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.
Private Sidney Albert Coe, was the eldest son of Richard and Mary-Ann Coe. He was born in 1886 in Stopsley, and worked as the Clerk for Messer’s Howe and Byfield Coal Merchants on King Street.
Private William Henry Brown, was the eldest son of William Henry and Lizzie-Ann Brown. He was born in 1891 in Stopsley, and worked a Warehouseman in Luton. He lived with his wife on Park Street West.
Sgt Nelson Thomas Pike, was the fourth son of Joseph Peplar Pike and Agnes Pike of Someries Farm Luton. Nelson was born in 1889 in Hilperton Wiltshire, where his father was a farmer.
Private Frederick Goodman, was the third son of Herbert and Ann Goodman of Surrey Street Luton. Frederick was born in 1893 in Markyate where his father was an Asphalter (one who works with tar, probably working in laying road surfaces or sealing roofs).
Private Joseph Summerfield was the only son of George and Rose Summerfield of Sundon, and brother to two younger sisters, Lizzie and Ethel. His father was a Labourer at a Lime Works, and Joseph followed in his fathers footsteps and became a labourer at the Cement Works when he was 14.
Private Edward James Clarke was the eldest son of Charles and Emma Clarke of The Bull public house at Offley.
Gunner Jackson was the second son of Samuel Westlake Jackson and Florence Jackson of Romford. Gunner Jackson enlisted into the Royal Field Artillery in 1915, and served 12 months on the front before being wounded in action.
Fred was my Grandfather
Son of Mr Lionel C. R. Thring, M.A. J.P. First Headmaster of Dunstable Grammar School, and Mrs Jessie Margaret Thring. Edward was born in Dunstable, as were his sisters Marion and Elsie Thring; he was a keen and capable sportsmen and an old pupil of Dunstable Grammar.
Bertram Silsby (or Silsbey, the surname changes) was the youngest son of George and Elizabeth Silsby, and brother to Emily, Florrie, Ellen and Frederick Silsby, from Hitchin.
William Whittaker was the eldest son of George and Fanny Whittaker. He was brother to Joesph, Polly, Sarah, James, Herbert and Samuel Whittaker; and half brother to Richard Leech.
Hugh Roberts was a professional footballer at Luton Town FC when he enlisted in the Footballers Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment at a public meeting at Fulham Town Hall on 15th December 1914.
Frank Lindley was a professional footballer at Luton Town FC when he enlisted in the Footballers Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment at a public meeting at Fulham Town Hall on 15th December 1914.
Robert Frith was a professional footballer at Luton Town FC when he enlisted in the Footballer's Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment in London on 16th December 1914 with his Luton team mates Wileman, Roe, Simms, Dunn and Wilson.
Private W. Street served in the 2nd Bedfordshire Regiment and Machine Gun Corps. His Service Number was 18436. (This number is on the side of the medals).
Ronert M.
George Andrew Steel was the Son of George Andrew and Mary Elizabeth Steele, and younger brother of Annie E Steele. The family lived at 15, Hearne Rd., Chiswick.
Arthur Wileman was a professional footballer at Luton Town FC when he enlisted in the Footballers' Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment at Kingsway on 16th December 1914 with his Luton team mates Simms, Frith, Roe, Dunn and Wilson.
Walter Primett was born in 1863, and served as the Mayor of Luton from 1914 - 1915, during the outbreak of war.
He is recorded as running a grocery store on Langley Road in 1898.
John Henry Staddon was born in 1860, and served as Luton Mayor from 1915 - 1916 and again from 1916 - 1917.
He later went on to serve as High Sheriff of Bedfordshire from 1938 to 1939.
Charles Dillingham was a successful Luton Hat manufacturer, and self made man. He served as Luton Mayor from 1917 - 1918, and escorted King George V around Luton, on only his second day in office.
Brian was born 11th March 1889, the only son of Hugh Cumberland J.P Land Agent & Auctioneer & Jeanie nee Clarke. In 1901 he was at a boys boarding school in Harpenden, but in the 1911 census he is home with his sisters, mother & father at The Lynchets, Hart Hill.
