Details imported from Luton Absent Voters list 1918

Details imported from Luton Absent Voters list 1918

Details imported from Luton Absent Voters list 1918

Details imported from Luton Absent Voters list 1918

On the 9th January 1916 the Luton News reported the death of Alfred Johnstone.  At the outbreak of war, Alfred Johnstone was living with his parents and brother Leonard, at 4 Warwick Road, Luton. He joined the Royal Sussex Regiment and was sent to France, where he died on the 9th September 1916. 

From the Luton News 9th January 1917. A WHEATHAMPSTEAD SOLDIER. Reported Missing. We are requested to publish the fact that Pte Frederick Russell of the Beds Regiment (whose sister lives at 152 North Street, Luton) has been "reported missing" since November 16th and his mother, Mrs W Russell who lives at Gustard Wood Common, Wheathampstead, would be very grateful for any news of him.  Pte Russell, who is aged 22, was employed as a groom at Welwyn prior to enlistment.  He joined the Army in August 1914 and went to France in July 1915.

From the Luton News dated 4th January 1917. LUTONIAN KILLED. Mrs A Brown of 2a Essex Street, Luton has received official information that her son, Pte Edward Brown, 19, who enlisted April 1st last year in the Northants Regiment, was killed in action on December 10th.

Prior to joining up he worked in the grocery department of the Bury Park branch of the Luton Co-operative Society and he has only been at the Front three months. Mrs Brown has also received a letter from Sec.Liet. A E Ward of the same regiment, who states

Omar Sinfield donates a prize at the 1917 Regimental Sports Day held at Wardown Park. He was posted to the R.F.A. Camp at Biscot, Luton. A photograph of him was dontated to the project by a volunteer at Wardown Park, and the following information has been coalated from find my past, and other sources.

Omar W.D. Sinfield was born in 1883, and was married in 1907 to Mabel. He was a dyer of Straw Plait, and was living in Grove Road Luton.

He had 2 children, Phyllis born in 1908, and Stuart born in 1910.

From The Luton News 9th January 1917. FROM THE RANKS.  Another Brave Lutonian Receives a Commission. We are  pleased to announce that Pte Frederick Lewis Pedley, son of Mrs Pedley of 73 Conway Road Luton, has been gazetted to a commission. Pte Pedley, it may be remembered was one of a number of young Lutonians, many of them well known in sporting, social and religious life in Luton, who enlisted in the 24th County of London Regiment (The Queen's) on September 5th 1914. They joined the British Expeditionary Force in March 1915 and have since figured conspicuously in very severe fighting.

From the Luton News 22nd February 1917. SOLDIER'S WIFE'S SUICIDE. Young Mother Attempts to Strangle her Child. Sad Tragedy at Pepperstock. A particularly sad case of suicide following an attempt by a young mother - a soldier's wife - to strangle one of her two children, occurred at Pepperstock, within a couple of miles or so of Luton, during the weekend.  The unfortunate woman who took her own life was the wife of a soldier by name Ethel Margaret Field, 29 years of age, whose husband is a private in the R.A.M.C. and is stationed at Clacton.

From the Luton News 15th February 1917.

Charles Samuel Irons was born in January 1898 in Luton, the only child of Samuel & Beatrice.

In 1911 Charles is living with his builder father & mother at 60a Park Street. The head of the household is Arthur Funnell, Beatrice's father, (Charles' grandfather) who is a furniture dealer.

An article in the Luton News on 20th February 1919 tells us that Charles was awarded the Military Cross, but could not give much detail. A report in The London Gazette dated 9th December that year reveals more information:

Frederick Walter was born in Luton on 2 July 1897 to Walter & Florence.

He had 1 brother & 3 sisters.

In the 1911 census it tells us that the family are living at 24 York Street. Father Walter is a straw hat blocker, Mother Florence is a straw hat machinist alongside 15 year old Lily & Louisa Ann, 17, is a straw hat finisher. 13 year old Frederick, his brother Leonard Charles, 11 & sister Priscilla Martha aged 9 are all at school.

Joseph served with the South Staffordshire Regiment when he was killed in March 1918

His entry in the 1911 Census shows he was a father with young children, and lived in Pondwicks Street (now part of Power Court) Luton.

JOSEPH HERBERT IMPEY HEAD MARRIED 29 1882 LETTERPRESS MACHINE MINDER

EMILY IMPEY WIFE MARRIED 39 1872 BEDS LUTON STRAW HAT MACHINIST

REGINALD ARTHUR IMPEY SON - Male 3 1908

STANLEY HERBERT IMPEY SON - Male 1 1910

CLARA SPENCER NIECE - Female 13 1898

Major General The Hon. Edward James Montagu-Stuart-Wortley, CB, CMG, DSO, MVO (31 July 1857 – 19 March 1934) was a general of the King's Royal Rifle Corps that served the British Army from 1877 to 1919. He saw extensive active service in many fields including Afghanistan, South Africa, Egypt, Turkey, Malta, Sudan, France and Ireland. During the First World War he was controversially dismissed after the Battle of the Somme due to the failure of his division's diversionary attack