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.
Sidney Brooks was born on 9th October 1895 In Luton, 1 of 13 children born to Albert & Emma.
On 14th October 1902 His father Albert died & left Emma widowed with a large family to look after.
William Brooks was born in Nottingham in 1881. 1 of 13 children born to Albert & Emma.
On 11th December 1899, aged 18 years old William married Clara Smith in Luton.
Percival Harold Brooks was born in 1899 in Luton. He was 1 of 13 children born to Albert & Emma.
On 14th October 1902 His father Albert died & left Emma widowed with a large family to look after.
Henry A Brooks was born in Dunstable in October 1887. He was 1 of 13 children born to Albert & Emma.
Lieut Stanley Burnet, 17th Training Squadron, Royal Air Force, died in a flying accident at Yatesbury, Wiltshire, on May 31st, 1918.
L-Cpl Charles Bryan Hobbs, 17138, 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards, was killed in action in France on October 19th, 1915. He was aged 23 and had been in charge of a bomb-throwing section.
Charles Henry Carrington was born in Luton in 1875.
On 15th August 1894 he married Rose Ellen Mouse in Luton.
Sidney Case was the only child of John & Ellen. He was born in Deepcar, Yorkshire in June 1897.
Company Sgt-Major Herbert William Sexton, 935, 1/2nd East Anglian Field Company, Royal Engineers, died of enteric fever on October 30th, 1915, while serving with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. He was aged 21 and was buried at Pieta Military Cemetery, Malta.
Percival Edward Clark was born in Luton in January 1891, the youngest of 3 sons born to Charles & Eliza.
Bertram Alfred Clark was born in Luton in 1882. He was the eldest of 3 sons born to Charles Alfred & Eliza.
On 8th June 1908 Bertram married Beatrice Kate Crick.
Pte Alfred Tuffnell, 3/8144, 7th Battalion Beds Regt, died in Flanders on November 4th, 1915. Surprisingly nothing seems to have appeared about him in the local Press around the time of his death, unlike the deaths of two brothers.
L-Cpl Arthur Thomas Highton, 3874, 1/5th Bedfords, died in the University War Hospital, Southampton, on November 10th, 1915, after suffering from dysentery at Gallipoli. He was aged 18.
Pte Oswald Simmonds, 7948, 1st Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regt, was presumed killed in action on October 31st, 1914. But it was 15 months later before his wife Rose Lilian received official notification of his death.
Pte Harry Gentle, 10433, 1st Bedfordshires, was killed in action in Flanders on November 15th, 1915. He was aged 18.
Harry Clarke was born in Bromley, London in 1886.
On 8th October 1905 he married Nellie Elizabeth Ennever in St Andrew's Church, Bromley.
Acting L-Cpl Percy William Tilcock, 1485, 1/2nd Field Company, East Anglian Divisional Engineers, died on the hospital ship Glenart Castle on November 26th, 1915, from wounds received at Gallipoli. He was buried at sea in the Mediterranean on the same day.
Pte Arthur Wallace Woodcroft, 18612, 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in Flanders on November 27th, 1915. Some military records name him as Arthur Walter Woodcroft.
Pte Harold Alfred Field, 1722, 1/1st Eastern Mounted Brigade Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps, was killed by a stray bullet as he sheltered in a tent during a storm at Gallipoli on November 27th, 1915. He was aged 19.
Driver Amos Charles Moody, 2720, 3/2nd Field Company, East Anglian Royal Engineers, died in the early hours of Saturday, December 10th, 1915, after being ill for two or three days with pleurisy and double pneumonia.
Lieut Nelson Johnstone, 2/2nd Midland Brigade Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C., stationed at Kings Lynn, died suddenly at Cambridge while undergoing an operation at a military hospital.
Company Sgt-Major Alfred Saunders, 112, 2nd Battalion, King's Royal Rifles, died of wounds sustained in action in Flanders on November 24th, 1915.
First-class Gunner Arthur Best, 37371, Royal Garrison Artillery, died in the Keppel Place Hospital, Stoke, Devonport, on December 23rd, 1915, after suffering two attacks of pleurisy while serving in Gibraltar that led to him contracting consumption which led to a haemorrhage.
Pte Frank William Gilder, 2430, 1/24th Battalion, County of London Regiment, was killed in action at Loos on December 30th, 1915. He was aged 19.
Pte Stephen George Hare, 8426, 1st Battalion, Beds Regt, was killed in action near Fricourt in France on January 6th, 1916. He was aged 29.
Pte George William Rolph, 18924, 2nd Bedfordshire Regiment, is officially listed as killed in action in France on January 15th, 1916. A letter from the battlefield said he was killed by a shell while on sentry duty on January 13th.
Company Quartermaster-Sgt Douglas Ritchie, Army Service Corps, died in the Fulham Military Hospital on January 15th, 1916, from double pneumonia.
Cyclist Henry Albert 'Harry' James, 3164, 47th London Divisional Cyclist Company, was killed in action in action in France on January 21st, 1916.
Sgt Harry Pestell, 16949, C Company, 7th Bedfords, was killed in action near Fricourt, France, on January 21st, 1916. He was aged 29.
Pte Horace Charles Day, 15086, 7th Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in France on January 21st, 1916. He was aged about 21.
Trooper Charles William Reginald 'Reggie' Looker, 1236, 1/1st Bedfordshire Yeomanry, was killed in action in France on February 1st, 1916. His body with a bullet wound through the head was discovered in a trench by his younger brother Richard.
Herbert Dean Cowley was born in Rawtenstall, Lancashire in 1891 to Herbert & Margaret.
In 1911 aged 20 he is working as an apprentice photographer & living with his family at No 61 Brook Street, Luton.
William James Cowley was born in Rawtenstall, Lancashire in 1893
In 1911 aged 18 he is working as a clerk & junior warehouseman at a straw & felt hat manufactures along his father & living with his family at No 61 Brook Street, Luton.
Ronald Cunningham was born in Luton in October 1899.
In 1901 aged just 1 year old he is living with his family at no 16 Gladstone Avenue.
Pte Gustavus 'Will' Eames, 2537, 24th County of London Regiment, died on February 13th, 1916, from wounds sustained in action in Flanders. He was buried at Bethune Town Cemetery, Pas de Calais.
Captain Edward Emil Simeons, 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, died on February 17th, 1916, from shell wounds sustained in action near Ypres the previous day. He was aged 22.