Private

In the British Army, a private (Pte) equates to both OR-1 and OR-2 on the NATO scale, although there is no difference in rank. Privates wear no insignia. Many regiments and corps use other distinctive and descriptive names instead of private, some of these ranks have been used for centuries, others are less than 100 years old.[2] In the contemporary British Armed Forces, the army rank of private is broadly equivalent to able seaman in the Royal Navy, aircraftman, leading aircraftman and senior aircraftman in the Royal Air Force, and marine (Mne) or bandsman, as appropriate equivalent rank in the Royal Marines. The term as a military rank seems to come from the Sixteenth Century when individuals had the privilege of enlisting or making private contracts to serve as private soldiers in military units.

Private Arthur Jesse Little

Pte Arthur Jesse Little, 69011, 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment, was killed in action in France on August 30th, 1918. He was aged 20.

Born in Hertfordshire, he was one of four sons of Jesse and Emily Sarah Little, who in 1911 were living at Napps Nursery, Toddington Road, Leagrave. He is commemorated on the Leagrave War Memorial.

Private Arthur Samuel Victor Long

Pte Arthur Samuel Victor Long, 22461, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in France on August 29th, 1918.

Parents Samuel and Martha Long, of 139 North Street, Luton, were informed that their son had been shot through the heart by a sniper at Combles while crossing an open space with his captain, who had just chosen him as orderly. He died in a very few minutes, and was conscious only a few seconds. Pte Long, who was aged 20, had been expecting home leave at the time.

Private Thomas Orchard

Pte Thomas Orchard, 6260, 23th Battalion Middlesex Regiment, was reported missing on August 20th, 1918, and later listed as killed in action on August 22nd. He was aged 33 and married with a daughter.

Widow Annie, living at 172 Wellington Street, Luton, with daughter Connie Freda (born 1909), was appealing for information on his whereabouts when Thomas's picture was published in The Luton News with little information about him.

Private Aubrey Chance

Pte Aubrey Chance, 49556, 1/1st Battalion Cambridgeshire Regiment, was killed instantly in action when hit by a shell during fighting in France on August 26th, 1918. He was aged 19 and single.

Born in 1899, Aubrey was a son of William and Jemima Chance, of 20 Vicarage Street, Luton. He was still at school at the time of the 1911 Census.

Before joining the Colours he was employed as a carter by Mr Stanley Tilcock, of Castle Street.

Private Archibald Marshall

Pte Archibald ('Archie') Marshall, 47728, 14th Battalion Welsh Regiment, was killed in action in France, on August 22nd, 1918, less than three weeks before his 21st birthday.

He had joined the Royal Engineers shortly before war broke out and was subsequently transferred to the Welsh Regiment. He went out to France with a draft in January 1916.

Born in Hitchin on September 10th, 1897, he had moved to Luton with parents Herbert and Mina (Minnie) Marshall and his three sisters before the 1911 Census took place. The family lived at 10 Queen Square.

Private Percy Shedd

Pte Percy Henry Shedd, 248112, 2/2nd Battalion London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers), was killed in action in France on August 26th, 1918. He was aged 25.

A son of Manchester Street confectioner Mr Harry Shedd and his wife Eliza, Percy had joined the the Army in January 1917. In April 1918 he was wounded in the leg and received treatment in England for three months before returning to the firing line six or seven weeks before his death.

Private George Shackleton

Pte George Shackleton, 41891, 13th Battalion Essex Regiment, died at Tournai in France on March 16th, 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.

Private Harold Wilfred Shadbolt

Pte Harold Wilfred Shadbolt, 92960, 14 Platoon, D Company, 2/4th London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers), was killed in action in France on August 24th, 1918. He was aged 18 and single.

Parents John and Louisa Shadbolt lived at 87 Cromwell Road, Luton. John had been a grocer, and by 1911 was a Congregational Church caretaker. Prior to Harold's death, ten of the couple's 13 children were surviving, with Harold a schoolboy.

Private Frederick Leslie Bland

Pte Frederick Leslie Bland, 77681, 13th Battalion Royal Fusiliers (County of London Regiment), was killed in action in France on August 23rd, 1918. He was the youngest son of Martha Elizabeth and George William Bland, stationmaster at Chiltern Green [station pictured just before closure in 1952].

Frederick had been called up on December 28th, 1917, and underwent training at Brocton Camp. He was placed in the Royal Fusiliers and sent out to France at the end of March 1918. He was 18 on October 14th, 1917.

Private Thomas Alfred Cook

Pte Thomas Alfred Cook, 204219, 1st Herts Regiment, died in a casualty clearing station in France on August 20th, 1918, from wounds sustained in action the previous day.

Born in Luton in 1887, a son of Thomas and Alice Cook, of 10 Clarendon Road, Luton, Thomas was engaged in the cost office at Vauxhall works before joining up in May 1917.

He had married Martha How from Round Green in 1909 and by the time of the 1911 Census they were living in Turners Road with two young boys, Harold Thomas (born 1910) and Dennis (1911).

Private Fred Clark

Pte Fred Clark, 103495, 10th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment), died in the 2nd Canadian Hospital in France on August 19th, 1918, as a result of gas shell poisoning while in action. He was aged 38 and married.

Fred had joined the Beds Regiment (No 30811) in July 1916 and went to France the following November. In May 1917 he was wounded by a bullet in the chest, but recovered to go to France again in March 1918, when he was transferred to the Notts & Derby Regiment.

Private Richard Cyril Eads

Pte Richard Cyril ('Dick') Eads, 69348, 6th Battalion The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment), died in the 55th Casualty Clearing Station in France on August 18th, 1918, from wounds sustained in action.

His father, corn merchant William John Richardson Eads, of 24 Rothesay Road, Luton, received a telegram on August 19th to say his fifth and youngest son was dangerously wounded. A second telegram, on August 22nd, said Richard had died on August 18th.

Private Richard Cyril Eads

Pte Richard Cyril ('Dick') Eads, 69348, 6th Battalion The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment), died in the 55th Casualty Clearing Station in France on August 18th, 1918, from wounds sustained in action.

His father, corn merchant William John Richardson Eads, of 24 Rothesay Road, Luton, received a telegram on August 19th to say his fifth and youngest son was dangerously wounded. A second telegram, on August 22nd, said Richard had died on August 18th.

Private Edward Gatward

Pte Edward Gatward, 19785, 1st Battalion Northants Regiment, was killed in action in Flanders on or soon after November 15th, 1917. Ten months later, parents George and Sarah Ann Gatward, of 61 Hartley Road, Luton, had heard no news of him but were still hopeful that he was alive.

Widow Rose and her four children Violet, George, Winifred and Phyllis, of 27 Cumberland Street, Luton, had previously received notification that her husband had been wounded earlier in France, on February 17th, 1917.

Pages

Subscribe to RSS - Private