranean area, from where he was invalided home suffering from fever. He had later twice returned to France after being wounded and had taken part in fighting on the Somme and around Arras and Ypres.

At the time of the 1911 Census, Frederick was a labourer at the Sundon cement works and living in the village with parents Charles and Mary and four brothers and four sisters. Two of his brothers had been discharged from the Army due to wounds received early in the war, while youngest brother Albert was waiting to return to France in July 1918 after recovering from trench foot. Their father had been discharged from the Royal Defence Corps due to age and long service.

In 1916 he married Rose Smith and they subsequently had four children - George, Kenneth, Ena and Aubrey. Frederick continued to live in Upper Sundon until his death in 1977, when he had been residing at 29 Harlington Road.

 

 

L-Cpl Herbert Crawley, 33167, 8^th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, was taken as a prisoner of war in the Champagne area of France on May 27th, 1918. His family first heard from him while interned at Limburg, and his Red Cross record later shows him to be at Friedrichsfeld in Germany.

Born on March 5^th, 1897 in Doncaster, Yorks, he was a son of Arthur John and the late Frances Elizabeth (died 1901). In 1903 Arthur married Annie Wiseman, Herbert's step-mother and they lived at 65 Cromwell Road, Luton.

Herbert had been a stringer in a dye works before joining the Army. He was posted as missing on May 27^th before he wrote home to say he was a prisoner of war.

Following repatriation, Herbert married Elizabeth White in Holbeach, Lincs, on December 12^th, 1919. Daughters Joan and Barbara were born in Holbeach before the family moved to Luton in the mid-1920s, living first in Cromwell Road and later at 223 Connaught Road. A son, Derrick, was born in Luton in 1934.

Herbert became a heavy goods lorry driver in the chemicals industry while in Luton. He died in the town in 1978.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pte Amos Dilley, 203192, 2/5^th Notts & Derby (Sherwood Foresters) Regiment, was interned at Munter II camp in Germany after being taken as a prisoner of war with an elbow wound at Bullecourt in France on March 21^st, 1918.

Born in Gravenhurst, Beds, on December 18^th, 1897, Amos was a son of William Henry and Mary Ann Dilley. He had moved to Luton with his family following the 1911 Census and was living at 8 Milton Road.

Before joining up the Beds Regiment (No 31828) in October 1916 he was employed as a straw hat stiffener by manufacturers Vass & Harris, of 64 Alma Street, Luton. He returned to work for the firm after being repatriated via Hull on the SS Archangel on November 30^th, 1918.

Amos married Rose Elizabeth Chalkley, of Ivy Road, Luton, in Luton in 1921. The couple were later living at 45 Hampton Road, Luton, and they had three children – Vera (1922), James (1927) and Kenneth (1933). Amos died in early 1944.

A brother, Pte David Dilley (Beds Regiment), had been killed in action in France on April 23rd, 1917. Another brother, Leslie, was serving in Italy at the time Amos was a prisoner of war.

 

 

Pte Frederick Thomas Butcher, 19713, 9^th Scottish Rifles, was captured on the Somme on March 22^nd, 1918, and held as a prisoner of war at Munster I in Germany.

He was the brother of his married sister Lucy Denton and lodged with her and her husband Amos at 59 Hartley Road, Luton. Before joining up Frederick had worked at the Diamond Foundry in Dallow Road.

Born at Wavendon, Bucks, in November 1894, he was repatriated via Hull on December 3^rd, 1918.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pte Stanley William Prudden, 285068, 11^th Battalion Cheshire Regiment, had returned to France from home leave only ten days when he was captured as a prisoner of war at Ploegstreert in Belgium on April 11^th, 1918. A card dated April 20^th finally arrived at his home at 18 Hampton Road, Luton, from Limburg in Germany with his news. His Red Cross record shows he was later interned at Stendal.

Pte Prudden had been in the Army for three years, first joining the Royal Engineers, then seeing service with a Welsh regiment and finally the Cheshires. The previous November he had been invalided home with wounds and trench feet.

Stanley, born on May 28^th, 1889, was a son of Edwin and Lizzie Pudden. On April 11^th, 1914, he had married Annie Gertrude Pinnock at Christ Church, Luton. By the time of his capture the couple had had three children, including a daughter who had died soon after birth.

Stanley had worked for Luton timber merchants H. Arnold & Co, a trade he returned to after repatriation in November 1918 and demobilisation the following January.

The family later lived at 62 Sherwood Road, Luton, with another daughter. Stanley died at Bethnal Green in 1949 at the age of 59.

 

 

Pte Herbert Charles Howe, 10243, 7^th Battalion The Buffs (East Kent) Regiment, was captured at Fort Vendeau in France on March 22^nd, 1918. He wrote to his wife at 62 Kenilworth Road, Luton, with the news. Herbert was interned first at Karlsruhr and later at Mannheim.

Herbert was a son of George and Naomi Howe, of St Paul's Walden, where he married Gertrude Louisa Ward on May 21^st, 1904. By 1911 he and Gertrude were living with her aunt, Sarah Waller, at 62 Kenilworth Road.

Pte Howe had joined up in June 1916 and went to France the following October, surviving without injury. Following repatriation in December 1918 and demobilisation the following March, Herbert return to Luton and was re-employed as a hay and straw bailer by Anstee & Co, by whom he was employed at Wandsworth, London, pre-war.

Herbert and Gertrude later lived at 32 Beech Road, Luton, and Herbert died in Luton in 1961 at the age of 84.

 

 

 

 

Pte Percy Bird, 27360, Northants Regiment, was reported missing in action in France on March 25^th, 1918, later to be confirmed as a prisoner of war at Stendal in Germany.

Born in Luton on June 2^nd, 1892, he was an assistant in a clothier's shop in 1911 and lived with his parents Joseph and Mary Maria Bird at 35 Reginald Street, Luton. News of Percy's captivity was sent to his mother, then living at 108 Althorp Road, Luton.

Percy was demobbed in late 1919 and the following year married Ivy Rhodes in Luton. The couple later lived in Talbot Road and finally at 83 Old Bedford Road. Ivy died in 1946, and Percy on January 8^th, 1948, in the Luton and Dunstable Hospital.

 

 

Pte Ernest Kindred, 524506, Royal Engineers, was captured as a prisoner of war on April 10^th, 1918. he wrote to his wife at 47 Baker Street, Luton, with the news and stating that he was “quite sound”.

He had enlisted in August 1915 and had seen a year's service in France after training. Ernest was previously been employed as a hat trade printer by Barnard & Dawson, of King Street. Following repatriation in November 1918 and demobilisation in March 1919 he returned to the family home in Baker Street,

Ernest was born in Luton on May 19^th, 1892, to Arthur and Naomi and at the time of enlistment was living at 109 Russell Street. He married Helen Bell at St Paul's Church, Luton, on February 28^th, 1917, and sons Reginald and Colin and daughter Edna were born in the 1920s.

Ernest continued to live in Baker Street until his death in 1968 at the age of 75.

 

 

 

 

Pte Fred Fensome, 41112, 7^th Battalion Norfolk Regiment, was wounded in the left thigh when captured as a prisoner of war at Albert on the Somme on March 27^th, 1918. He was interned at the Munster II camp in Germany.

Born in Luton on December 6^th , 1898, Fred was son of Alfred and Martha Fensome, of 22 Albert Road, Luton. His parents first learned that he was probably a prisoner of war, when a wounded comrade who had gone into action with Fred wrote to them from hospital in Plymouth to say it was unlikely Fred had been killed. Fred himself later wrote from Germany to say he was going on nicely and being well treated.

Following repatriation and demobilisation, Fred married Lily Grace Claydon in Luton in 1923. They had a son, Ralph, the following year. In the 1930s the family moved to live in St Saviours Crescent. Fred died in 1986, aged 87, six years after Lily.

 

Pte William Edward Guppy, 41802, 2^nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, was taken as a prisoner of war at Messines in France on April 11^th, 1918. He was wounded in the left thigh and taken to hospital at Minden in Germany.

Born at Chilton Cantelo, near Yeovil, Somerset, on May 8^th, 1885, William was a printer's Linotype operator who in 1911 was lodging in Regent Street, Luton. On July 8^th, 1911, he married Ellen Ethel Everitt at St Anne's Church, Islington, and lived in London. After William joined up in March 1917, his wife returned to her family home at 12 Harcourt Street, Luton.

William went to France in January 1918 and had seen little active service before his capture. Following his repatriation it seems that he and Ellen lived in the Essex area, where William died in November 1972 at the age of 89.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pte Ernest Thomas Parsons, 41392, 2/6^th North Staffordshire Regiment, was wounded in the left arm by shrapnel when taken as a prisoner of war at Bullecourt in France on March 31^st,, 1918. He had been posted as missing for ten days.

Pte Parsons was interned at Merseburg and later Attengrabow in Germany. He wrote to parents Thomas and Clara Elizabeth Parsons at 18 Russell Street, Luton, that one day was very much like another in camp but he had got chummy with the strangers with whom he was interned.

