Luton's People 1914-1918
This page contains a list of soldiers/civilians from Luton and surroundings 1914-1918, and the ancestors of people who live in Luton today. It has been compiled from the 1918 Luton Absent Voters List, Rolls of Honour; and information researched and uploaded by project volunteers and members of the public.
If you find your ancestor here, and there is only basic information available, then feel free to use the comment box to add further information you may already know. The WWI Project Team, can then add this further information to the basic data we already hold.
The sources of this information can be found via the links below. Please feel free to download and use this information, but please please search for and upload your ancestor to the site if/when you find them:-
Absent Voters List
Luton Roll of honour
Before adding anybody to the site, it is always advisable to search for your ancestor first.
Individual Summary:
Male
Father: James Owen
Mother: Margaret Owens
William Edward Owen
Sex:
Individual Report for William Edward Owen
Individual Facts:
Birth: 02 Dec 1883 in Tai Club Mawr, Llanerchymedd, Anglesey, North Wales
Harry Miles was a brave soldier who won the Military Medal but on his return he became involved in the Luton Peace Riots of July 1919 and was convicted of rioting. He died in an air-raid on Luton in August 1940.
SHEFFORD VICAR NEARLY ARRESTED AS SPY. SEPTEMBER 1914 LUTON NEWS
Frederich Wilhelm Spriegel was born on the 24th Feb 1893 in Luton, Bedfordshire.
His parents were Frederich Wilhelm Spriegel (Snr) born 1868 in Wurtemburg Germany and Norah Louisa Caroline Fisburne born 1871 in Macclesfield, Cheshire.
Edward was born 18th November 1883, at St Albans in Hertfordshire. Although his father had previously been married to Ann Lowe, it appears that Edward was the only son of Mark and Charlotte Warner.
Frank Young was born on the 2nd October 1895, at Cherat in the North West Province, India. As his father, also called Frank Young, was a regular soldier, it is likely he was serving in the 1st Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment who were stationed there at the time.
Christopher Augustus Cox was born Christmas Day 1889 in Kings Langley. In 1912 he married Maud Swan with whom he eventually had eight children.
Tom Edwin Adlam was born at Waterloo Gardens in Salisbury, on the 21st October 1893, the son of John and Evangeline Adlam.
Samuel Needham was born in Great Limber, Lincolnshire on the 16th August 1885, to Septimus and Mary Needham. His father was one of Lord Yarborough's grooms and Sam was to follow in his fathers footsteps.
Frederick William Hedges was born on the 6th June 1896 at Umballa in India. His father was Henry George Hedges who was 'born at Sea, Bengal Bay' around 1857 and his mother was Mrs Harriet Eliza (nee Loader) Hedges, born in India around 1865.
Second Lieutenant Collings-Wells was commissioned into the Bedfordshire Regiment on 14th March 1904 having previously served with the Hertfordshire Militia. He became a Lieutenant in September 1904 and Captain in January 1907.
Charles was born 8th March 1885 in Kobe, Japan, the eldest son of the Right Reverend Hugh James Foss, Bishop of Osaka.
DRUMMER AND A WOUNDED COMRADE "WAITING OUR DEATH" LUTON NEWS LETTER JANUARY 1915.
Drummer E J Blagdon, of the 2nd Battalion Beds Regiment, describes some narrow escapes in a letter he has just written from the front - he says -
Alfred Alexander Burt was born on the 3rd March 1895 and was a resident of Port Vale in Hertford, Hertfordshire. He was a gas fitter for the Hertford Gas Company before the war and joined the Hertfordshire Regiment as a part time, Territorial Force soldier in 1911.
In the 1911 census, Walter was living at 30 Oak Road, Luton. He was living with his 50 year old father Walter, who was as brickmaker's labourer, sister Ellen Victoria, 23, working as a launderess and his 17 year old sister Edith, who is a strawhat machinist.
Arthur was born in 1883 in Luton to Edwin and Mary Elizabeth Hitchcock.
Hugh Thomas Barron Boshell was born in 1896 in Nova Scotia, Canada to Major Francis Sydney Boshell D S O; M C (Royal Berkshire Regiment) and Eliza Jane Barron. He died age 22 on 22nd March 1918. His final resting place is unknown but his name is listed on Bay 8 of the Arras Memorial.
