Pte Archie Walter Patten, 32151, 6th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, died in Etaples Hospital, France, on May 4th, 1917, from serious wounds sustained in the Battle of Arras on April 23rd. He was single and aged 24.

He had enlisted in the 1/5th Bedfords at the outbreak of war and took part in the Dardanelles campaign. He was invalided home with dysentery and spent three months in the Mile End Hospital. In November 1916 he was drafted to France.

A letter from Lady May Bradford at Etaples Hospital to parents Alfred and Mary Elizabeth Patten at 109 Ash Road, Luton, said their son was taken suddenly worse on the morning of May 4th. He died peacefully at 2.15pm. and was to be buried in the Etaples Cemetery with all honour.

At the time of the 1911 Census, Archie was working as a general labourer and living with his family at Eversholt.

Prior to enlistment, he was employed by Messrs T. Lye & Sons, dyers and bleachers, of New Bedford Road.

Younger brother Pte George Cuthbert Patten had died of pneumonia at Bedford on December 9th, 1914, after serving only five weeks in the Army. He was buried in Luton Church Burial Ground, Crawley Green Road. Both of the Essex-born brothers are commemorated on the Luton Roll of Honour.