Pte Ernest Rodell, 14864, 13th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment, died at Gheluvelt, near Ypres, on October 18th, 1917, from wounds sustained in action. He was aged 23, single and had lived with his parents at 3 Surrey Street, Luton.

One of his chums wrote to Pte Rodell's sister stating that he was wounded on October 17th and died like a hero, happy and conscious to the last. Only a few minutes before he died he asked his chums to shake hands with him. "They did so, and were with him to the last."

He was buried where he fell, but the grave location was probably subsequently lost as Ernest is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium.

Ernest Rodell had enlisted in the Territorials in May 1914 (5th Beds, 3539). On mobilisation he was transferred to the Royal Sussex Regiment, but it was not until August 1916 that he was drafted to France. He was expecting leave at the time of his death.

After leaving Surrey Street Boys' School, Ernest had worked at the Diamond Foundry in Dallow Road, Luton, first as a labourer and later as an iron moulder.

Pte Rodell's brother-in-law, Pte Albert Charles Smith (Bedfordshire Regiment), was presumed killed in action in France in May 1917.