Sec Lieut Reginald Sydney Strange, attached 1st Battalion Northants Regiment, was killed in action at Le Cateau in France on October 17th, 1918. He was single and a month short of his 24th birthday.

He belonged to a Luton family which had traded in the town as drapers and outfitters since 1832. His father Arthur continued the family link to the firm, and in the 1911 Census Reginald was described as a draper's assistant.

In a letter to Arthur and his wife Lily at 206 Dunstable Road, Beech Hill, Capt Arthur Phillips wrote that their only son had been hit by a machine gun bullet and died instantly. His body had been buried at the village of La Vallee-Mulatre, about five miles south of Le Cateau where Reginald fell. A cross was being erected over his grave with his name and regiment printed on it, so that his final resting place could be marked and preserved.

Reginald Strange was educated at Dunstable Grammar School and was a keen cricketer. He later joined the family business, but volunteered for military service when war broke out. He was rejected on three occasions, but when finally accepted in December 1916 was trained for a commission as a cadet at Newmarket.

According to his military record, he gained the British War Medal and Victory Medal while serving in the ranks with the 3rd Wiltshire Regiment and Beds Regiment, from whom he was attached to the Northants Regiment upon gaining his commission.

He is commemorated on the Luton Roll of Honour/War Memorial and in the Book of Life compiled at Luton Parish Church.