Ernest was still at school at the time of the 1911 Census but later became a blockmaker in the hat trade. After repatriation he returned to the family home in Russell Street and lived there until he died in 1972 at the age of 74. He seems not to have married, living with his siblings for some years.

 

 

 

 

 

Pte Percy James Biggs, 127024, 41^st Machine Gun Corps, was taken as a prisoner of war near St Quentin in France on March 26^th, 1918. He was interned at Stendal in Germany.

Born in Luton on October 23^rd, 1893, he was a son of Alphonse and Charlotte Biggs, and lived at 3 Lea Road, Luton, at the time of joining up.

Following repatriation he married Rose Anderson in Luton in 1919. In 1932 he remarried, his second wife being Ethel May Webb, and they lived at 281 Park Street. Percy died in Gosport, Hants, in 1972 at the age of 79.

 

 

Pte Walter Dumpleton, 29120, 2^nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was I taken as a prisoner of war in France on March 24^th, 1918. He had been reported missing on March 22^nd.

His Red Cross records show he was captured at Ham, on the Somme, and held first at Stendal camp in Germany.

Walter was born in Stopsley on September 4^th, 1887. Like his father Daniel (died 1916) he had been a gamekeeper at Bramingham. At the time of his enlistment he was living with his brother Daniel in Gardenia Avenue, Leagrave.

On joining up he was sent to a convalescent camp at Ampthill as a cook, before being sent to Landguard in Suffolk to finish his Army training and eventually going to France. It was not until 11 weeks after his captivity that his family learned he was in German hands.

Walter was repatriated at the end of hostilities. In 1945 he was living with Gladys May Osman and her mother at 72 Oak Road, Luton. The following year he married Gladys, but she died two years later.

Walter continued to live in Oak Road until he died in the Luton and Dunstable Hospital on February 19^th, 1954.

 

 

Pte Sidney Bates, 202039, 2^nd Battalion Essex Regiment, was captured unwounded at Fampoux in France on March 28^th, 1918, and interned at Parchim and then Friedsrichsfeld in Germany.

His Red Cross prisoner of war record gives his date of birth in Luton as April 17^th, 1877. He was a son of Joseph and Jane Bates, living at 62 High Town Road, Luton at the time. He had been in the Army for about 18 months when captured. Sidney was repatriated on November 24^th, 1918.

Before enlistment he had worked at the Thermo-Electric Ore Reduction Corporation Works in Cobden Street, High Town.

 

 

 

 

 

Pte Walter Ernest Sidney Frederick Tomkins, 32270, 4^th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was interned at Munster II prisoner of war camp in Germany after being captured in France on March 24^th, 1918. He had initially been reported missing on that date.

Walter was repatriated on December 11^th, 1918, and demobbed the following March while suffering from nephritis. He had seen 3½ years service with the Forces.

Born in Luton on March 6^th, 1881, to William and Elizabeth Tomkins, he married Agnes Ellis in Luton in 1902 and raised a family at 76 Ash Road, Luton. He died in Luton on December 12^th, 1962, at the age of 81.

 

Pte Sidney Slough, 50703, 11^th Battalion Cheshire Regiment, was taken as a prisoner of war at Messines in France on April 10^th, 1918, and interned at Dulmen in Germany.

Born on January 31^st, 1898, he was the only son of Albert and the late Elizabeth Slough, of 55 Ashton Road, Luton. Before enlistment in the Bedfordshire Regiment and later being transferred to the Cheshires, Sidney had been a warehouseman employed by hat manufacturers W. H. Eustace & Co, of King Street, Luton. He was repatriated at Christmas1918 and demobbed the following March.

In 1926 he married Violet Elizabeth May Anderson in Luton and they had a son, Warwick, born in 1929. The couple lived at 298 Leagrave Road before Sidney died in the Luton & Dunstable Hospital on August 10^th, 1952.

 

 

 

 

 

Rifleman Samuel Johnson Taylor, 205174, 16^th King's Royal Rifles, had been in France only since the previous January when he was captured unwounded as a prisoner of war at Neuve Eglise, Belgium, on April 15^th, 1918, and interned at Limburg and later Friedrichsfeld in Germany.

He was born in Luton on January 9^th, 1899, son of Samuel and May Ann Taylor, of 116 North Street, Luton. He had joined the Army Reserve in December 1916 at the age of 17 and was later transferred to the Rifles while in France.

He was repatriated on November 22^nd, 1918, arriving at Hull on the SS Archangel, and demobbed in March 1920.

In 1930 he married Beatrice Louise Strange in Luton, and they lived their early married life at 826 Dunstable Road, and had two daughters, Joy and Gillian.

Samuel died in Dunstable in 1963 at the age of 64.

 

 

 

 

Sgt Percy James Cowley, 51647, Lincolnshire Regiment, was captured by the Germans at Wyschote in Belgium on April 16^th, 1918, and interned as a prisoner of war first at Termonde and later at Dulmen in Germany.

Before going to France he was a bomb instructor with the Bedfordshire Regiment at Landguard in Suffolk, many Luton lads training under him. He was transferred to the Lincolns on his arrival at the Western Front.

Percy was born in Luton on November 14^th, 1889, the son of George and Mary Cowley, of 7 Church Street, Luton. His father, who died in 1917, had been proprietor of a temperance hotel in Church Street, possibly the Waverley.

By 1911, Percy was a boarder in Hammersmith, London, where he was working as a civil service clerk.

After repatriation he married Lilian Rose Wilson in Luton in 1920. They had two sons – John and Douglas – and spent their married life at 8 Union Street, Luton, until Percy died on March 31^st, 1930. Lilian then lived with two sisters in Cutenhoe Road.

 

 

 

Three brothers, sons of Albert and Mary Barton, of 13 Henry Street, Luton, were made prisoners of war and interned in Germany in the first week of the German spring offensive of 1918.

Pte Walter Barton, 2^nd Battalion Essex Regiment, was captured unwounded at Arras on March 28^th and interned at Friedrichsfeld. He was repatriated at the end of hostilities.

Pte William Barton, 29585, 2^nd Battalion Middlesex Regiment, was captured on the Somme on March 28^th and interned at Geissen. He too was repatriated.

Sadly, Pte Albert Barton, 41220, 1^st North Staffs (Prince of Wales) Regiment, died from enteritis on May 26^th, 1918, while interned at Stendal, having been reported missing since March 21^st.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pte James Albert White, 22986, Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry, was taken as a prisoner of war at Fresnoy-le-Grand, near St Quentin, France, on March 21^st, 1918. He was interned first at Stendal and later at Dulmen in Germany.

James was born in Valetta, Malta, on April 28^th, 1890, but spent most of his young life in Markyate, where in 1911 he was a butcher living with parents James and Agnes Annie White and brothers and sisters in High Street.

On June 9^th, 1915, James married Maria Charlotte Burchmore at Christ Church, Luton, and was living with her family at 217 Dunstable Road, Luton, when he joined up. He was repatriated at the end of hostilities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

L-Cpl Charles James Whittington, 43269, 6^th Battalion Northants Regiment, died in the Royal Fortress Hospital, Cologne, on May 24^th, 1918, from a gunshot wound sustained when taken as a prisoner of war at St Quentin in France some weeks earlier. The 23-year-old was buried at the Cologne Southern Cemetery in Germany.

While previously interned at Limburg in Germany he wrote a fairly optimistic letter to parents Frederick and Martha Whittington at 85 Ash Road, Luton in which he said: “I have been wounded and taken prisoner, but am getting on all right, so you must not worry about me. I am looked after all right and my wound is healing nicely. I have got one in the right leg this time.”

Charles Whittington joined the Army in January 1916 and went to France the following December. He was wounded in April 1917 and returned to England for treatment, rejoining his regiment in July 1917.

The Red Cross record of his death said further information was missing, but the Luton Book of Life compiled at St Mary's Parish Church carried details supplied by his family of when and where he died.

Before joining up, Charles was employed by printers Marshall, Brookes & Chalkley, of Frederic Street, Luton.

 

 

Pte Albert Mardle, 376333, 1/6^th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, was taken as an unwounded prisoner of war at Estaires in France on April 9^th, 1918. He was interned at Dulmen in Germany and repatriated following the end of hostilities.

Born at Kings Walden, Herts, in 1887, a son of Charles and Emily Mardle, he had married Somerset girl Eliza Frances Larcombe in Luton in 1908. They had four children - Vera, Hilda, Lilian and Pansy born up to 1915 – and lived at 73 Brunswick Street, Luton.

By the time of his capture, Albert had spent around 18 months with the Colours, and left home for France on November 13^th, 1916. Like his father, he had worked for Luton Corporation.

 

Pte Bert Cooper, 22978, 2^nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was captured at Savy in France on March 22^nd, 1918, and interned as a prisoner of war at Giessen in Germany.

His Red Cross record gives his date of birth as December 26^th, 1890, in Hexton. He was a son of George and Eliza Cooper, who at the time of his capture were living at 5 Albion Road, Luton.

Single and aged 27, he had enlisted in November 1915 and went to France for the first time in the following May. He was wounded around Easter 1917 and returned to England, spending some months at Southport, Lancs. He eventually recovered and returned overseas.

