Gunner Ronald William Tearle, 141935, 'C' Battery, 95th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, was killed in action in Belgium by a bursting shell on October 4th, 1917.

The only son of businessman William Underwood Tearle and Mary Tearle, of Denbigh Villa, 12 Cardiff Road, Luton, he was approaching his 20th birthday at the time of his death. He had attested under the Derby Scheme on reaching the age of 18, and during the winter of 1915-16 he served as a special constable in Bedfordshire. He joined the R.F.A. in April 1916 at Biscot Camp, where he was promoted to bombardier. He reverted to the rank of gunner on his transfer to France.

Ronald was educated at Luton Modern School, where he passed Senior Cambridge exams two years in succession. Just before the age of 16 he was articled as an accountant to Mr J. C. Harding, of Market Hill, and would have been entered for his intermediate accountancy examination in November 1916 had he not attested.

He had attended Chapel Street Wesleyan Church with his parents from infancy. He became assistant secretary of the Sunday school, and played the violin in the Brotherhood Orchestra.