Pte Archibald (Archer) Punter, 5604, 1st Battalion, Beds Regt, was killed in action on November 16th, 1914, in the First Battle of Ypres. He was a married man aged 33, whose wife lived at 24 Dane Road, Luton.

Son of Mr and Mrs Alfred Punter, of 12 Bolton Road, Luton, he was a Special Reservist who had served 16 years in the colours and went through the South African [Boer] War but was invalided home after 17 weeks suffering from enteric fever [typhoid]. Prior to being called up on mobilisation on August 5th, 1914, he worked at the Hewlett and Blondeau aircraft factory at Leagrave.

In the absence of further information from the War Office other than date of death, Mrs Punter learned via a letter sent by Pte Doughty, of Ebenezer Street, to his wife that the two soldiers were in the trenches side by side.

The Luton News reported: "During a lull in the firing he (Pte Doughty) turned to Pte Punter and said 'We shall have a lot to say when we get back.' 'Yes,' came the reply, 'surely one of the two of us will get back.'

"A quarter of an hour later a shell burst near them and Pte Punter was killed - apparently instantaneously. His chum was left."

[On the Luton Roll of Honour, Pte Punter is listed as Pte Archibald William Punter, 5604. On the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres and in Commonwealth War Graves Commission records he is listed as Private Archer Punter, 6604.]