At the time of the 1911 Census Bert was a farm labourer living with his family in Hexton and employed at Hexton Manor.

 

 

 

 

 

Pte Wilfred Bolton, 131720, 19^th Machine Gun Corps, was taken as a prisoner of war at Messines in France on April 10^th, 1918, and interned at Friedrichsfeld in Germany. He was aged 19 and went out to France just before Easter 1918, having enlisted shortly before his 18^th birthday.

Wilfred was born in Flamstead, Herts, on March 5^th, 1899, son of George and Maria Bolton, of Hoo Cottages, Pepperstock. He was repatriated via Hull on November 23^rd, 1918.

Following his return to England he married Eva May Batchelor in 1923 and they had a daughter, Betty, in 1928. The family lived in Baker Street and more latterly Spencer Road before Wilfred died in 1975 at the age of 76.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rifleman Ernest William Pyne, 205137, 9^th Battalion King's Royal Rifles, died in a German field hospital from shrapnel wounds on March 27^th, 1918, six days after being captured at the start of the enemy spring offensive of 1918.

It was five months before parents William Benjamin and Mary Ann Pyne, of 39 Beech Road, Luton, learned of the fate oftheir youngest son, known as 'Corporal'. In the meantime, one of Ernest's chums who was also in German hands had written to say Rifleman Pyne was in hospital badly wounded.

Ernest had joined the Training Reserve in March 1917, at the age of 18. The following December he was transferred to the King's Royal Rifles and went to France the following month. He had been in France only nine weeks when captured.

Prior to joining up he was employed by hat manufacturers A. H. Perry & Son, of 24 Liverpool Road, Luton.

He was buried at Guise (La Desolation) French Military Cemetery, Flavigny-le-Petit, and is commemorated on the Luton War Memorial/Roll of Honour.

 

 

 

 

Pte Charles Seaton, 57890, 9^th Battalion Cheshire Regiment, was captured at Bapaume on March 25^th, 1918, and held as a wounded prisoner of war at Altengrabow in Prussia until his repatriation.

Pte Seaton had been in the Army for 18 months, a little over six months having been spent in France. He had joined the Royal Engineers but was subsequently transferred to the Cheshires.

He was the son of Harriet Seaton, of 62 Whitby Road, Luton. He was born in Leighton Buzzard on August 4^th, 1896, and two years later was living in Eaton Bray, where his father, Charles, became a cattle dealer and licensee of the Plough public house until his death in 1915.

In 1921 Charles Jr, who worked in the hat trade, married Bertha Scales, while his mother remarried and became Mrs Harriet Riddle in 1924. Charles and Bertha lived at 10 Curzon Road, Luton. Charles died in 1960 at the age of 63.

 

 

 

 

Pte Albert George Smith, 33948, 8^th Battalion East Surrey Regiment, was interned as a prisoner of war at Limburg in Germany. A one paragraph story in The Luton News said merely that Mrs Smith, of 10 Limbury Road, Leagrave, had received a card to that effect from her husband.

Albert was repatriated via Dover on December 1^st, 1918. He had joined up in May 1917 and two months later was in France. He was captured on April 1^st, 1918, during the retreat from Cambrai.

He had married Edith Amelia Bass in 1913, and son Albert was born in 1915. The couple lived their entire married lives at 10 Limbury Road, Albert dying in 1970.

 

 

Pte Leonard Francis Farnham, 271087, 1st Battalion Hertfordshire Regiment, was interned at Gustrow in Germany after being taken as a prisoner of war at St Emelie, between St Quentin and Cambrai, in France on March 22^nd, 1918.

A son of Harry John and Emma Susan Farnham, Leonard was born in St Paul's Walden, Herts, on June 13^th, 1898. The family were living in Breachwood Green before moving to May Street, Luton, by 1911, and to 16 Surrey Street by 1918.

Leonard was in the Bedfordshire Volunteers before joining up as a 16-year-old and , after serving nearly a year in France, being recalled as under age. He returned to France in February 1918 at the age of 19. The Farnhams had four sons and two grandsons serving.

Pte Farnham was repatriated via Dover on November 21^st, 1918. He returned to the family home now at 16 Surrey Street, and in 1931 married Violet Jane Marlow in Luton. They continued to live at Surrey Street before moving to High Town Road.

Leonard died on July 16^th, 1978, at the age of 80. He was by then a widower living at Kirkdale Court, Albert Road.

His brother, Harry, was taken as a prisoner of war just days after Leonard (see next item).

 

 

 

Pte Harry William Farnham, 400810, 2^nd Battalion Essex Regiment, was captured unwounded as a prisoner of war near Arras on March 28^th, 1918, the date he was posted as missing. His brother Leonard had also been taken as a prisoner of war, Near St Quentin in France, on March 22^nd (see above).

At the time his wife, Catherine Carrie, was living in Bury Road (now St Thomas's Road), Stopsley, with six children – Catherine, Cyril, George, Claude, Leslie and Sylvia. Two more children, Kitty and Reginald, were born later.

Harry was born in Notting Hill, London, on February 7^th, 1885, according to his death certificate in 1974, although on some census returns he gives a date of January 26^th, 1885. A son of Harry and Emma Farnham, the family are shown to be living in Tea Green in 1891 and Breachwood Green in 1901.

In 1904 at St Mary's Church, King's Walden, Harry married Carrie, and by the time of the 1911 Census they were living with their first three children in Bury Road, Stopsley, Harry employed as a bricklayer's labourer.

Following his repatriation at the end of the war and his internment at Parchin and Friedrichsfeld, Harry returned to his family in Bury Road and he and Carrie were later living in Putteridge Road, Carrie dying in 1957 and Harry in 1974 at the age of 89.

 

 

 

Essex-born Pte Peter Richardson, 47987, 2^nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, had a fiancee in Luton who was naturally anxious when he was posted as missing. It turned out, however, that he had been taken as a prisoner of war by the Germans at Savy, near St Quentin in France, on March 22^nd, 1918.

It was some time later that Kate Martin at 79 Windsor Street, Luton, received a card from Peter saying that he was interned at Giessen in Germany, but was quite well. He was not wounded when captured.

Born in Ashdon, near Saffron Waldon, Essex, on March 1^st, 1887, Peter had been employed by the Great Northern Railway Company at Luton. It was probably that he met Kate as a result.

He had joined up on July 14^th, 1917, and went to France the following February. He was repatriated following the end of hostilities and came back to Luton, where he married Kate towards the end of 1919. They had a son, Frederick, born on May 17^th, 1921.

Peter and Kate continued to live at 79 Windsor Street throughout their married life, and Peter returned to work on the railway as a carter. He died in Luton in 1963 at the age of 76.

 

 

Pte Frederick Goodwin, 33112, 8^th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, was taken as a prisoner of war at Epehy in France on March 22^nd, 1918. He was interned at Gustrow but repatriated at the end of hostilities.

His home address at the time was 36 Richmond Hill, Luton. He had been in the Army for three years, first going to France in the autumn of 1916. He had returned to the battlefield from home leave just a month before his capture.

Prior to joining up voluntarily, Frederick worked for Commer Cars in Biscot Road.

Born in Luton on February 22^nd, 1897, he was a son of Sidney and Elizabeth Goodwin, who had previously lived in Baker Street.

In 1926 Frederick married Lily Rosetta Taylor in Luton. They lived in Dudley Street and Ridgway Road before Frederick died in 1958 at the age of 61.

 

 

 

 

Pte Thomas Gilpin, 39614, 6^th Battalion Northants Regiment, was reported missing on April 5^th, 1918, only to have become a prisoner of war of the Germans. His red Cross record contains no details other than that he was repatriated on November 26^th, 1918.

Thomas was born in Luton in 1885 to John and Sophia Gilpin, and worked in the straw hat trade. He married Alice Abrahams in Leighton Buzzard in 1909 and had a daughter, also named Alice, the following year. Sophia was born in 1911, Bertha in 1913 and Edna in 1917. the family lived at 21 Gillam Street.

Thomas became a widower in 1937 and died in 1957 at the age of 72.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pte Fred Fensome, 41112, 7^th Battalion Norfolk Regiment, was wounded in the left thigh when captured by the Germans as a prisoner of war at Albert, France, on March 27^th, 1918. He was interned at Munster II camp.

Born at Luton on December 6^th, 1898, he was educated at Waller Street School. Prior to joining up in February 1917 and going to France the following January, Fred had been employed at the Henry Brown timber yard in Dunstable Road.

Fred was repatriated and discharged at the end of hostilities and returned to parents Alfred and Martha' home at 22 Albert Road, Luton. He was their only son.

In 1923 Fred married Lily Grace Claydon in Luton. The couple had a son, Ralph, the following year and continued to live in Albert Road until moving to St Saviours Crescent in the 1930s.

Fred died in Luton in 1986 at the age of 87.

 

 

 

 

Pte Percy Bodsworth, 203194, 2/5^th Notts & Derby Regiment (Sherwood Foresters), was interned at Dulmen, Germany, when taken as a prisoner of war at Bullecourt on March 21^st, 1918.

