L-Cpl Bert Holdstock, 2836, 1/24th County of London Regiment (The Queen's), was killed in action on the Somme on September 16th, 1916. His role was as a bomber.

Born around Christmas 1894, he was the youngest of five serving sons of Charles and Annie Holdstock, of 22 South Road (formerly Foundry Lane), Luton. He was single, aged 21 and 6ft 2in tall.

Prior to enlistment in the Londons when war broke out, he worked in the straw trade. He trained at St Albans and was wounded twice while serving for nearly two years in Flanders.

He was shot through the nose at Givenchy in May 1915 and a year later was wounded by shrapnel at Vimy Ridge. He was also one of five bombers who held the left flank at Loos.

Bert, who celebrated his 21st birthday at the Front at Christmas 1915, had been a member of Luton's Central Mission Brotherhood and played football as centre-half for Granville FC.