Serjeant Major Arthur Boshell died age 35 on 22 July 1917, he was the son of Thomas and Margaret Boshell of Reading and husband of Elma Boshell of Mill House Aldeby Norfolk. His grave reference is 1101 in the Salonika, Lembet Road Military Cemetery.
Second Lieutenant Frederick Stephen Boshell son of Stephen and Maria Boshell died age 26 one month after marrying Florence Cecilia Briggs.
Sydney was born in 1885 to John Thomas and Eliza. He was living at 6 Crawley Green Road in 1911 with his mother, a straw hat machinist, four sisters, Olive, a milliner aged 19, Doris 12, Marjorie 10, Elsie 7 and his 4 year old brother Leslie. Sydney was working in the hat factory warehouse.
Private Alfred Brightman was one of five sons of Samuel and Sarah Brightman of Great Bramingham who served on the Western Front. Tragically four of the five sons were killed. Alfred was killed in action in Flanders on 26th Oct 1914, aged 25. He was the first Brightman son to die.
Herbert Brightman was one of five sons of Samuel and Sarah Brightman who served on the Western Front. Tragically four of the five sons were killed. Alfred was killed in action on 25th October 1917, aged 34. He was the third Brightman son to be killed.
Frank Brightman was one of five sons of Samuel and Sarah Brightman of Great Bramingham who served on the Western Front. Tragically four of the five brothers were killed. Frank was reported Missing Presumed Killed in France on 12th Oct 1916, aged 32. He was the second son to be lost.
Percy was the eldest of six children and his mother and father both worked in the hat trade. He did various jobs including cobbler, printers compositor and shop assistant. He married Jemima, "Minnie", in August 1913 and in 1915 they had a daughter, Marjorie.
Second Lieutenant Cyril Edward Franklin, son of Edward and Elizabeth Franklin, was born 1887, died in 1917, leaving behind a wife and young child.
Richard was one of five sons of Samuel and Sarah Brightman of Great Bramingham who served on the Western Front. Tragically four of the five brothers were killed. Richard died of wounds on 10th November 1917 in France, aged 24. He was the fourth son to be lost.
Walter was one of five sons of Samuel and Sarah Brightman of Great Bramingham who served on the Western Front. Tragically his four brothers were all killed between 1914 and 1917.
Husband of Alice J. Clark, of 152, Leagrave Rd., Luton. Born at Dunmow, Essex.
LUTON SAPPER DIES IN AFRICA.
Pte George Cox, 5233, 1st Battalion Norfolk Regiment, was killed in action at Ypres on June 22nd, 1915. He was aged 35.
Albert was the third son of George and Ann Horsler of Great Bramingham, who had seven sons serving on the Western Front. Three brothers were killed and two, including Albert, were wounded.
William Horsler was the eldest son of George and Ann Horsler of Great Bramingham, who had seven sons serving on the Western Front. Three brothers were killed and two, including William, were wounded.
Sidney Albert Dillingham was my Grandfather. He was born in 1885 in Luton to Albert and Mary Dillingham, who went on to have eight other children. In 1910 Sidney married Annie Fossey Butler and they had three daughters, Violet, Beatrice and Dorothy. In 1916 Sidney joined the Royal Army Medical
Edward was the second son of George and Ann Horsler of Great Bramingham who had seven sons serving on the Western Front. Three brothers, including Edward, were killed and two were wounded.
Walter is the sixth son of George and Ann Horsler of Great Bramingham who had seven sons serving on the Western Front. Three of the sons were killed and two were wounded. Walter had the good fortune to come through unscathed and to return home after being demobilised in 1919.
Arthur was the fourth son of George and Ann Horsler of Great Bramingham who had seven sons serving on the Western Front. Three brothers, including Arthur, were killed and two were wounded.
George was the fifth son of George and Ann Horsler of Great Bramingham who had seven sons serving on the Western Front. Three brothers, including George, were killed and two were wounded.
Frank was the son of George and Ann Horsler of Great Bramingham who had seven sons serving on the Western Front. Three brothers died and two were wounded. Frank was fortunate to survive unscathed and return home after being demobilised in December 1919.
Horace Arthur Goodship was the fifth son of George and Ann Goodship of Stopsley, who had three sons serving on the Western Front.