In a letter to his mother, Mary Elizabeth, at 73 Burr Street, Luton, he wrote: “Don't worry about me, as I am all right. You know how the song goes, 'Smile, smile, smile'. That till after the war, and I don't think it will be long now.”

Born in Houghton Regis on November 19^th, 1897, Percy Bodsworth joined the Notts & Derby Regiment in October 1916. He spent three months in training in Ireland, and went to France in January 1917.

His mother married discharged soldier Albert Groom in Houghton Regis on Christmas Day 1897. Before joining the Army, Percy was employed at the dyeing works of Mr Stewart Hubbard in Regent Street, Luton.

Percy married Rose Farmer in Luton in 1921 and they lived first in High Street, Houghton Regis, and later Drury Lane and Manor Park. Records suggest they had four children, including twin boys. In 1939, Percy was working as a lime kiln filler. He died in 1985 at the age of 87.

 

 

 

Pte Harold Wiseman, 41254, 4^th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was taken as a prisoner of war by the Germans at Cambrai in France on March 24^th, 1918. Ironically, older brother Algernon had been killed in action near Cambrai on November 30^th, 1917.

Harold was interned at Langensalza in Germany, initially with hip and leg wounds. He wrote to parents Arthur and Mary Jane Wiseman at 12 Cross Street, Luton: “My wounds are getting a little better, but I am still weak. I am in a hospital and am very comfortable, so don't worry. I am with some of my pals, so you see I have got someone to speak to.”

Pte Wiseman joined the Buffs (East Kent Regiment) in February 1917 and trained at Dover. He was eventually transferred to the Suffolk Regiment and, on being sent to France in November 1917, to the Beds Regiment.

Born in Luton, Harold had worked at the Thermo Electric Foundry in High Town before joining up. Upon repatriation and discharge he returned to live at Cross Street, living there with his mother and some sisters until the 1930s, when he moved to Albion Road. He died in 1958 at the age of 61.

 

 

 

Pte Reginald Edward Smith, 42905, 2^nd Battalion Middlesex Regiment, was taken as a German prisoner of war in the Brie region of northern France on March 25^th, 1918. His Red Cross records show he was interned at Gustrow in Germany.

Reginald Smith was born in Stopsley on April 22^nd, 1894, and had lived in Marsom Place. The former Hayward Tyler employee enlisted on March 5^th, 1917, and underwent training at Dover before going to France the following May.

The Luton News report of his capture contained no family details, although the 1911 Census shows he was a son of Alfred and Emily Smith, of Marsom Place, and had two brothers and three sisters. Other records suggest he married Beatrice Jane Bell later in 1911. In the mid-1920s Reginald Edward Smith is recorded as a boarder living with Ernest and Emma Bell (who had a daughter Beatrice) at 49 Dale Road.

Later electoral roll records show Reginald Edward Smith and Beatrice Jane Smith living at 244 Dallow Road, Luton, and that Reginald died in Luton in 1969 at the age of 75.

 

 

 

 

Rifleman Charles Smith, 205158, 16^th King's Royal Rifles, was captured by the Germans at Armentieres in France on April 13^th, 1918, and interned at Lechfeld in Germany.

A card sent to his mother Annie at 22 Chase Street, Luton, revealed that he was wounded but gave no details.

Charles had been in France only since January, having joined up the previous March. Before that, and since leaving school, he had worked as a stringer at Mr Stewart Hubbard's dye works in Regent Street, Luton.

Born in Luton on January 2^nd, 1899, he was living with parents George and Annie at 8 Langley Place, Luton, in 1911. After being repatriated he returned to the family's then home in Chase Street and in 1926 married Lilian Victoria Pickering.

He and Lilian continued to live at 22 Chase Street into the 1930s, when they moved to live at 67 Albert Road, Charles continuing to work in the hat trade.

 

 

 

Pte Archie (Herbert Archibald) Plater, 24220, 2/6^th Battalion Notts and Derby Regiment (Sherwood Foresters) was made a prisoner of war of the Germans at Bullecourt on the Somme on March 21^st, 1918, at the start of the spring offensive. He had reached the French coast in anticipation of home leave when he was recalled to his regiment.

Following his capture, Pte Plater wrote to parents Herbert and Florence at 59 Chobham Street, Luton, to inform them that he had been taken to Berlin, from where he was on his way to a camp somewhere in Germany. But he was quite well and happy.

Since his capture he had met Pte Walter Smith, formerly of 73 North Street, Luton, who wrote to Mrs Plater from Rennbahn camp, near Hamburg, to say their son came into the camp and he had given him underclothing, receiving Luton cake and other things in return.

“He was very cheerful when he found me, as I am a Luton man and did my best for him, as I can get parcels from England,” wrote Pte Smith.

Archie Plater had enlisted in the Herts Yeomanry two years earlier and was transferred to the Sherwood Foresters when he was drafted to France in March 1917. His red Cross record shows he was repatriated via Hull on SS Londonderry on December 2^nd, 1918, and had been interned at Munster I camp.

Born on December 29^th, 1896, Archie Plater returned to Chobham Street and married Gladys Brandon from Winsdon Road in Luton in 1921.

 

 

Gunner Stanley Ernest Allen, 96563, Tank Corps, was serving on a tank when taken as a prisoner of war by the Germans at Manancourt in France on March 25^th, 1918. He had been reported missing since the previous day.

The 19-year-old single man, who had lived with his married sister Annie at 404 Hitchin Road, Luton, before joining up, was was interned at Dulmen in Germany.

He had been in the Army for about a year before his capture and had been drafted to France only the previous January. Writing to his sister and her husband Thomas James Holliman, Stanley wrote that he had received a slight wound in the leg at the time he was captured, just a week after returning from home leave.

Parents William Alfred and Anna Maria Allen had died by 1912. Stanley was born on January 8^th, 1899.
He was repatriated after captivity in November 1918 and demobbed in October 1919. In 1922 he married Gladys May Eves in Luton and they spent most of their married lives living in Moreton Road, Round Green. Records suggest they had two sons and two daughters.

Stanley, who had worked as a lorry driver, died in 1970 at the age of 71.

 

 

Pte Walter Born, 108359, Machine Gun Corps, was taken as an unwounded prisoner of war by the Germans at Bullecourt on March 21^st, 1918. He was born in London on November 12^th, 1892, but was living in Luton when he joined the Army on May 23^rd, 1917.

His mother, living at 5 Baker Street, Luton, received War Office notification that her son was missing, before getting a card from him to inform her that he was a prisoner of war at Parchim in Germany.

Walter was trained at Queenborough and later at Mansfield before going to France at the end of September 1917. Prior to joining up he was employed as an inspector at the George Kent munitions works at Chaul End.

He was repatriated via Dover on December 2^nd, 1918.

 

 

 

 

 

Sgt Thomas Arthur Brown, 200492, 2^nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was taken as an unwounded prisoner of war by the Germans at Etriellers in France on March 22^nd, 1918. He was interned at Cassel.

A son of Thomas and Christina Winifred Brown, he was born at Rushden in Northants on May 14^th, 1888. After moving to Luton he married Mabel Emily Bavister at Luton Parish Church on November 24^th, 1913.

It was at her home at 73 Langley Street, Luton, that Mabel received a card from her husband to inform her that he had been captured. Sgt Brown had joined up in the second month of war, but was not sent to France until New Year's Day 1918. There he was serving as a bombing instructor when the German spring offensive began.

Thomas was repatriated after hostilities ended, eventually working as as motor body repairer and living with Mabel in Argyll Avenue. The couple had two children – Allan (born 1923) and Ella (1924).

Thomas died in Luton in 1951 at the age of 62.

 

 

 

Cpl Frederick Charles Winch, 85399, Machine Gun Corps, was captured at Ploegsteert, near Ypres, on April 10^th, 1918, although parents Walter John and Rose Mary Winch, of 104 Ashton Road, Luton, waited five weeks to be informed merely that he was posted as missing on April 18^th.

His Red Cross prisoner of war record gives the April 10^th date and shows that Frederick was interned at Friedrichsfeld in Germany. He had been captured unwounded.

Frederick had joined the Training Reserve on December 20^th, 1916, and was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps on February 20^th, 1917. After a period of training at Grantham he went to France on September 3^rd, 1917, and took part in many of the principal engagements during the German spring offensive of 1918. He gained his first stripe at the beginning of March 1918 and a further stripe a fortnight later to become a corporal.

Frederick Winch was an only child, born on January 3^rd, 1898, in Luton. He was repatriated at the end of hostilities and returned to Luton, where he married Eva Maud Ellis in 1932 and lived at 11 Ash Road, working as a carpenter. He died in Luton in 1976 at the age of 78.

 

 

Sapper Ernest Kindred, 524506, Royal Engineers, had destroyed a temporary bridge near Armentieres on April 10th, 1918, the day before he was officially reported missing.

Lieut Alex D. Hislop wrote to Sapper Kindred's wife Helen at 47 Baker Street, Luton, with the news but anticipating correctly that he husband had been taken as a prisoner of war.

