Volenteering, at the age of 15, in November 1914, he served on important duties at various stations until 1916, when he was drafted to the Western Front. Whilst in this theatre of war he fought on the Somme and was gassed, and after his recovery served at Passchendaele, St Quentin and Villers-Bretonneux, and in subsequent engaguements until the cessation of hostilities. He was demobilised in February 1919 after his return to England.
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.
Drummer Albert Edward Cockle, 8041, 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action at Hill 60 in Flanders on April 19th, 1915. He was aged 29.
Drummer Cockle, son of Walter and Emma Cockle, had served in the Bedfords for nearly 11 years, mostly in India and South Africa. He had returned from South Africa the previous September.
Drummer Richard Leonard Freeman, 9752, 1st Battalion, Beds Regt, was killed in action on October 25th, 1914. He was aged 20.
The only son of the late Sgt Richard L. Freeman, of Park Street, Luton, he lived with his sisters at 74 Cambridge Street, Luton, before he went out with his battalion at the beginning of the war.