Rifleman James Burgess, 11650, 4th King's Royal Rifle Corps, died on March 10th, 1915, from wounds sustained in the trenches near Givenchy earlier that day.

His mother Sarah Ann at 63 Chobham Street, Luton, did not receive official War Office confirmation until July 1915, but had been informed unofficially in a letter from Rifleman F. Featherstone some weeks earlier.

In the letter, Rifleman Featherstone wrote: "On the 10th of March we were told to charge the German trench in front of us, after previously occupying one trench for six weeks. We did so, but I am sorry to tell you that your son fell during the fighting. He died fighting like the brave chap he always was. He was hit in the abdomen and list last words were, "Give my love to mother'.

"We brought him in, and all the while he was cheering the old regiment. He did not linger more than a few hours. He was in no pain, but passed peacefully away. This has been a great blow to me for we were great chums. I am sending home his Princess Mary's gift box given to him at Christmas."

Born in Aley Green, Rifleman Burgess was 23 and at the time of the 1911 Census lived in High Street, Slip End with his brickmaker father Albert, mother and six brothers and three sisters. He worked for Messrs Omar W Sinfield and Co, bleachers and dyers, 1 Grove Road, Luton, prior to enlisting.