Pte John (#James) Stenhouse, 3553, 1/5th Bedfords, died on a hospital ship on August 18th* from wounds sustained at Gallipoli two days previously. He was buried on "an unnamed island at which the ship called" that later was revealed as Lemnos (East Mudros Military Cemetery).

His parents (Thomas and Elizabeth) at 36 Clifton Road, Luton, received a letter from E. Inglis, matron on the hospital ship, in which she wrote: "I am so sorry for you, but your boy was brought to our ship very badly wounded, shot through the chest on Monday, August 16th, and he died Wednesday evening at 9.30 pm. Poor boy, he suffered so much, but was so good and patient all the time.

"I told him I would write to you, but he was too ill to send any message to you, except he told me to send his love to all of you. I have kept a ring he was wearing on his finger, and I will send it directly I get back to England. It is so uncertain if it reaches you should I send it from here.

"He was buried this morning on an island we passed, but I must not mention the name in a letter. I am so sorry for you all. He was, I am sure, such a good boy, and I can guess what grief it will be to you all."

Pte Stenhouse, who was within three days of his 20th birthday when he died, was a member of the 5th Bedfords before mobilisation. He was born in Falkirk, and it seems he and several members of his 13-strong family came to Luton from Scotland to work at the Diamond Foundry, Dallow Road.

Pte Stenhouse had a brother, Pte Alex Stenhouse, then in training with the 3/5th Bedfords at Windsor.

[# Newspaper reports gave his name as James Stenhouse].

[*Eyewitness date - official date is August 17th]