Pte George Flitton, 48085, 6th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on February 17th, 1917. He was aged 26.

Familiarly known as Jack, he lived at Slip End, one of 11 children of Thomas and Lizzie Flitton. Prior to joining up under the Derby scheme in February 1916 (he at first served with the Beds Regiment [26066]), he had worked for dyers Messrs E. W. Hart and Sons, of Windmill Road, Luton.

Hed was trained at Landguard and then went to France. He had been in the trenches eight months and three weeks when he was killed.

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

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

L-Cpl Charles Lawrence, 23494, 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, died at a clearing station in France on February 16th, 1917, three days after being wounded by shrapnel in action at Beaumont-Hamel on the Somme. He was aged 20.

Born in Luton in 1896, Charles was the youngest of five serving soldier sons of widow Mrs Ann Lawrence, of 59 Ashton Road, Luton (her husband, Frederick, died in 1898). He had enlisted in November 1915, having been formerly employed by Messrs J. Webdale and Sons at their Wellington Street store. He was an old boy of Chapel Street School, Luton.

Cpl Edwin Francis 'Teddy' Smart, 233570, 2nd Battalion London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers), died on February 11th, 1917, from wounds sustained the previous day on a Flanders battlefield. Less than a month earlier he had been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for what he had described as "doing something in the field".

Pte Stanley George Halfhead, 18925, 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on February 11th, 1917. He was aged 21.

He was the son of widow Mrs Kate Halfhead, of 20 Wood Street, Luton - his father, school caretaker George, had died in 1906. Prior to enlistment in February 1915, Stanley had worked at hat manufacturers Haye & Co, George Street. He was an old boy of Waller Street School, and was Assistant Scoutmaster in the local battalion of Boy Scouts.

Sgt William John Arthur Saxty, 4749, 60th Battalion Machine Gun Corps (Infantry), died at a dressing station in France on February 9th, 1917, from wounds sustained on the battlefield.

Born in Bath in 1881, he was aged 36 and married to Geraldine with four children (John, Hubert, Albert and Beatrice), aged 14 years to five months, living at 40 High Town Road, Luton.

Major Godson, of his regiment, wrote: "He came to me as a private at Grantham and his rapid promotion has been entirely due to his devotion to duty, and I feel very keenly his loss."

George Rosson was born in 1882 in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire. He was 1 of 5 children born to Richard & Laura.

In 1891 the family are living on Hockliffe Road, Leighton Buzzard. Richard is 64 & a carpenter, Laura is 44. Frank the eldest son is 14 years old & working as a parchment maker's boy, 10 year old Lily & 8 year old George are at school, whilst 5 year old Harry & 2 year old Laura are at home.

Harry Rosson was born on 24th November 1886 in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, 1 of 5 children born to Richard & Laura.

In 1891 the family are living on Hockliffe Road, Leighton Buzzard. Richard is 64 & a carpenter, Laura is 44. Frank the eldest son is 14 years old & working as a parchment maker's boy, 10 year old Lily & 8 year old George are at school, whilst 5 year old Harry & 2 year old Laura are at home.

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

Cpl Alec Walter Harris, 23642, 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in the valley of the River Ancre on the Somme on February 4th, 1917. He was just 25 and single.

Born in Luton in 1892, he was the son of labourer Albert and straw hat machinist Selina Harris, of 23 Jubilee Street, Luton. Alec (Alic on his birth registration) was the couple's four son.

Percy James Osborn was born in January 1890 in Eaton Bray, Bedfordshire. He was the only son of 3 children born to Abel & Annie.

In 1911 Percy is 21 years old & working as a skating rink floor manager & living with his family at 195 Dunstable Road above the shop that his 48 year old father runs selling fruit & confectionary. His mother Annie is 49, older sister Kate is 23 & working as a straw hat finisher & younger sister Hilda is 14 & at school.

L-Cpl Eric Arthur Grace, 2534, 24th Battalion London Regiment (The Queen's), died on January 31st, 1917, from acute bronchial pneumonia, the day after being admitted to a Canadian Casualty Clearing Station in Flanders. He was aged 22.

In a letter to parents retired confectioner Arthur and Annie Grace, of 2-4 Bury Park Road, Luton, a Sister at the clearing station said their son had been admitted on the morning of January 30th in a very serious condition. He got worse rapidly and died on January 31st at 11 pm.

Pte Frank Wilson, 33808, 1st Border Regiment, died at the 2/2nd London Casualty Clearing Station in France on January 31st, 1917, as a result of gunshot wounds in the leg received on the Somme three days earlier. He was aged 19 and had been in France only since January 6th.

Sister W. E. Tice at the casualty clearing station wrote to parents James and Eliza Wilson at 67 Frederic Street, Luton, that their son had been brought in badly wounded on January 28th.

Sapper Fred Clark, 78518, Royal Engineers, died in German East Africa on January 31st, 1917, from neuritis, attributed to the effects of climate. He was aged 33, married and had three young children.

Sapper Clark was expecting to return home to 152 Leagrave Road, Luton, from East Africa, where he had been serving under General Smuts.

He was formerly employed by engineer Mr Frank Moody, of Chapel Street, Luton, before joinging the East Anglian Royal Engineers on November 19th, 1914.

Pte Harold David Joad, 25196, 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the banks of the River Ancre on the Somme on January 28th, 1917. He was aged 20.

Born at Weston, Herts, he was the son of the late Charles Joad (died 1896, the year Harold was born). He was also stepson of farmer and pig dealer George Desborough of Ansells End Farm, Kimpton, whom his mother, Annie Maud Appleton Joad (nee Tee), married in 1907.