L-Cpl Charles Lawrence, 23494, 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, died at a clearing station in France on February 16th, 1917, three days after being wounded by shrapnel in action at Beaumont-Hamel on the Somme. He was aged 20.

Born in Luton in 1896, Charles was the youngest of five serving soldier sons of widow Mrs Ann Lawrence, of 59 Ashton Road, Luton (her husband, Frederick, died in 1898). He had enlisted in November 1915, having been formerly employed by Messrs J. Webdale and Sons at their Wellington Street store. He was an old boy of Chapel Street School, Luton.

Pte Stanley George Halfhead, 18925, 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on February 11th, 1917. He was aged 21.

He was the son of widow Mrs Kate Halfhead, of 20 Wood Street, Luton - his father, school caretaker George, had died in 1906. Prior to enlistment in February 1915, Stanley had worked at hat manufacturers Haye & Co, George Street. He was an old boy of Waller Street School, and was Assistant Scoutmaster in the local battalion of Boy Scouts.

Pte Arthur Robert Goodman, 23081, 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on February 5th, 1917. He was aged 20.

Cpl Alec Walter Harris, 23642, 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in the valley of the River Ancre on the Somme on February 4th, 1917. He was just 25 and single.

Born in Luton in 1892, he was the son of labourer Albert and straw hat machinist Selina Harris, of 23 Jubilee Street, Luton. Alec (Alic on his birth registration) was the couple's four son.

Pte Harold David Joad, 25196, 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the banks of the River Ancre on the Somme on January 28th, 1917. He was aged 20.

Born at Weston, Herts, he was the son of the late Charles Joad (died 1896, the year Harold was born). He was also stepson of farmer and pig dealer George Desborough of Ansells End Farm, Kimpton, whom his mother, Annie Maud Appleton Joad (nee Tee), married in 1907.

Cpl Frederick Victor Wesley, 22310, 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on on the Somme on January 26th, 1917. He was aged 27.

Sadly, the only mention of him around the time os his death seems to have been a roll of honour notice placed in the Luton News by his sister Cassey on behalf of younger brother Percy and relatives.

Pte Sidney John Vass, 23489, 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, died in the No. 13 Stationary Hospital in France on November 24th, 1916, 11 days after he was wounded in action on the Somme.

Pte John Radford, his lifelong pal from Luton with whom he enlisted and went to France, had also died in hospital from November 13th wounds sustained on the Somme. He passed away on November 14th, 1916.

Pte Vass, son of Alfred John and Alice Vass, of 121 Castle Street, Luton, was employed as a painter by Mr A. Perry, of Victoria Street, Luton.

Arthur Eames was born in Sundon, Bedfordshire in 1883, 1 of 9 children born to John & Emma.

In 1911 Arthur is 28 years old & working as a farm labourer. He is now head of the household as both his parents have died. Living in Sundon with him are his brother Thomas, 23, also a farm labourer, sister Annie, 30, housekeeper to her brothers & their 4 year old niece Minnie Blackaby.

Arthur enlisted into the 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment in December 1914.

Arthur died of wounds received in the Battle of Arras on 29th April 1917.

Pte Joseph Ward, 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, died on November 21st, 1916, from wounds sustained in action on the Somme four days earlier. He was aged 24.

Being an orphan, he had lived with his married sister, Mrs Alice Gore, for upwards of ten years prior to joining the Ampthill Training Camp a year earlier.

Official notification reached Mrs Gore at her home at 86 Park Road West, Luton, that her brother had sustained gunshot wounds in the right thigh and a fracture of the femur, and was seriously ill in Dannes-Camiers General Hospital in France.

Pte John Radford, 23496, 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, died in the No. 44 Casualty Clearing Station in France on November 14th, 1916, the day after he was wounded in action on the Somme.

Pte Sidney John Vass, his lifelong pal from Luton with whom he enlisted and went to France, was also to died in hospital from November 13th wounds sustained on the Somme. He passed away on November 24th, 1916.

Pte Percy Sidney Martin, 23730, 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on November 13th, 1916.

As a six-year-old in 1901 he was living with his mother and grandparents William and Susan at 16 North Street, Luton.

By 1911 he was a plait dyer living at 23 Back Street, Luton, with his mother and her husband James Webb, whom she had married at St Matthew's Church, Luton, on December 23rd, 1905. In the 1911 Census Percy is described as a boarder.

Pte George Henry (Harry) Puddephatt, 40119, 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on November 13th, 1916. He was aged 19.

The son of Henry and Ann Puddephatt, of Summer Street, Slip End, he worked for Messrs F. Merchant and Sons, furnishers, of Manchester Street, Luton, before enlistment. He was in training in England until three months before his death.

Pte Fred Allen Kilby, 23310, 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on the French front on November 13th, 1916. He was aged 27.

He was one of ten children of Henry John and Letitia Kilby, of 41 Winsdon Road, Luton. Before enlistment in November 1915, when he joined the Duke of Bedford's Training Camp at Ampthill, he was employed by Mr J. L. Frenay, bleacher and dyer, as a town collector.

Pte John Dyson, 23182, 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on November 13th, 1916.

Regimental records say he was born in Bolton, Lancashire, and resided in Luton. He is commemorated on the Luton Roll of Honour, but without an address. Sadly nothing appears to have been recorded about him in Luton newspapers.

Frederick Marlow was 1 of 9 children born to Frederick & Emma in Sundon Bedfordshire in 1897.

In 1911 he is 14 years old & working with his 43 year old father as farm labourers. His is living with his family in Sundon. His brother Arthur is 16 years old & working as a truck driver & his eldest brother George is 18 & working as a chalk digger in a lime works. Horace aged 10 & 8 year old Ivy Sarah are at school whilst their 44 year old mother is at home looking after 2 year old Doris & 3 week old Evelyn (Cissie).