Son of Mr Lionel C. R. Thring, M.A. J.P. First Headmaster of Dunstable Grammar School,  and Mrs Jessie Margaret Thring. Edward was born in Dunstable, as were his sisters Marion and Elsie Thring; he was a keen and capable sportsmen and an old pupil of Dunstable Grammar. He won the Hankey Gold Medal for being the pupil who had made best use of his opportunities in life as a Dunstabolian.

Edward joined the Officer Training Corps (O.T.C.) at Berkhampsted, and soon after recieved his commision into the North Midland Royal Field Artillery (R.F.A.).

Fred was my Grandfather

Gunner Jackson was the second son of Samuel Westlake Jackson and Florence Jackson of Romford. Gunner Jackson enlisted into the Royal Field Artillery in 1915, and served 12 months on the front before being wounded in action. He was sent back to the UK to recover, and was stationed at Biscot R.F.A camp. It was while serving here that he was killed in an unfortunate accident in December 1916.

Private Edward James Clarke was the eldest son of Charles and Emma Clarke of The Bull public house at Offley. He had two younger daughters and three younger brothers, all of whom worked in and around the public house, and assisted with baking and selling bread as well as the other jobs associated with brewing and serving ale.

Private Joseph Summerfield was the only son of George and Rose Summerfield of Sundon, and brother to two younger sisters, Lizzie and Ethel. His father was a Labourer at a Lime Works, and Joseph followed in his fathers footsteps and became a labourer at the Cement Works when he was 14.

Joseph joined the 7th Bedfordshire Regiment on the outbreak of war, and served  2 years in France, without any leave, before he was killed on the 17th June.

The War Diary for the 7th Bedfords states:

Private Frederick Goodman, was the third son of Herbert and Ann Goodman of Surrey Street Luton. Frederick was born in 1893 in Markyate where his father was an Asphalter (one who works with tar, probably working in laying road surfaces or sealing roofs).

Prior to enlisting in August 1916, Frederick worked as a labourer at the Diamond Foundry, alongside his two elder brothers Walter and Archie. He joined the Royal Sussex Regiment, and served until he was wounded on the 20th June 1917. He was taken to a casualty clearing station at Proven where he died soon after arrival.

Sgt Nelson Thomas Pike, was the fourth son of Joseph Peplar Pike and Agnes Pike of Someries Farm Luton. Nelson was born in 1889 in Hilperton Wiltshire, where his father was a farmer.

In 1911, Nelson was working as a Chauffeur for the family of Edward Welton, a Stockbroker who lived in St. Albans.

Nelson joined the A.S.C. as a driver, and was continually engaged in the transport of ammunition and supplies from the railheads to the front line depots, a risky occupation that was open to shellfire and the occasional explosion of ammunition under transit.

Private William Henry Brown, was the eldest son of William Henry and Lizzie-Ann Brown. He was born in 1891 in Stopsley, and worked a Warehouseman in Luton. He lived with his wife on Park Street West.

Private Sidney Albert Coe, was the eldest son of Richard and Mary-Ann Coe. He was born in 1886 in Stopsley, and worked as the Clerk for Messer’s Howe and Byfield Coal Merchants on King Street.

The nature of his death is unusual for a military casualty being that he drowned whilst swimming in the sea at 11:30 AM on 28th July 1917, at Hopton on the UK East Coast. Two men from the company tried their best to rescue him, but he was taken by the sea, and his body recovered the next day after a search by Navy inshore boats.

Horace Arthur Goodship was the fifth son of George and Ann Goodship of Stopsley, who had three sons serving on the Western Front.

Horace was a Private in the 1/5th Bedfordshire Regiment, and prior to joining up worked as a straw hat polisher for Mr. Frenay Pirotte, on Leagrave Road. He was well known as a footballer for Stopsley and as a general good sportsman with an avid interest in cricket.

He was killed in action on August 16th during the Gallipoli Campaign.

Frank was the son of George and Ann Horsler of Great Bramingham who had seven sons serving on the Western Front. Three brothers died and two were wounded. Frank was fortunate to survive unscathed and return home after being demobilised in December 1919.

Frank enlisted in April 1917 and served in France and Italy. His full service record is available online from the National Archives.

George was the fifth son of George and Ann Horsler of Great Bramingham who had seven sons serving on the Western Front. Three brothers, including George, were killed and two were wounded.

George was killed at Passchendaele in October 1917. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial near Ypres in Belgium. He is also named on the Sundon Village memorial in Bedfordshire.

Arthur was the fourth son of George and Ann Horsler of Great Bramingham who had seven sons serving on the Western Front. Three brothers, including Arthur, were killed and two were wounded.

Arthur joined the army in February 1917 and served in France and Italy with the 20th Manchesters. He returned to France in July 1918 and was killed on 4th October 1918 whilst acting as a stretcher bearer. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Vis en Artois memorial. His name also appears on the Sundon Village memorial in Bedfordshire.

Walter is the sixth son of George and Ann Horsler of Great Bramingham who had seven sons serving on the Western Front. Three of the sons were killed and two were wounded. Walter had the good fortune to come through unscathed and to return home after being demobilised in 1919.

Edward was the second son of George and Ann Horsler of Great Bramingham who had seven sons serving on the Western Front. Three brothers, including Edward, were killed and two were wounded.

Edward was married with five children and when he was drafted to France two of his brothers who were with him at the Ampthill training camp offered unsuccessfully to take his place. He was killed in action on the Somme in September 1916 and is buried in Guillemont Road Cemetery in France. He is named on the Sundon Village War Memorial.