Pte Patrick Harry Godding, 19653, Dorsetshire Regiment, died at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, Hampshire, on March 6th, 1917, his death attributed to exposure on the battlefield. He was aged 41.

Pte Gooding had broken his thigh on the way to the trenches during his service of about six weeks in France. One report was that the injury was the result of a kick from a horse. He was immediately sent back to England, and his wife, Louisa Annie, visited him in hospital shortly before he died.

Pte Charles Mardle, 20175, 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the banks of the River Ancre in France on February 13th, 1917.

He joined the Bedfords in April 1915, and after a period of training at Ampthill was drafted to France the following January. In July 1916 he was seriously wounded in a bomb accident and was sent to Manchester. After recuperating, he rejoined his regiment and was again sent to France in early November.

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

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

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

Pte Edgar Frederick Ambridge, 40000, 6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, was killed in action in Flanders on February 25th, 1917. He was aged 27 and single.

His platoon officer wrote to parents William and Amelia Ambridge at 5 Clifton Road, Luton, that their son was killed on the night of February 25th during a heavy bombardment. He and five others gallantly held their post until a shell landed among them, instantly killing Edgar and two others..

A Chaplain later wrote that Edgar was buried on February 27th in a cemetery behind the firing line.

Pte Herbert Thomas Oliver, 60378, 11th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, died on February 19th, 1917, from wounds received in action on the Somme two days previously. He was aged 27 and died at the 47th Casualty Clearing Station in France.

The captain commanding his company wrote to widow Mrs Agnes Oliver at 1 Moreton Road, Round Green, saying that at the time her husband was wounded he was doing his duty coolly and steadily under heavy fire. All the officers and many of the NCOs had become casualties.

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

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

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

Pte Alfred Ernest Dyer, 10729, 6th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in France on February 26th, 1917. He was aged 21.

In a letter to parents James William and Mary Ann, of Vale Cottage, Marsh Road, Leagrave, Sec-Lieut C. Reeling wrote that Pte Dyer's death was a painless one as he died instantly.

Pte Dyer was an old boy of Norton Road School who had revisited the school on December 18th, 1916 before returning to France the following month. He was wounded in the Big Push on the Somme of July 1916 and was in a Liverpool hospital for 17 weeks.

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

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

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

Pte Frederick Alfred Bunker, 16769, 9th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment, was killed in action in Mesopotamia on January 25th, 1917. He had recently spent his 25th birthday and Christmas in the trenches.

The second son of Walter and Louisa Kate Bunker, of 75 Albert Road, Luton, he had spent eight or nine years working for Vauxhall Motors Ltd. About 12 months after war broke out he left Luton to do war work at Coventry, and after being there about seven months he was 'combed out' on February 1916 and placed in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment.

Lieut Cyril Edward Franklin, East Anglian Royal Engineers, died on February 20th, 1917, from wounds sustained on the Somme. His widow Annie was reported to have received notification to that effect from the War Office the following day, although some records say "killed in action".

Cyril Franklin, who was just short of his 30th birthday, was the son of Edward and Elizabeth Franklin, of 57 Dale Road, Luton. Edward Franklin was an inspector with the Luton Borough Police, until he retired about two years previously and went to live in Stanbridge.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pte George John Gatward, 11054, 11th Royal Fusiliers (City of London), was killed in action on the Somme on February 17th, 1917. He was aged 36 and married with three children, one aged 15 months old.

News was received by his widow, Clara Alice, at their home at 16 Dorset Street, from Captain H. H. Mundy, Royal Fusiliers. He wrote that before the death of her husband was confirmed he had been reported missing "but has since been found killed outright and was buried where he fell".