Pte Albert Hawkes, 13777, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, died as a result of wounds received in action on his 30th birthday - September 29th, 1915.

He was the husband of Louisa Elizabeth Hawkes, then living at 8 Tavistock Street, Luton, with two young children - Lily aged four and two-year-old Albert.

Official notification of Pte Hawkes' death arrived in October 1915, saying he had died from gunshot wounds to the abdomen. He had enlisted on September 5th, 1914, and had been in the firing line for six months.

His last letter home was written on September 19th. In it he said: "I thought I would write as I shall perhaps not have a chance for a day or two. I am still at the same place. You can see from the papars that there's something - I can't tell you what, but I expect you will soon see something in the papers.

"I shall soon have a birthday in France. I hope George [his brother wounded while serving the with the 1/5th Bedfords at Gallipoli] is getting on very well, and I think I will get leave if I come through all right. From you loving husband, Albert."

Pte Hawkes formerly worked as an iron moulder at the Diamond Foundry and was one of four fighting sons of Mr and Mrs Joseph Hawkes, of 58 Baker Street, Luton. In addition to Albert and George, one was in France and the other also in Dardanelles.

Albert had married Louisa Elizabeth Large in the early summer of 1908. At the time of the 1911 Census they were living at 3 Tavistock Street with Lily, then aged one month.