Pte George Shackleton, 41891, 13th Battalion Essex Regiment, died at Tournai in France on March 16th, 1918, from intestinal catarrh while a prisoner of the Germans. Parents Joseph John and Elizabeth Shackleton, of 8 Stanley Street, Luton, learned of his fate six months later.

Pte Shackleton, who was aged 31, joined up in January 1917 and went to France the following May.

Born in Clerkenwell, London, in 1887, he had previously helped in his father' hat factory.

Pte Stanley George Maskell, 29209, Essex Regiment, was killed in action on April 28th, 1917. He was aged 30.

A letter to his widow, Bertha, at the couple's home at 168 Dallow Road, Luton, from Lieut Jessop said Pte Maskell was missing after an engagement in France on April 28th and there was no further information about him. Her husband's last letter home was written on April 24th.

Pte Arthur Thomas Cain, 29204, 13th Battalion Essex Regiment, was killed in action on April 28th, 1917. The 36-year-old had initially been reported missing.

Born and bred in Stopsley, he was the son of Cyrus and Selina Cain, who lived in the village. He had married Minnie Winifred Buckingham in 1902 and the couple had seven children. At the time of Arthur's death the family lived at Ramridge End, Stopsley. He is commemorated on the Stopsley War Memorial.

Minnie remarried in 1919, her new husband being Albert Pratt.

Pte John Cain, 29205, 13th Essex Regiment, was killed in action near Arras on April 28th, 1917. The 23-year-old had initially been posted as missing and his widow, Eliza Jane, had received no further regular letters from him.

John Cain was employed as a grinder at the Diamond Foundry in Dallow Road before joining up in August 1916. He had married Eliza Jane Hall at St Matthew's Church, Luton, on November 20th, 1915, and lived at 116 Hartley Road, Luton. He was drafted to France within a few days of his first wedding anniversary.