Pte Walter John Smith, 203211, 1/5th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in Palestine on October 7th, 1917. He was aged 22 and single.

Walter Smith, one of nine surviving children of William and Mary Ann Smith, of 1 Blyth Place, Russell Street, Luton, had before the war been employed by the Luton Co-operative Society at its High Town and Dunstable branches.

He joined the Army in October 1914, and was drafted to France after eight months training at Ampthill. In 1916 he was wounded in the hand and sent back to England. After leaving hospital he was transferred to the 1/5th Bedfords and went to Egypt. He last wrote to his parents six days before his death.

At the time of Walter's death he had a brother in hospital after having contracting trench foot while serving with the Royal Field Artillery.