He wrote: “With two other sappers he was detailed to destroy a temporary bridge over the Lys at Armentieres. I know his work was successfully completed, and that your husband and the two sappers working with him left the scene of their operations in good health. There was little or no shelling or machine gun fire at that time, about five in the evening on April 10th.

“Since that hour we have lost all trace of the three sappers who constituted the party. Other sappers who were out on similar work, in the confusion of the retreat, got mixed up with other units and were lost to us for a week or more. They have all reported now, and the group of which your husband was one is the only one unaccounted for.

“The enemy had made a small raid on the line along which the party may have retired, and it is very possible they fell into his hands. Personally I do not think the party has come to any serious bodily harm. It is extremely unlikely that all three would be killed by a shell, or that no trace would have been found of them. I am therefore very hopeful that we may hear of theme as prisoners at any time.”

Sapper Kindred had joined the Royal Engineers in August 1915 and underwent training at Maidenhead and Marlow before being drafted to France a year before his capture.

The son of Arthur and Naomi Kindred, of 109 Russell Street, Luton, he was born in 1892 and had been employed as a printer by Barnard & Dawson, of King Street, Luton. He had married Helen Bell at St Paul's Church, Luton, on February 28th, 1917, and the couple lived at Helen's family home at 47 Baker Street, Luton.

Ernest was repatriated and then discharged in March 1919. He died in Luton in 1968 at the age of 75.

 

 

Pte Walter Charles Harris, 57331, 11th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, was interned at Limburg in German after being captured as a prisoner of war at St Quentin in France on March 21st, 1918. He had landed in France exactly three months before his capture.

He was the son of Walter Charles and Susannah Harris, from Upper Sundon, who by 1911 were living at 5 Albert Terrace, Luton, with their family, including young Walter, who was then a foundry worker at the Diamond Foundry in Dallow Road.

Pte Harris was born in Harlington in 1895 and in 1916 married Annie Horsler at Sundon Church. He was repatriated and continued to live in Harlington Road, Sundon, until later when he lived in Luton again, finally in Icknield Way before his death at the L&D Hospital in April 1952.

 

 

 

 

 

Pte Frank Hull, 266902, 2/7th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment), was taken as a prisoner of war on March 21st, 1918, at Bullecourt in France. He was interned at Parchim in Germany.

He had joined up at Nottingham in January 1916 after working on the railways at Long Eaton, Notts. He was first sent to Ireland where he was wounded while helping to suppress the Easter Rising there, before being posted to France, where he took part in battles at Arras, Vimy Ridge and Ypres.

He was taken as a prisoner of war at Bullecourt in France on March 21st, 1918, and interned at Parchim in Germany. He returned to England where he was demobilised in December 1919.

He had married Grace Richardson at Sundon in 1917 and they later lived in Colin Road, Luton, until Frank's death in 1958 at the age of 63.

 

 

 

 

Rifleman Henry Ewart Corley, 205298, 8th Battalion King's Royal Rifles, reported missing at St Quentin, France, on March 21st, 1918, was later confirmed to be a prisoner of war at Stendal in German.

His commanding officer wrote to parents Herbert and Annie Corley at 20 Old Bedford Road, Luton, to say that the enemy had attacked in thick mist, surrounding their only son and his comrades. One officer with them had already been reported as a prisoner of war.

Henry Corley, born on January 19th, 1899, was an old boy of Dunstable Grammar School. By the time her was discharged from the Army his family were living at 264 Dunstable Road.

Henry was later living with Nottinghamshire girl Connie Greensmith and together they sailed for Canada, arriving in Quebec on the SS Andenia in September 1923. They were married on September 27th, 1923, in Middlesex County, Ontario, became Canadian citizens and lived in London, Ontario. It is assumed Henry eventually died in Canada.

 

 

 

 

Pte Gilbert George Cawdell, 41219, North Staffs Regiment, was interned at Stendal in Germany after being taken as a prisoner of war at Vermand on March 21st, 1918 after serving only a month in France.

Born on July 31st, 1896, he was son of George Andrew and Martha Cawdell, of 1 Peach Street, Luton. He had initially joined the Bedfordshire Regiment and then transferred to the North Staffs. Prior to enlistment he worked for Hayward Tyler & Co.

Gilbert was repatriated and in 1919 married Jane Dunkley in Luton. By the time of the Second World War he was living in Brooms Road, Luton, and died in 1955 at the age of 59.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pte William Henry Farmer, 49072, 3/5th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers, had recovered from being gassed five months earlier when he was captured as a prisoner of war on March 23rd, 1918, at Hargicourt in France. He was interned at Gustrow in Germany.

Before joining a Training Reserve, William was employed by hat manufacturer Mr F. Impey, of Clarendon Road, Luton. After time at various Army training centres around the country, he went to France and was involved in some heavy fighting in which he was gassed but recovered while in France and rejoined his regiment.

Born on October 2nd, 1898, he was a son of William and the late Elizabeth Farmer, of 47 North Street, Luton. He was repatriated and then seems to have spent five years in the Royal Navy from September 1921.

In the summer of 1936 he married Maud Lillian Turner in Luton, and lived in the town until his death in 1971 at the age of 72.

 

 

 

 

 

Pte Arthur Cogans, 30720, Lancashire Fusiliers, was interned at Limburg in Germany after being taken prisoner at Hargicourt in France on March 21st, 1918.

Born in Luton on January 5th, 1896, he had lived most of his life with his family in West Ham, London. His father died there in 1911 before mother Elizabeth moved back to Luton and was living at 27 Dorset Street.

Arthur was working for Messrs George Kent Ltd before he joined up in March 1917. He went to France in June and served there until his capture.

He was repatriated in December 1918 and discharged with a silver badge in September 1919. In 1924 he married Ethel Coleman in Luton and lived in the town until his death in 1971 at the age of 75.

Arthur's brother, Pte Joseph Cogans, was killed in action in November 1917.

 

 

 

 

Pte Victor Charles Pack, 41542, 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was captured at St Quentin in France on March 23rd, 1918, and became a prisoner of war at Stendal in Germany.

He gave the news to parents Benjamin and Alice Pack at 42 Butlin Road, Luton, on a postcard sent after he had been interned.

Victor joined a Training Reserve in February 1917, at the age of 18. He went to France in December 1917 and was drafted to the Beds Regiment, with whom he served as a Lewis gunner.

Born on October 5th, 1898, Victor attended Dunstable Road School, for whom he played in the school football team which won the Wix Trophy and the Luton Schools League Championship. He later worked at the Diamond Foundry and played in their football team.

His older brother, Signaller Sidney Pack, another Diamond Foundry footballer, had joined the Beds Regiment in July 1917, and was drafted to the same company as his brother a fortnight after Victor's capture.

Victor was repatriated at the end of the war, and in 1929 married Emily Cain at East Hyde. He died in Somerset in December 1985 at the age of 87.

 

 

Pte Horace Frederick George Sach, 29656, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was taken as a prisoner of war at Bachant in France on March 23rd, 1918. He was interned at Landau in Germany.

Born on June 29th, 1886, Horace was a partner in the leather manufacturing business of Sach Bros, 13 Market Hill, Luton. He had married Ellen Taylor in Luton in 1911 and their home was at 7 Court Road.

He had been in the Army two years, the greater part of which was spent in France. He last went out there on October 4th, 1917.

Horace was repatriated and lived in Luton until his death in 1955 at the age of 69.

 

 

 

 

 

Pte Samuel Snoxell, 202806, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, wrote to his widowed mother Susan at 31 Chase Street, Luton, that he was a prisoner of war in Germany but was quite well.

His Red Cross record shows that he was captured at Savy, near St Quentin in France, on March 22nd, 1918, and that he was interned at Spendal.

Samuel was born on May 3rd, 1887, in Luton, the son of William and Susan Snoxell. His father died in 1908.

He was a plait buncher at the E. W. Hart & Co bleaching and dyeing works in Windmill Road, Luton, before joining the Bedfords in November 1916. He was drafted to France in March 1917.

Samuel was a repatriated prisoner of war. In 1920 he married Florrie (Florence) Waller in Luton and lived at 11 Chase Street. He lived his whole life in Chase Street and later New Town Street, dying in Luton in 1958.

 

 

 

Pte Herbert Frederick Rogers, 12421, Machine Gun Corps, was captured unwounded at Morchies in France on March 21st, 1918, and held at Parchim in Germany.

He was the son of Francis and Alice Rogers, of 32 Maple Road, Luton, and before joining up over two years previously had worked for hat materials merchants Wallaert Freres in Bute Street. He was still only 19 years old at the time he became a prisoner of war.

Herbert had originally joined the Bedfordshire Regiment but was later transferred to the Machine Gun Corps. His last home leave was at Christmas 1917.

He was born in Luton on June 19th, 1898, and appears to have remained single and living in Maple Road for most of his life, finally marrying Marjorie W. Armstrong in 1959. He died in Luton in 1970 at the age of 72.

 

Pte Arthur Oliver Goodwin, 225567, 2/4th Battalion London Regiment, was taken as a prisoner of war with a shrapnel wound to his right hand. His Red Cross record says he was captured at Le Faire in France on March 23rd, 1918, although a report based on information from his family gave a date of April 6th.

