Second Lieut Harold George Fyson, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on October 12th, 1916. He was aged 26.

Born in Luton in April 1890, he was a son of straw hat dyer employer George Austin Fyson and his wife Kate(nee Cooke), of 36 Leagrave Road.

His parents received a telegram on October 15th to say he had been wounded on the 12th and then a second to say he was wounded and missing. Then two letters from fellow officers confirmed his death.

Information initially received was that Second Lieut Fyson had taken part in an attack, leading his platoon into action under heavy enemy fire. He had fallen mortally wounded into a deep trench within 30 yards of the German position. Cpl Selby made many attempts to bring Lieut Fyson back to the British lines, but on two occasions stretcher bearers who were with him were killed and another was wounded.

Subsequently it transpired that Second Lieut Fyson had been a victim of German treachery. On the day six officers of the Bedfords were killed and four wounded, he had gone out with his men to talk to a German officer and 50 men who it was claimed wanted to surrender. But the Germans had their machine guns trained and opened fire on the British party as they approached.

Second Lieut Fyson was sent to negotiate with the Germans as he had learned their language during four years at a German university, studying engineering. His earlier education was at Dunstable Grammar School and afterwards at Bedford School.

On his return to England he joined the staff of George Kent Ltd before enlisting with the Public School Corps on the day it was created. He received his commission in the Bedfords in May 1915 and went to France a year later.

One of Harold's brothers, Arthur, was also a Second Lieut in the Bedfords.