Pte Bertram Hubert Spalding, G/14865, Bedfordshire Regiment attached to the 13th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on October 27th, 1916. He was aged 19.

Comrade and close friend Pte J. G. Stevens wrote to parents Bertram and Emma Spalding at 204 Hitchin Road, Luton, to inform them that their son and he were engaged on operations late at night under German fire when Bert was struck and killed instantly. He was buried the next morning.

Bert and Pte Stevens had transferred together from the Bedfords to the Royal Sussex while they were stationed at Harrogate. Bert's grave site was probably subsequently lost as he is recorded on the Thiepval Memorial.

Before enlisting, Bert was a clerk at Messrs Pickford's courier office in Cheapside. He had also been a server at St Saviours Church.