Pte Goodwin was able to write to parents Isaac and Jane Goodwin at 5 Belmont Road, Luton, with his news, and that he was interned at Darmstadt in Germany. Nothing further was known at that stage.

Arthur had joined the London Regiment on October 11th, 1916, and was transferred to four different units during his military career. Not yet 21 - he was born in Luton on September 2nd, 1897 - he had seen nearly 12 months in France at the time of his capture.

He seems to have lived his whole life at Belmont Road, both with his later widower father and for a time with his married younger sister Hilda and her husband. He died in 1948 at the age of 50.

 

 

 

 

Sapper William Harold Woodford, 524343, East Anglian Royal Engineers, was captured by the Germans at Morchain on the Somme on March 25th, 1918. He was repatriated and later discharged from the Army in April 1919 suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis. He died while residing at New Cottages in Aley Green in February 1921, at the age of 26.

Before the war he was employed at the Diamond Foundry in Dallow Road, Luton. He had married Lizzie Burgess at Caddington on March 10th, 1917, and they had a son, Walter William, born later that year.

Born on February 1st, 1895, at Chiltern Green to Walter and Florence, Woodford, William had enlisted in the Royal Engineers in 1915 and went out to France about six months before he was taken as a prisoner of war.

His married sister, Mrs Constance Green, was living at 'The Hostel,' Market Hill, Luton, at the time William was taken prisoner

 

 

 

 

Pte Leslie Albone, 19256, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, died from pneumonia on May 2nd, 1918, while a prisoner of war at Stendal in Germany. He had been captured wounded on March 21st.

According to Beds Regiment records, Biggleswade-born Leslie was residing in Luton, although he enlisted at Bedford. Where he was living in Luton and how he was employed are not revealed, although he had joined the Bedfords over three years previously.

Leslie is commemorated on the Luton Roll of Honour, but without an address. His father Albert, a veteran of the South African war, was himself serving with the Army Service Corps and it was not until on home leave in Biggleswade in December 1918 that he learned of the death of his only son.

 

Pte Gilbert George Taylor, 60096, 11th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, was captured by the Germans as a prisoner of war at St Quentin in France on March 22nd, 1918. His mother, Daisy, at 22 Milton Road, Luton, appealed for information about him after he was reported missing, later to be confirmed as a prisoner at Stendal.

Gilbert joined up soon after war broke out and served with the 1/5th Bedfords in Egypt, but was sent back to England as a heart patient, and stationed at Shoreham. He was drafted to gthe Royal Fusiliers in the autumn of 1916 and went to France. On January 8th, 1917, he was wounded in the left leg and thigh and was expecting to again be sent back to England. He was repatriated from his internment in December 1918, arriving back in England via Dover.

Pte Taylor formerly worked for hat manufacturers Messrs Carruthers Bros, of George Street West. He being repatriated he married Ada Goodwin in 1921. He was living in Althorp Road before his death in November 1977 at the age of 82.

 

 

 

 

 

Pte Lionel Bird, 203030, Machine Gun Corps, became a prisoner of war of the Germans at Fampoux, near Arras, on March 29th, 1918. He was not wounded and was interned at Parchim in Germany.

Parents William and Eliza Bird, of 43 Arthur Street, Luton, were at first informed that Lionel (full name Bernard Lionel) was missing. He was, however, repatriated to England in November 1918.

Lionel was born at Chaul End on April 9th, 1898, one of ten surviving children.

In 1919, after repatriation, he was at Maryhill Barracks in Glasgow, which was perhaps when he met Isabella MacEwan, a Scottish girl whom he married in Luton in late 1919. Lionel died in 1984.

He had an elder brother, Alfred Thomas William Bird, a lance-corporal (97515) in the Machine Gun Corps, who was killed in action at Albert in France on August 22nd, 1918.

 

 

 

 

 

Sgt Walter Gore, 200505, 1st Battalion Hertfordshire Regiment, was taken prisoner on March 22nd, 1918, and held at the Gustrow camp in Germany. He was captured near Albert in France.

An official notification dated April 26th, 1918, said he was posted as missing, but a card written in his own handwriting received from him confirmed that he was a prisoner of war.

An old member of the Militia, in which he served seven years, Walter joined up for war service in September 1914 in the Herts Regiment. As an old soldier he served as a trainer of recruits at several places in England, latterly at Darlington, before being sent to France four months before capture.

Born in Luton in October 1885, he was a son of William and Mary Ann Gore. In 1907 he married Daisy Baldwin, who by 1918 was living at 10 Langley Place, Luton, with the couple's by then four children all under the age of eight. At the time of the 1911 Census, both Walter and Daisy were hat trade workers and they had an 18-month-old son.

Records suggest the couple eventually gave birth to ten children and continued to live in Langley Place after Walter was repatriated via Dover in late November 1918. Following World War Two the couple were living in Crawley Green Road, and Walter died in 1970 at the aged of 85.

 

 

 

Pte Frank Hull, 266902, 2/7th Sherwood Foresters, was reported missing on the March 21st, the opening day of the German offensive. He was aged 22 and a son of John and Ann Hull, of Slate Hall, Upper Sundon.

He was employed on the railway at Long Eaton, Derbyshire, immediately before the war and enlisted at Nottingham. His brother Pte George Hull had been lost in action in April 1917. Both had been farm labourers while living in Sundon.

His prisoner of war record shows Frank was captured at Bullecourt on March 21st, 1918, and held prisoner at Parchim camp in Germany. His date of birth is given as October 23rd, 1895.

He survived the war and in 1920 married Emma Elizabeth Oldham, of Hamilton Road, Long Eaton, in Long Eaton.

 

 

 

 

 

Rifleman Reginald Rupert Pieraccini, 205257, 8th Battalion King's Royal Rifles, was taken as a prisoner of war with a bullet wound in the hand at St Quentin in France on March 21st*, 1918, at the start of the German spring offensive of that year. He was interned at Giessen in Hesse, Germany.

Parents James and Elizabeth Pieraccini, of 19 May Street, Luton, who had already lost a son, Sgt Peter Pieraccini (killed in action in October 1916), had six anxious weeks awaiting news of their youngest son's fate.

Reginald had joined up in March 1917 at the age of 18 and went to France on his 19th birthday in January 1918. Before enlistment he had been a munition worker at the Vauxhall Motor Works, employed as a fuze fitter.

He survived captivity and was repatriated in December 1918, being finally demobbed in March 1920. In 1930 he married Phyllis Dorothy Mary Walpole in Luton, and died here in 1971 at the age of 74.

* The Luton News of May 2nd, 1918, reported that Reginald was captured during heavy fighting on April 5th, 1918. The March 21st date and details are contained in Red Cross prisoner of war records originating from the Germans.

 

 

Sapper Josiah Clark, 486779, 470th Field Company Royal Engineers, was reported missing after March 21st, 1918, but a card from him to his wife Mary said he was a prisoner of war at Limburg in Germany, but he was otherwise quite well.

Red Cross prisoner of war records show that Sapper Clark was captured unwounded at Lagnicourt in France on March 22nd, 1918. He was eventually repatriated back to England on November 24th, 1918.

The former Luton Corporation labourer had joined up three years earlier and had seen service during the Irish troubles. He then went to France in 1917 and had come through unscathed.

Pegsdon-born Josiah Clark lived at 132 Wenlock Street, Luton. He had married Mary Ann Coleman, from Luton, at St Matthew's Church on October 19th, 1912.

Mary died in 1934 and Josiah remarried in 1941. He died in Luton in 1972 at the age of 84, having been born on March 3rd, 1888.

 

Pte Ralph Goodwin, 90402, 25th Machine Gun Corps, was taken as a prisoner of war near St Quentin in France on March 23rd, 1918. His Red Cross record shows he was held at Dulmen camp in Germany after being captured at Morchies.

The 23-year-old son of Arthur and Ellen Goodwin, of 26 Ridgway Road, Luton, he had been in France for eight or nine months. Before official notification was received, Ralph wrote to his parents with the news of his capture while on the way to Germany. He was looking forward to homke leave when taken prisoner, but he survived the war and was repatriated.

Prior to enlistment he had worked for hat manufacturer William Burgess, of Princess Street, Luton, since leaving school. He had been a regular attendant at High Town Primitive Methodist Church and was an enthusiastic amateur footballer.

Born on May 25th, 1894, Ralph married Rose May How at St Matthew's Church, Luton, on June 7th, 1919. He died in April 1927, then residing in Ferndale Road, Luton.

 

 

 

 

 

Rifleman Albert Samuel Impey, 205345, King's Royal Rifles, was taken prisoner at St Quentin in France, on March 21st, 1918, at the start of the German spring offensive of that year. He was the son of Amos Frederick and dressmaker Louisa Impey, of 1 William Street, Luton, and was interned at Merseburg, Germany.

Writing home, he said: "I have had a hard time lately, but it is better now we are settled. I was taken prisoner on the 21st. Reg Tomkins [see below] is with me, and we have both some out of it without a scratch, but some of the boys have got awful wounds."

