Ernest Charles Mills joined the Bedfordshire Regiment, in 1915 and transferred to the Machine Gun Corps (M.G.C.) in 1916. The M.G.C. was known as the suicide corps, but Ernest survived and was discharged in 1919.

He never spoke of his time in France except when he was dying and then said that only two members of his platoon who fought throughout the Somme, himself and another soldier he couldn't name, survived; and they were stood up to their waist in mud and barbed wire. The drawing in the linked photograph album is by Ernest, and shows cooking in a trench dugout.

Hubert Douglas Stratford was born in Luton in 1889, the son of Edward Douglas and Kate Stratford. His father was an auctioneer and land agent living at 33 Downs Road, Luton.

He first enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers (36056), being promoted to lance-corporal before gaining a commission with the 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards in February 1917. He went to France the following August and returned to England in October 1917 after being wounded. He went back to France on Easter Sunday 1918, a fortnight before his death.

Harold Campbell Abbot joined the 1st Btn Bedfordshire regiment.

He was killed in action in Flanders on 17th April 1915 aged 19.

He was a straw hat errand boy before the outbreak of war & was living at 96 Oak Road with his widowed mother Emily, a straw hat machinist, his elder brother Cyril James, a straw plait miller & his three sisters Dorothy Emily, Gladys Elsie & Constance Violet.

Second Lieut Frank Gilbert Hurrell Small, 47th Battalion Machine Gun Corps, died in hospital on June 9th, 1918, from blood poisoning following the amputation of his left leg in the Cassel internment camp in Germany. He had been taken prisoner on March 24th at Ypres in Belgium and was buried in the camp cemetery.

Following release as a prisoner of war at Mainz in 1919, Lieut Ernest Henry Taylor (Machine Gun Corps) sent a letter to widow Grace Short and told of the events of March 1918 that eventually led to her husband's death, also as a prisoner of war.

Thomas Hunt

Bernard Arthur was born 24th December 1891 in Luton to Charles & Kate Smart.

Bernard was working as a straw hat manufacturer in 1911 & living at Charlton House, 183 Castle Street  with his mother & father, who was a straw plait merchant & his sisters Muriel & Margery.

Bernard qualified as a pilot 24 July 1916 aged 24  becoming a Captain in the Royal Naval Air Service and was noted as a celebrated pilot in WW1.

Albert was born in Luton in 1881 and was the eldest son of Frederick and Annie Allen.

In 1911 Albert was living with his wife of 7 years, Susan, and their adopted 6 year old daughter, Jessie May at 185 North Street. He was working as a straw hat blocker & Susan was a straw hat finisher.

Charles Henry Alexander, was an Officer in the Royal Artillery, and Commanding Officer of Number 6 Reserve Training Brigade (Royal Field Artillery), at Biscot Camp, Luton; between 1915 and 1917.

In 1917 he was posted to the be the CO of the Royal Field Artillery site at Abbey Wood.

He had a long and distinguished career starting with his joining the army on the 20th March 1874

Miss A Billington of Upper Sundon  is listed in the National Roll of the Great War (Section V) as a Special War Worker who worked for the Kent's Munitions factory.

From June 1916 to November 1917 this lady was engaged on work of  National Importance at Messrs Kent's Munition Factory, Luton. She was chiefly employed on fuse-filling, and carried out her dangerous duties with care and skill.

Acting Sergeant 1st Bedfordshire Regiment.

Leonard Euinton was born on the 12 September 1888 at 2 Bolton Road, Luton and following school was employed as a Moulder by trade. He married Edith May Elston at St. Mathews Church, Hightown on the 29 October 1910 and resided at 57 Boyle Street, they had one child Ruby Olive who was born 1 February 1913.

Thomas was the son of Clara and Thomas Worker of Barton who had two sons killed and one severely wounded. Thomas was killed in action on April 23rd 1917. His brother Charles lost a leg on 21st March 1918 and their brother Sidney was killed the following day.

The National Roll (mostly submitted by families) describes Thomas's service as follows: He volunteered in October 1915 and in the following July was sent to France. During his service on the Western Front he fought at the battle of Ypres, the Somme, and was unfotunately killed in action at Arras on April 23rd 1917.

Lieutenant Shoosmith was the son of Francis Shoosmith a Straw Hat Manufacturer of Hart Hill, Luton. He was killed on 21st August 1915, aged 21.

Lieutenant Shoosmith  arrived in Gallipoli with the 5th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment on 29th July 1915 and survived the initial attack on 15th August at which his conduct was noted as being exceptional. 
 

Lance Corporal George Wells, 725730, 24th Battalion London Regiment, is named on the Hitchin Road Boys School War Memorial as an Assistant Master who "fell in the First World War". He went to France in March 1915 with the London Regiment and early in 1917 had the distinction of being the first Luton Teacher to win a war decoration - the Military Medal. He was killed in action on July 16th, 1917, at the age of 29.

Details imported from Luton Absent Voters list 1918