Since the month of August 1914, when the war broke out, Henry Mayling, of 420 Hitchin Road, Luton, has taken an active part in its operations. He has recently become incapacitated for active duty at the Front, and has been retained for home service only.

Pte Mayling, who was working at Hayward Tyler's up to the time he joined the King's Royal Rifles in August 1914, was then aged 18½. He underwent his training at Winchester and Aldershot.

Landing with his regiment at Belgium in May 1915, he saw service at Ypres and Hooge, and was in the first charge of liquid gas. He was subsequently made stretcher bearer, and came home on leave for seven days in January 1916.

He went back when the French were busily engaged at Verdun, and took part in the fighting at Arras, where he was wounded by a bomb which injured his face and hands severely. After a stay of some weeks in the North Evrington War Hospital, Leicester, he was discharged and relegated to home service, journeying to the depot at Sutton Coldfield, Warks, after ten days sick leave.

Pte Mayling has a brother in the 9th Battalion, Beds Regiment, stationed at Sittingbourne, and a sister also doing her bit working on munitions.

[The Luton News: Thursday, June 15th, 1916]

Family history records suggest Henry Mayling was born in Wheathampstead on January 26th, 1896, to Alice and Frederick Gray Mayling. His father died in 1898, while his mother was remarried in 1910 to Robert Russell and came to live in Luton. Henry himself died in 1955.