Born on January 2oth, 1899, and an old boy of St Matthew's School, Albert joined up on March 9th, 1917, and went to France on February 3rd, 1918. For four years previously he had worked as a grocery salesman and vanman for the Luton Industrial Co-operative Society at the High Town branch.

Albert survived the war, was released from interment on January 2nd, 1919, and was demobbed in March 1920. He married neighbour's girl Eva Clara Brown in Luton in 1923. The couple later moved to North London, where Eva died in 1965 at the age of 65 and Albert died in 1919 at the age of 69.

 

 

 

Pte Charles Herbert Allen, 29208, 2nd Battalion Essex Regiment, was captured without wounds at Gavrelle in France on March 22nd, 1918. He was initially reported as missing, but later records show he was interned at Parchim in Germany.

He had been in the Army about 18 months, and on his first spell of duty in France was invalided back to England with trench fever. He spent 11 months in hospital, returning to the Front in January 1918.

While convalescing in England, Charles had married Lizzie Taylor, from Luton, at St Mary's Parish Church on September 9th, 1917. The couple's home was then at 5 Pondswick Road, Luton.

Prior to joining up, Charles worked for hat manufacturer William Gillam, of Hibbert Street. He died in Luton in 1958.

 

Rifleman Reginald Albert Tompkins, 205408, 8th King's Royal Rifles, was taken as a prisoner of war at St Quentin, France, on March 21st, 1918, as the Germans began their spring offensive. He was interned at Merseburg in Germany with fellow Lutonian comrade Albert Samuel Impey [see above].

Born in Croydon, Surrey, on January 29th, 1898, Reginald had joined the Army a little over a year earlier and had been in France only since February. He wrote to parents Mr and Mrs Frederick Tompkins at 31 Frederic Street, Luton, to tell them he was a prisoner, but not to worry.

A former pupil of Old Bedford Road School, the young Reginald Tompkins had been a pony boy for carriers Pickfords, based at the Plait Hall.

Reginald survived captivity and was demobilised in February 1920. In 1926 he married Elsie Mary Elizabeth Walduck, from Drayton Parslow, in Luton and the couple continued to live at 31 Frederick Street. Reginald died in Luton in 1979.

 

 

 

 

Second Lieut John Crawford Cunningham, Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry, was captured on March 21st, 1918. His Red Cross prisoner of war record shows he was taken at St Quentin in France, and that he was being held at Holzminden, a PoW camp for officers in Lower Saxony, Germany.

A letter in April 1918 from the War Office to parents John and Clara Cunningham of 'Gateside,' 35 Cardiff Road, Luton, said their son was included on a list of British officers recently arrived at Holzminden which had been telegraphed by the British minister at the Hague. The list had been compiled from information supplied by British prisoners of war who had just arrived in Holland.

Lieut Cunningham survived internment and was repatriated, marrying Ada Phyllis Josephine Stewart in 1919. He was living in St Margaret's Avenue at the time of his death in 1964. For further information about him, click here

 

 

 

 

Pte William Harrison, 32991, 9th Battalion East Surrey Regiment, was taken as a prisoner of war on the Somme on March 26th, 1918, in the German spring offensive of that year.

In answer to an appeal from Winifred Harrison at 1 Talbot Road, Luton, Second Lieut A. G. Wilson wrote that although her husband was reported missing, a large number of prisoners had been taken and it was quite probably that he was alive and in enemy hands.

That proved to be the case, and Red Cross prisoner of war records show that William was captured at Hattencourt in France on March 26th and became a prisoner at Stendal in Germany. He did, however, survive to be repatriated.

William Harrison had attested under the Lord Derby scheme and joined up on February 7th, 1917, going to France the following June. He was wounded in the battle of Ypres on August 3rd and, after recovering, rejoined his battalion the following month.. He had returned to France from home leave on March 19th - just days before his capture.

A son of Walter and Fanny Harrison, William had worked as a warehouseman for hat manufacturer J. C. Kershaw & Co for 12 years before joining up. He had married Winifred Maud Wilkins at Christ Church, Luton, on March 28th, 1910.

 

Lieutenant Frank Gilbert Hurrell Small MM, 47th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps, was taken prisoner suffering from leg wounds on March 24th, 1918. Sadly he was to die as a result of his wounds while interned at Cassel in northern Hesse, Germany, on June 9th, 1918.

Frank Small, aged 24, was the eldest son of former Luton Town and Beds & Herts county cricketer Gilbert H. (Tommy) Small, of 24 Albion Road, Luton. He himself was a well-known footballer, playing outside left for Amateur FC. His mother, Amy Ellen, had died in 1906 at the age of 40.

Frank joined a London Territorial battalion in the early days of the war and saw considerable service while serving in the ranks. He had taken up his commission only a few months before his death, and in October 1917 had been awarded the Military Medal for for gallantry while serving with the Machine Gun Corps.

On December 15th, 1917, he had married Hilda Grace Hobbs at Christ Church, Luton. Hilda was living in Norman Road, Luton, at the time of Frank's death.

 

 

 

Pte Arthur Victor Cherry, 31479, Machine Gun Corps, was taken as a prisoner of war on March 21st, the opening day of the German spring offensive of 1918.

Parents James and Lizzie Cherry, of 74 Hastings Street, Luton, had heard nothing from their son since March 18th until a postcard arrived from him on April 25th to say he was a prisoner of war at Cassel in Germany. Arthur wrote: "Don't worry because I am quite safe. Send me a big parcel as quickly as possible, with some eatables and cigarettes."

Pte Cherry had seen 18 months foreign service since being drafted to France before his 19th birthday. He was last home on leave in November 1917. Arthur had enlisted on reaching his 18th birthday, and was trained at Ampthill.

Arthur survived his captivity, was repatriated and then demobbed in 1919. He married Rose Page in Luton in 1920 and eventually died in Luton in 1977 at the age of 79 after a divorce and a second marriage.

 

 

 

 

 

Pte Sidney Richard Allen, 40461, 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers, was taken as a prisoner of war on the Western Front on March 21st, the opening day of the German offensive of 1918.

A report in The Luton News (April 25th, 1918) said the War Office had sent a card stating that Pte Allen was in the hands of the enemy and interned at Limburg, but he was not wounded.

Sidney was the son of Richard and Emma Allen, both deceased. Emma died in 1886 when Sidney was aged about seven, and Richard, who had remarried in 1890, died in 1902. The family home was at 12 Salisbury Road, Luton, where stepmother Annie lived with Sidney's sister at the time of Sidney's death.

Sidney had married Sarah Elmore in Luton in 1907 and they had two children, Richard Arthur and Clarissa. The family lived at 215 High Town Road, and in the 1911 Census Sidney was described as a straw hat warehouseman. He died in Mount Vernon Hospital in 1953 at the age of 73.

Sidney had joined the Beds Regiment, but was subsequently transferred to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. He was wounded in the battle of Ypres on August 16th, 1917, but recovered sufficiently to return to service at the Front.

For several years before the war he was a member of the St Mary's Parish Church choir, as his father had been.

His prisoner of war record shows he was later moved to the Gustrow POW camp and that he had been born in Luton on September 27th, 1879.

 

 

Pte William Chesher (Cheshire in military records), 225135, 1/4th Battalion London Regiment, was taken with leg wounds as a prisoner of war of the Germans at Oppy Wood in France on March 28th, 1918. It was on a postcard home that he said he was a POW, but was going on well.

He had been in the Army for around 15 months and had been wounded in 1917. He went back to the trenches after his recovery. He was held captive at Parchim and later at Friederichsfeld.

William was the son of William and Annie Chesher and was born in 1898. By 1911 he was living with grandparents Thomas and Emma Ellis at 111 High Town Road, Luton. Before joining up he was employed by George Kent Ltd.

William - whose full name appears to have been William Thomas Joseph Chesher - survived internment and was repatriated after the war. He married Constance Isabella Brockelbank in Luton in 1924 and continued to live at 111 High Town Road into the 1930s. The couple were living in Hampton Road following World War Two, and William died in 1984 at the age of 86.

 

 

 

 

Pte Horace William Kilby, 21468, 9th Battalion East Surrey Regiment, was captured by the Germans at Hattencourt in France on March 24th, 1918. He was initially reported to be wounded and missing between March 21st and 27th while on duty as a stretcher-bearer.

Red Cross prisoner of war records reveal that Pte Kilby was not wounded when taken prisoner. He was interned first at Limburg and later at Friedrichsfeld. He survived his ordeal, and after being freed arrived back in England at Dover on December 1st, 1918.

Born on June 12th, 1880, and a son of Thomas and Elizabeth Kilby, of Windsor Street, Horace married Mary Elizabeth Philpot from Luton on November 18th, 1901. Their son, Archibald William, was born two years later.

Before joining up in 1916, Horace was a straw hat blocker employed by hat manufacturers Read & Horn, of Market Hill. He had been in France for about 18months and had been wounded in the side by shrapnel while tending wounded men in August 1917. After hospital treatment in England he returned to France on New Year's Day 1918.

