British War Medal

Private John Thomas Brown

Pte John Thomas Brown, 10238, 7th Battalion The Buffs (East Kent Regiment), was reported missing, later presumed killed, on August 3rd, 1917. Six months later his widow asked, through The Luton News, for any information about her husband.

Born in Luton in 1876, he was a son of the late John and Ann Brown. He had married Nellie Osborne at Luton Parish Church on August 5th, 1905. At the time of the 1911 Census John was described as a straw trader living at 28 Stanley Street, Luton.

Rifleman Joseph Cogans

Rifleman Joseph Cogans, 5556, 10th Battalion King's Royal Rifles, was reported missing, presumed killed, in Flanders on November 30th, 1917.

It was nearly three months before his widowed mother Elizabeth was informed at 27 Dorset Street, Luton, with the hope that he might have been taken prisoner. She appealed through The Luton News for any further information about her son.

Private Harold Stewart Lawson

Pte Harold Stewart Lawson, 201403, 1/4th Battalion Norfolk Regiment, was killed in action in Palestine on December 11th, 1917. He was aged 19.

A letter to parents George and Ellen Lawson, who lived on Mr Cripps' Chaul End Farm, said their son was killed by a stray bullet, death being instant.

At the time of joining up at the age of 18, Harold worked at Danby's Nursery, Leagrave. He had previously worked for builder Charles Jeyes, of Windsor Street, Luton.

Chaul End-born Harold had also had a long association with the Sunday school at Caddington.

Private Sidney Medcalf

Pte Sidney Medcalf, 32647, 1/4th Battalion Norfolk Regiment, was killed in action near Jerusalem on December 15th, 1917. He was aged 19.

The son of Jonathan (John) and Lizzie (nee Gurney) Medcalf, of 33 Ashton Street [later Gillam Street], Luton, he joined up in February 1917 and, after training at St Albans and Felixstowe, went to Egypt in the following August. Before the war he was employed at the Diamond Foundry in Dallow Road, Luton.

Corporal Charles George Marsh

Cpl Charles George Marsh, 201398, 1/4th Battalion Norfolk Regiment, was killed in action in Palestine on December 11th, 1917.

Eldest of 13 children of Charles George and Lily (nee Spacey) Marsh, of 30 St Ann's Road, Luton, he was born in the town in 1891. In the 1911 Census he is described as a moulder at a foundry.

George had spent six years in the Beds Territorials before the war, but when war was declared he was rejected for service. After several attempts he was finally accepted and sent out to Egypt in 1915 with the Norfolk Regiment.

Private George Scrivener

Pte George Scrivener, G/10241, 7th Battalion The Buffs (East Kent) Regiment, died on April 21st, 1917, while a prisoner of the Germans. He had developed inflammation of the bowel after being captured on November 18th, 1916. His death was eventually recorded in The Luton News on January 17th, 1918.

Born in Biscot in 1878, he had married Maria Smith at Biscot Parish Church on April 5th, 1902. The couple had two daughters - Lily Irene (born 1904) and Barbara Eleanor (1911). In 1911 they were living in Limbury, and George was working as a labourer for a nurseryman.

Driver Stanley Fensome

Driver Stanley Fensome, 124499, Royal Field Artillery, died in hospital in Palestine on December 2nd, 1917, as the result of an infection. He was aged 22.

Stanley was the nephew of Mrs Louisa Walker, of 39 Chase Street, with whom he had lived since chldhood. He joined up in 1915, having previously worked for carter Mr Pollard, of New Town Street, Luton.

Sapper George Frederick Warner

Sapper George Frederick Warner, 524478, 84th Field Company Royal Engineers, was killed in action at Cambrai in Fl;anders on December 2nd, 1917. He was aged 29, married and had three children.

A letter to his widow at 6 Bolton Road, Luton, said her husband was killed by a shell in the support trenches.

George Warner was employed by the Fricker Metal Company before the war. He had married Kate Bacchus at Luton Parish Church on December 10th, 1910, and they had three children - Lily May (born 1911), Winifred Kate (1914) and Rose (1915).

Sergeant Thomas Wiseman

Farrier Sgt Thomas Wiseman, 47226, 18th (Queen Mary's Own) Hussars, was killed in action in France on November 21st, 1917. Born in Luton, he was aged 33 and had married, his wife living In Andover, Hampshire.

Sgt Hunt wrote to widow Fanny in Hampshire that her husband had been in charge of horses during very heavy shelling. One shell dropped close to him, killing him instantly.

Private George Leslie Wooding

Pte George Leslie Wooding, 20953, 8th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on November 20th, 1917, at the start of the Battle of Cambrai. He had twice previously been wounded and also escaped an air raid.

George Wooding joined the Bedfordshire Regiment in June 1915, around the time of a three-day recruiting march around Bedfordshire by the 1/5th Bedfords. He was drafted to France the following February and two months later received his first wound, from which he recovered at a base hospital.

Private Albert Ewart Dean

Pte Alfred Ewart Dean, 32422, 7th Battalion Norfolk Regiment, was killed in action at Gonnelieu, France, on November 20th, 1917, at the start of the Battle of Cambrai. He was aged 19.

Comrade L-Cpl Price wrote to parents Thomas Alfred and Eva Dean at 45 Bailey Street, Luton, that their son was killed instantly by a piece of shrapnel piercing his brain.

Private Fred Linger

Pte Fred Linger, 57693, 18th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, died on November 15th, 1917, from wounds sustained on the battlefield the previous day. He was buried in a French cemetery on November 16th.

The son of Walter and Kate Linger, of 123 Biscot Road, Luton, he had enlisted in the East Anglian Royal Engineers at the outbreak of war and had been drafted to the Front with the Northumberlands just two months before his death.

Private William Thomas Loughton

Pte William Thomas Loughton, 200280, 1/5th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, died in Palestine on November 14th, 1917. A Luton News brief report of his death said the cause was heart failure.

William Loughton, son of William and Emily, joined the Bedfords at the outbreak of war after being employed by coal merchants How & Byfield, of King Street, Luton. He had married Edith Edwards in 1908 and his address was given as 80 New Town Street.

Private Wallace James Oxborrow

Pte Wallace James Oxborrow, 238044, 12th Battalion Middlesex Regiment, was killed in action in Flanders on November 12th, 1917. A comrade wrote that he had heard from others in the regiment that Wallace was killed instantly by a shell after being sent up the line with some wire.

It was the following month before widow Hilda at 315 Hitchin Road, Luton, officially learned of her husband's death. Wallace had married Hilda Blanche Lovell at Luton Register Office on November 21st, 1916.

Private George James Hodge

Pte George James Hodge, 36994, 4th Battalion Essex Regiment, was killed in action on November 3rd, 1917, near Gaza during the Egypt-Palestine campaign. He had initially been reported wounded and missing on that date.

He had enlisted in the Army Service Corps in September 1916 and went to the Eastern Front at Easter 1917. There he was transferred to the Essex Regiment.

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