Bertie was the 5th son of Joseph Walter & Julia Whittemore. He was born in 1889 in Luton.
He joined the Rifle Brigade in 1907 serving in India & Egypt. He was coming to the end of his 8 years of service when war brokeout.
Jock Jarvie was a professional footballer for Luton Town FC in the 1912-13 and 1913-14 seasons. At the end of the 1914 season he returned to his hometown of Glasgow. He enlisted and was killed in action in January 1916, aged 27.
Pte. Harold C. Abbott, 96, Oak Road, was killed in action on April 17th. He was 19 years of age, and was in the employ of Mr.A. Bunnage, a straw hat manufacturer in Church Street, up to October, 1913, when he joined the !st Bedfords, and served in Ireland up to the outbreak of war.
Pte. Albert Kempton, whose wife lives at 1, Chobham Street, says he was buried alive in a big house that was knocked down by a " Jack Johnson " shell, and that he knew no more until he found himself in hospital.
Lieut Harold Victor Ramsey (registered at birth as Harry Victor) was born in 1880 in Romford, Essex.
In 1911 he is living with his brother George William in Endsleigh High St, Wanstead, and both are working in the London Stock Exchange.
Arthur Roe was a professional footballer for Luton Town who signed for the club at the start of the 1914-15 season. He enlisted in the Footballers' Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment at Kingsway on 16th December 1914 with his Luton team mates Simms, Wileman, Frith, Dunn and Wilson.
Lance Corporal Rowland Abbott served in 1/5th Btn of the Bedfordshire Regiment.
Before the outbreak of war the father of 6 was a straw hat blocker & was living with his wife Lizzie Louise and children at 27 May Street.
Edgar Rowland Abbott was born in 1889 to Rowland & Lizzie Louise.
In 1915 he enlisted into the Royal Engineers, but after only serving 9 months, he was discharged due to a discrepancy in his age.
He later joined the RAF but was KIA on 5th November 1918.
John Dunn was a professional footballer at Luton Town FC when he enlisted in the Footballers' Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment at Kingsway, London on 16th December 1914 with his Luton team mates Wileman, Simms, Frith, Roe and Wilson.
Ernest Simms was a professional footballer with Luton Town FC when he enlisted in the Footballers Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment at Kingsway, London on 16th December 1914 with his Luton team mates Wileman, Frith, Roe, Dunn and Wilson.
T T Wilson was a professional footballer with Luton Town FC when he enlisted in the Footballers' Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment at Kingsway, London on 16th December 1914 with his Luton team mates Wileman, Roe, Frith, Dunn and Simms.
Ernest J Dodd of East Common, Harpenden was a pre-war amateur player for Luton Town FC. He was killed in action on 17th July 1917, aged 25 whilst serving with the Royal Field Artillery in Belgium.
Frank Gilder was a pre-war amateur player with Luton Town FC. He enlisted with the London Regiment and was sent to France in March 1915. He was killed in action at Loos on 30th December 1915, aged 19.
Westby Heath was a professional footballer for Luton Town FC in the 1914-15 season. He joined the Royal Army Medal Corps and was wounded. He did not return to play for Luton in 1919-20.
All images are used with kind permission of Roger Wash, Luton Town Football Club Historian.
Sidney Hoar was a professional footballer for Luton Town FC who played for several local teams and the the Luton youth team before signing professionally in January 1914 aged 18. He served in the Bedford Regiment and the Royal Field Artillery and was gassed in August 1917 in France.
Percy was born in Luton and lived at 2 Hillside Road, Luton. He ran away from home at the age of 16 and signed up for the Highland Light Infantry some time in 1916. He wrote a number of letters home, the first from Palestine but later from France.
Sergeant William Ellingham was the son of Arthur and Annie Ellingham of Jubilee St, Luton. He won the Distinguished Conduct Medal in 1915 for Conspicuous Devotion to Duty near Ypres. His letter home to his parents telling them about the award was published in the North Buckinghamshire Times.