Pte Walter Brazier, 40379, 2nd Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment, was killed in action at Chateau Wood, near Ypres, on July 31st, 1917, the date of the start of the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele). He was aged 21 and left a widow, Olive.

Pte Brazier had been in the Army for only six months, and just 11 weeks in Flanders. Letters from comrades to his wife said he was hit by a piece of shell and died instantly.

Prior to enlistment, Walter was a carter for coal merchants Eastaff & Co, Old Bedford Road. He gave his address when joining up as 40 Jubilee Street, Luton, the home of Olive's father, Arthur. The Luton News report of his death said his wife was then residing at Marsom Place, Bury Road [now St Thomas's Road] Stopsley, the home of Walter's parents, Frederick and Sarah Jane.

Streatley-born Walter had married Olive Day on November 11th, 1916, at St Matthew's Church, Luton - a little over eight months before his death. He was a member of the Wesleyan Chapel at Stopsley.

He is commemorated on the Luton and Stopsley war memorials.