Pte Sidney Soper, G/42342 (G/5152 in some records), 1st Battalion Middlesex Regiment, was killed in action near Arras on April 23rd, 1917.

A letter from Capt Pollard, a Lutonian in his regiment, wrote to parents Walter and Elizabeth Soper at 241 High Town Road to say their son was missing after going over the top with his company in an attack on the morning of April 23rd. He was not present when the roll was called the next day.

He wrote: "It was a stiff fight at first, but we drove them back in the end and took their trenches and several prisoners. There is no doubt they took some of our men prisoners, and I hope you may hear that Sidney is with them."

But a subsequent letter from Quarter-Master-Sgt Chantrell confirmed Sidney's death. He wrote that his body had been recovered and he had thus been duly reported killed on April 23rd.

Sidney had assisted his father in his hat business before joining up in May 1916. He was with the Royal Field Artillery at Biscot for two months before being transferred to the Middlesex Regiment. He was drafted out to France in January 1917 and had been at the Front for only four months.

Sidney had been well known in Luton junior football circles as captain of the Kenilworth Rangers club.