 

 

 

L-Cpl Albert George Odell MM, 200462, 7th Battalion Rifle Brigade, had returned to the Front just a few hours after coming back from home leave when he was taken as a prisoner of war by the Germans at Essigny in France on March 21st, 1918.

Albert had joined the Bedfordshire Regiment nearly two years earlier. After three months training in England he proceeded to France, where he was transferred to the Rifle Brigade.

After a time he was promoted lance-corporal, and at Christmas 1917, while serving at Passchendaele, he won the Military Medal for carrying rations and water to the line while under heavy shell fire and on the next day getting up a relief party, again under bombardment.

Born in Maulden on January 24th, 1889, and son of Charles and Lavinia Odell, William had been a book-keeper for Messrs Staddon, of Bute Street, Luton, before joining up.

He had married Maud Annie Burgess in Luton on August 22nd, 1914. They had two children - Ronald (born 1915) and Joan (1916) - and lived at 8 Shirley Road, Luton.

Albert survived interment at Langensalza and returned to England. He died in 1955 at the age of 66.

 

Rifleman James William Farr, 9963, Rifle Brigade, had been a prisoner of war for nearly four years by the time the 1918 batch of POWs were being interned. He was captured with a wounded left arm in the first month of war - on August 26th, 1914, during the retreat from Mons.

At Christmas 1917 he managed to send a photograph of himself (right) to his parents Charles and Emily Farr, at 3 Chobham Street, Luton. It arrived in March 1918 from Sennelager, Paderborn, in Germany. The pictured showed him in uniform and looking in good health.

William, as he known, had attended Queen Square School in Luton, and had been called up as a reservist at the outbreak of war.

The story in The Luton News made no mention of his wife Sarah Ann (nee Jackson) who was living with the couple's three surviving children at 3 Gaitskill Terrace, Luton. Lilian was born before William and Sarah married at St Matthew's Church on April 10th, 1909. Charles William Thomas was born in February 1912 and Minnie Dorothy in 1913. A second son, born in November 1914, sadly died in January 1915.

There is no further mention of what happened to Sarah before William and his offspring moved to Nottingham and William remarried there in 1921. His three children were married there, and he died there in October 1955, aged 69.

 

Pioneer Frederick William Chapman, 225012, Special Brigade Royal Engineers, was captured at St Quentin, France, on March 21st, 1918. He was initially listed as missing.

Essex-born Frederick Chapman had become a teacher at Old Bedford Road Boys' School shortly before the war. Headmaster Mr George Wistow Walker received news from friends that he had been taken prisoner by the Germans. During his time in Luton, Frederick Chapman resided at 15 Lyndhurst Road.

Pioneer Chapman was called up exactly a year before his capture - on March 21st, 1917. He joined the Chemists' Corps of the Royal Engineers and was largely engaged in chemical work. When taken prisoner he was not wounded and interned at Cassel.

Frederick was repatriated after the war and married Nellie Harvey in West Ham in 1927. He died at Southend-on-Sea in 1984 at the age of 94.

 

Gunner George Goodman, 800899, A/295 Brigade Royal Field Artillery, sent a postcard to his grandmother to inform her that he had been taken as a prisoner of war by the Germans on March 21st, 1918, and was in hospital.

The 19-year-old (full name Lionel George) had lived with his grandparents at 33 Highbury Road, Luton, as a result of the break-up of his parents' marriage. He had been in the Army nearly three years, and in France since February 1917.

Pte Goodman's prisoner of war record shows that he was captured wounded at Bullecourt in France on March 21st and was interned at Cassel in Germany. His family details merely referred to parents living in Luton.

George was born in Luton on August 26th, 1898, and had worked at Skefko. He survived internment and after demobilisation returned to Luton, where he married Mary Ann Hough in 1921. He died in 1968.

 

 

 

 

 

Cpl Sidney John Goodman, 3410, 11th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, was taken as a prisoner of war at Jussy in France on March 23rd, 1918. He broke the news to his wife, Clara Annie, while in captivity. He was finally interned at Mannheim.

Born in Luton in 1888, Sidney Goodman had served five years as a Territorial before war broke out and promptly rejoined in 1914. He had been wounded twice, in the chest and forehead, and had suffered trench fever. He had rejoined his comrades on the Western Front only about ten weeks before his capture.

Clara Goodman was living with her parents, John and Annie, at 9 Wenlock Street, Luton. She and Sidney were married at St Matthew's Church on November 10th, 1915.

Sidney had been employed as a brass fitter at Hayward Tyler & Co, and his name appeared on the roll of honour of the Wesleyan Central Mission.

His brother, Frederick, had died in a casualty clearing station on June 20th, 1917, from battlefield wounds.

Sidney died in Luton in 1959 at the age of 70. He had then been living in Elmwood Crescent.

 

 

 

Pte Percival William Hardwicke, 47929, 2/8th Lancashire Fusiliers, was taken as a prisoner of war on the Somme on March 21st, 1918, at the start of the German offensive. He was interned at Limburg in Germany.

Born in September 1898, Percival was the only son of Thomas William and Agnes Hardwicke, of 33 Cowper Street, Luton. He joined the Colours in February 1917 and went to France the following October.

Before joining up he was employed by straw and felt hat manufacturer Read & Horn, of Market Hill, Luton.

In a letter written home a few weeks before his capture, Pte Hardwicke wrote: "We have been in and out of the line since New Year's Day, under shell fire nearly all the time. I had a narrow escape going down to the line, a shell bursting about two yards from me, but by luck none of us were hit. I am on the Lewis gun now, and when up the lines sometimes on anti-aircraft post."

Percival survived internment and was repatriated, arriving back at Dover on November 28th, 1918. He married Amelia Maud Seaman in Luton in 1927, had a daughter, Joan, and died in August 1972 at the age of 74. His home before his death was in Newark Road, Luton.

Percival's military record also shows service with the Royal Engineers Signals (No. 616442).

 

Pte Herbert Archibald Plater, 242220, 2/6th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment), was interned at Munster I camp in Germany after being taken as an unwounded prisoner of war at Bullecourt in France on March 21st, 1918.

He survived internment and was repatriated via Hull in December 1918. A son of Herbert and Florence Plater, of 59 Chobham Street, Luton, he married Gladys Brandon in Luton in 1921. Records suggest they had six childen.

Following the death of Gladys in 1964, Herbert remarried, eventually moved from Chobham Street to Dorset Court at Park Town and died in 1983 at the age of 87.

 

 

Pte Alfred George Trotter, 57895, 9th Battalion Cheshire Regiment, was taken prisoner at Fremicourt in France on March 24th, 1918. A card in his own handwriting gave the news to his family at 66 Cowper Street, Luton, after nothing had been heard from him in five weeks.

His POW record says he was wounded in the arm and held at Cassel, but also that he was repatriated, arriving back in England in September 1918 and being admitted to the London General Hospital, Camberwell.

Alfred Trotter was born in Shawford, Hampshire, on July 21st, 1894. He, parents Frederick George and Frances Trotter and two siblings had moved to Luton by 1901. Four further siblings were born in Luton by 1911, when the family was living at Cowper Street.

Alfred joined the East Anglian Royal Engineers in 1915 and, after serving with them for about two years, was transferred to the Cheshire Regiment. He has returned from home leave only two months when he was captured.

He had worked for hat firm Cree & Woodfield in Guildford Street before enlisting. For several years he was also known as organ blower at Mount Tabor Church.

Alfred married Gertrude Kent in Luton in 1923 and they had two sons. He died at the Sherd Lodge old people's home in Luton in January 1979.

 

Pte Walter Ernest Sidney Frederick Tomkins, 32270, 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was taken as a prisoner on war in France on March 24th, 1918. He was at first reported as missing after 3½ years in the Army.

He was interned at Munster II camp in Westphalia, Germany, but repatriated in December 1918 and honourably discharged in March 1919. He had joined the Bedfordshire Regiment in September 1914.

Walter Tomkins was born in Luton on March 6th, 1881, and in 1902 married Agnes Ellis in Luton. The couple had three sons and a daughter who were by 1918 living at 76 Ash Road, Luton. In the 1911 Census, Walter was described as a tailor as 33 Highbury Road.

He died in Luton in December 1962 at the age of 81.

 

 

 

 

Pte Charles Walter Bird, 40864, 1st Battalion Hertfordshire Regiment (ex-Beds Regiment), was taken as a German prisoner of war at Villers Faucon, Somme, France, on March 22nd, 1918. A card written by him on March 31st informed his family in Luton of his fate and that he was interned at Gustrow in Germany. He was repatriated in December 1918 and demobbed in March 1919.

Charles was a son of hat manufacturer Walter Bird, whose premises were at 93 Guildford Street, Luton, and for whom he was factory manager before joining up in June 1916 and going to France in August 1917. Walter and his wife lived at 56 Reginald Street, Luton.

Charles had married Lily Charlotte Waller at Mount Tabor Church, Castle Street, Luton, on July 30th, 1915. He had been organist at the church, and the family lived at 70 Arthur Street, Luton.

Charles was born in June 1887 in Luton, his birth registration giving his name as Walter Charles. He died in Luton in 1960 at the age of 73.