Lieutenant Edmund Elgood Punchard, son of a former Vicar of Christ Church, Luton, was killed in action with the 2nd Battalion Beds Regt (21st Brigade, 7th Division) at Ypres on October 31st, 1914. He had just celebrated his 24th birthday.

He was shot leading his platoon in an attack on a ridge near Zandvoorde and was buried at Kruiseck, near Gheluvelt [Geluveld]. He was mentioned in Sir John French's despatch on January 14th, 1915.

Cpl Percy William Graham, 9200, 2nd Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle On March 10th, 1915. He was aged 22.

He was the son of Mrs Mary Jane Graham, licensee of The Harrow pub in Hitchin Road, Luton, whose husband James William, an old soldier, had died eight weeks earlier at the age of about 74.

Cpl Graham was born in Luton and was a pupil at Waller Street Schools. He attended St Matthew's Church, High Town, and had worked in a local foundry.

John William Dolling spent 3 hours lying in water in a trench in France. His experience was reported in the Luton News on 1st December 1914. (see attached file)

John was born in Ampthill in January 1893, 1 of 6 children to James & Mary Jane.

Pte Samuel Snoxell was taken prisoner of war on 22 March 1918.

He was born in Luton in 1888 to William & Susan. He had 2 brothers, Thomas & Charles & 3 sisters, Emily, Elizabeth & Mary.

In 1911 he is living at 31 Chase Street with his widowed mother who is working as a servant & his sister Elizabeth who is a straw hat manufacturer. Samuel is working for E W Hart & Co Dye Works as a plait buncher.

It was reported in the Luton News on 2nd May 1918 that he had been captured by the Germans, but was quite well.

Walter Tottingham was born in 1867 in Luton.

His parents Isaac & Caroline were also born in Luton & were working in the straw hat trade as a blocker & a sewer. In 1871 Walter is 5 years old & living with his parents & 8 year old sister Sarah at 36 Spring Place.

In October 1891 Walter married Sarah Ann Day.

Artificer Engineer Arnold Wharton was one of three Royal Navy officers killed in action during the bombardment of the Dardanelles when HMS Irresistible hit a mine on March 18th, 1915, and eventually sank. He would have been aged 35 in April 1915.

A message later from Athens said the three had been buried at sea within sight of Tenedos, where women on the shore cast flowers and incense into the sea as a sign of mourning, flags flew at half-mast and bells tolled on land and at sea.

Ernest Sydney Crick was born in Luton in 1886 to William & Elizabeth.

He was the youngest of 7 children.

In 1891 aged 5 he is living with his parents & 5 of his siblings Emma 19, Eli 16, Albert 14, Arthur 11 & 8 year old Joseph at 64 Stopsley Green. His father is a Horse keeper, his mother & sister Emma are straw hat machinists, Eli is a farm labourer & Albert is a ploughboy. Ernest is at school with his brothers Arthur & Joseph.

Company Quartermaster Sgt Joseph Horne, 6006, 2nd Battalion Beds Regt, was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle on March 12th, 1915. He had served in the Army for 18 years and he and his family had returned with the battalion from South Africa at the outbreak of war. He was reportedly in line for a commission at the time of his death.

The above photograph was returned to his family from the battlefield with the message "Anyone finding this, please return to my wife, Mrs J. Horne, 52 Grange Road, Luton, Beds" written on the back.

Pte Thomas Richards, 6684, 2nd Battalion, Beds Regt, was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle on March 12th, 1915. He was aged 33.

It was a double tragedy for his widow Emma (nee Worsley, born 1881), of 178 Park Street, Luton. Just days before she received the news about her husband, her only child (Stanley Charles Thomas), died on March 26th, aged just six months. The couple were married on October 4th, 1913.

Pte Albert Sidney Kirby, 3/7346, 2nd Battalion, Beds Regt, was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle on March 11th, 1915.

He was the son of Thomas Kirby, of 138 Wellington Street, Luton, and was born in 1894.

Harold was born in 1899 to coal merchant, Henry & his wife Rose Maria.

In the 1911 census he is living at 41 Edward Street, Luton with his parents & siblings. He has 3 sisters Rose Maria 26, 15 year old Maud, an apprentice dressmaker & Beatrice Elvira, 9 who is at school. He also has 5 brothers Harry 22 &  Frederick 20, working as coalmen, William 17 is a clerk, 9 year old Alfred Charles & 7 year old Stanley Albert are at school.

Frederick Rae was born on 9th February 1879 in Luton to Charles & Sophia.

He married Sarah Oakley in January 1900 & in 1911 he is working as a straw hat blocker & living at 51 Duke Street, Luton with their 2 sons Frederick Thomas, 10 & Arthur Charles aged 7.

He died of wounds 2 October 1918 & is buried in the cemetery on Crawley Green Road, Luton

Walter Allen was born in 1869.

There is no service record for Walter, but the medal roll index tell us that he served in the Bedfordshire Regiment. He received the Silver War Badge in France on 27th April 1915 as well as the Victory, British & 15 Star medals.

He was later attached to 319th M.T. Coy. Royal Army Service Corps.

John Gazeley was born in Luton in 1875.

In 1891 he is 17 years old & is working as an errand boy. He is living at 17 Taylor Street with his family. His father Albert 48, & 21 year old brother Frederick are working as agricultural labourers. His mother Mary Ann, 38 is at home looking after his younger siblings, Ada 13, Sarah 11, Sophia 7, Joseph 4 & 2 year old Rosey.

Augustus Fensome was born in Luton in October 1894, only son of Albert & Sarah Ann.

His father was a printer & stationer. The family are living at 41 Waller Street in 1901.

In 1911 48 year old Sarah Ann is now widowed & has taken on the family business in Waller Street, 14 year old Augustus is working as a boy clerk, his 21 year old sister Hilda Muriel is living with them.