Edwin Benjamin Eales was born in 1892 in Hammersmith, London.

In the 1911 census it tells us that he is living at 19 South Road, Luton with his widowed mother Kate 42, & sister Edith Florence 14, both are working as straw hat machinist. His elder brother Horace William 22, is a boiler maker in the iron foundry, whilst 6 year old Cyril Thomas is at school.

Horace William Eales was born in 1888 in Hammersmith, London. 

In 1911 Horace is 22 years old & working as a boiler maker in the iron foundry. He is living at 19 South Road, Luton with his widowed mother Kate 42, & sister Edith Florence 14, both are working as straw hat machinist. His brother Edwin Benjamin 19, is a straw hat blocker, whilst 6 year old Cyril Thomas is at school.

Pte Harry Hurst, 10449, 1st Battalion Beds Regiment, was killed in action on May 5th, 1915, during the German counter-attack on Hill 60 in which poison gas was used. He was born and lived in Luton.

Cpl Charles Smith, 7655, 1st Battalion Beds Regt, died at Base Clearing Hospital on May 8th, 1915, from the effects of poison gas inhaled while fighting at Hill 60.

The 31-year-old had been in the Bedfordshire Regiment for nine years, principally serving in Aden. He then spent three years in the reserve, during which time he worked at J. W. Green's brewery in Luton. But for the war he would have been out of the Army the previous Christmas.

Pte Thomas James Holliman, 18236, 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on May 6th, 1915 (CWGC record, but chums at the time said May 5th). He lived at 404 Hitchin Road, Luton, and was aged 28.

An old Volunteer, he joined the 3rd Battalion Beds Regt just before Christmas 1914 and was quickly transferred to the 1st Bedfords before being sent to France.

Harold William Charles Brightman was born in Luton in 1900. He came from a large family and was the eldest son of 7 children to William J & Emma.

William Dickman was born in Houghton Regis in January 1901.

In the 1911 census he is aged 10 & living with his family in the High Street, Leagrave, Luton. His father James is 50 years old & working as a carpenter & joiner, his mother Elizabeth Martha 40, is at home looking after him & Ivy, 14. His older brother Jim is 16 & working as a stonemason's labourer & Daisy 19, is working as an ironer in a laundry.

Sergeant Jim Dickman of 2/5th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment was born in Luton on 8th January 1895.

Aged 16 he is working as a stonemason's labourer & living with his family in the High Street, Leagrave, Luton. The 1911 census also shows that his father James is 50 years old & working as a carpenter & joiner, his mother Elizabeth Martha 40, is at home looking after Ivy, 14 & 10 year old Bill (William). Jim's older sister Daisy is 19 years old & working as in ironer in a laundry.

Rifleman Horace Ethelbert Meade, 2264, died on Sunday, May 9th, 1915, two days after being wounded in action. He was the first employee of George Kent Ltd, Biscot Road, to be killed at the front.

A native of Portsmouth, the 23-year-old had worked in the offices at Kent's until he enlisted with the 12th Battalion County of London Regiment at the outbreak of war. He arrived in France on Christmas Day 1914 and had been in the firing line practically ever since.

Pte Harry Stimson, G/6107, 3rd Battalion Middlesex Regiment, killed in action on April 16th, 1915.

He was aged 32 and the second son of Mr and Mrs James Stimson, of 23 Crawley Green Road, Luton. He enlisted on November 16th, 1914, and crossed to France on February 17th.

He had worked at Balmforth's boiler works for 12 years before enlisting.

Pte Harold Campbell Abbott, 10398, 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action around Hill 60 on April 17th, 1915.

Aged 19, he was the second son of Mrs Emily Abbott and the late Mr James Abbott, of 96 Oak Road, Luton. He joined the 1st Bedfords in October 1913 after working in the straw trade.

Pte Samuel Sydney Kilby, 47425, 15th Battalion Canadian Infantry, died on April 28th, 1915, from wounds received in action north of Ypres. He was aged 23 and the youngest son of Samuel and Emily Jane Kilby, of Hilldene, 102 Midland Road, Luton.

Pte Ernest Allin, 2421, 24th Battalion County of London Regiment (The Queen's), died on May 1st, 1915, of wounds sustained in action near Bethune in France. He was aged 22, born on April 10th, 1893.

The former Luton Modern School scholar had been employed for three years as an apprentice technician at Vauxhall and West Hydraulic Company before he enlisted at the outbreak of war. He lived with his sister, Miss C. Allin, a well-known vocalist, at 104 Selbourne Road, Luton.

William applied to the army in 1917, after his two brothers Harry and George. In the Attestation form for general service in the NZ Army during WWI, a typical question provoked an interesting response from the young William Harris:

“Question 17: If single, how many persons are absolutely dependent on you?

Answer:  Mother and 6 children.

Signed: William Harris 22 June 1917.”

Memories of what my father told me

by Harold Smith, November 2014