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 Samuel Burr

Submitted by admin on

Details imported from Luton Absent Voters list and the National Roll of Honour (Section V)

The National Roll ( mostly submitted by families) describes his service as follows: He joined in June 1916 and in the same year was drafted to the Western Front where he was in action on the Ancre and at Passchendale where he was wounded and gassed. On recovery he took part in the fierce fighting at Bapaume and Cambrai. He was demobilised in October 1919 and holds the General Service and Victory Medals.

Private Albert Clark

Submitted by admin on

Details imported from Luton Absent Voters list and the National Roll of Honour (Section V)

The National Roll (mostly submitted by families) describes his service as follows: he joined in December 1916 and after his training served at various stations on important guard duties with his unit. He rendered valuable services but was not successful in obtaining his transfer overseas before the termination of the war. He was demobilised in March 1919.

Private William James Dinsey

Submitted by admin on

Details imported from Luton Absent Voters list and the National Roll of Honour (Section V)

The National Roll (mostly submitted by families) describes his service as follows: He joined in 1917 and in the same year, on conclusion of his training was drafted to France. in this theatre of war he took part in many important engagements including those at Bullecourt. Messines, Cambrai and the Somme and was gassed and wounded during the Offensive in March 1918. He was demobilised in January 1919 and holds the General service and Victory Medals.

Private Frederick Gutteridge

Submitted by admin on

Details imported from Luton Absent Voters list and the National Roll of Honour (Section V). Killed in Action 1918

The National Roll of Honour (mostly submitted by families) describes his service as follows: Volunteering in October 1915 he was drafted to France the following year. He took part in much severe fighting in many engagements of importance, including those at St Quentin where he was killed in action on March 21st 1918.

Private Stanley Glenister

Submitted by HillC on

Stanley was the son of George Glenister of Adelaide Terrace, Luton. He drowned when the troop carrier Arcadian was torpedoed by an enemy submarine on 15th April 1917 in the Aegean Sea on the way to Egypt. His body was not recovered.

A survivor's account of the sinking can be found here.

Private Cyril Charles Scoats

Submitted by HillC on

Cyril was the son of William Scoats, a straw hat manufacturer of 70 Burr Street, Luton. He joined the Royal Army Medical Corps in 1915 and was sent to Egypt in 1917. He drowned when the troop carrier Arcadian was torpedoed by an enemy submarine on 15th April 1917 in the Aegean Sea. His body was recovered and he is buried in a military cemetery on the Greek island of Syra with other casualties from the Arcadian.

An account of the sinking by a survivor can be read here.

 

 

Private Percy Coleman

Submitted by angela king 969 on

Percy was born in Luton and lived at 2 Hillside Road, Luton. He ran away from home at the age of 16 and signed up for the Highland Light Infantry some time in 1916. He wrote a number of letters home, the first from Palestine but later from France. It seems the older members of his unit took good care of him and he returned home at the end of the war.

Private Sidney Hoar

Submitted by HillC on

Sidney Hoar was a professional footballer for Luton Town FC who played for several local teams and the the Luton youth team before signing professionally  in January 1914 aged 18. He served in the Bedford Regiment and the Royal Field Artillery and was gassed in August 1917 in France. He recovered and returned to play for Luton Town in 1919-20.

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