7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment

Private George Summerlin

Pte George Summerlin, 30601, 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action near Arras on May 3rd, 1917. He was aged 26.

No newspaper report of his death appears to have been published around the time, but in the 1911 Census he is shown living with parents George and Jane Summerlin at 15 Stuart Street, Luton. Also living there was his wife Alice Maud (nee Hill), whom George had married in 1907, and their three children at that time - Leslie, Reginald and Wilfred. Records suggest they later had two daughters.

Lance Corporal George Trott

L-Cpl George Trott MM, 3/7607, 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was post missing then killed in action on May 3rd, 1917. He was aged 34.

In a letter to George's widow, Bertha, at 59 Ridgway Road, Luton, Lieut F. N. Sherwell wrote that on the morning of the 3rd, when the battalion attacked the German lines, L-Cpl Trott started off with the platoon and was last seen just over the top of the British trenches. All enquiries possible had been made, but there was no further news of him.

Private Frederick William Pestell

Pte Frederick William Pestell, 30915, 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on April 28th, 1917. He was aged 39.

He was called up in July 1916 and, after a spell of training at Landguard on the East Coast, returned home before being drafted out to France in October. His widow, Elizabeth, received official notification of his death two weeks later at her home at 98 Cobden Street, Luton.

Private Frank George Miller

 

Pte Frank (Francis) George Miller, 27839, 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in France on March 14th or 15th, 1917. Official records give the date as the 14th, letters from the front said 15th.

Lieut Harry T. Trowman wrote to widowed mother Mrs Miriam Miller at 17 Oxford Road, Luton: "It is with great regret that I write to tell you about your son, F. Miller. He was killed on the 15th when the battalion was about to attack in the neighbourhood of Achiet.

Drummer John (Jack) Copley

 

Drummer John (Jack) Copley, 15563, 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on February 17th, 1917, at Boom Ravine on the Somme.

A letter to his father, Walter, at Danesbury House, 98 Old Bedford Road, Luton, from his adjutant said John had been killed in action on February 12th (although the Boom Ravine battle was on February 17th). He wrote that the battalion was in action in front of Miraumont and John was killed by shell fire while delivering despatches. He was buried on the field of action and a cross marked his grave.

Private Ebenezer Logan

 

Pte Ebenezer Logan, 7360, 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action at Ovillers-la-Boisselle on the Somme on January 24th, 1917. He was aged 20.

Born in Luton, he had lived at 8 Windsor Street with his widowed mother, Hannah, older brother Arthur William and sister Ada. Another brother, Fred, was married and serving with the R.A.M.C. in Egypt.

Private Harry Waller

 

Pte Harry (Henry) Waller, 27820, 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on October 24th, 1916. He was aged 35.

His mother Sarah Ann, living at 45 Langley Road [now Latimer Road], Luton, was told in a letter from Second Lieut J. H. Kay that her son was killed by a piece of shell while at his post in the trenches on October 24th.

Before joining up eight months previously he had been employed at Stewart Hubbard's dyeworks in Regent Street. He had been at the Front for three months.

Private Harry Waller

 

Pte Harry (Henry) Waller, 27820, 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on October 24th, 1916. He was aged 35.

His mother Sarah Ann, living at 45 Langley Road [now Latimer Road], Luton, was told in a letter from Second Lieut J. H. Kay that her son was killed by a piece of shell while at his post in the trenches on October 24th.

Before joining up eight months previously he had been employed at Stewart Hubbard's dyeworks in Regent Street. He had been at the Front for three months.

Lance Corporal Thomas John Heley

 

L-Cpl Thomas John (Jack) Heley, 15743, 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, died on September 29th, 1916, from wounds sustained on the Somme.

Born in Leighton Buzzard in 1883, he had moved to Luton by 1911 and was living at 180 Wellington Street with his widower father, Fred, and a younger brother and two sisters. He was employed as a carpenter by builder Mr Arthur Cole, of 183 High Town Road.

Private James Hubert Mimms

 

Pte James Hubert Mimms, 14405, 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on September 28th, 1916.

Born in Luton in 1892, he was the son of William Mimms and wife Sarah Ann (nee Hughes), of 11 Peach Street, Luton. In the 1911 Census James was described as a toolmaker living at home with his parents, four brothers and a sister.

A sergeant wrote that all the men at one gun had been knocked out, except Pte Mimms, who was ordered to another spot.He did not arrive.

Corporal William John Andrews

 

Cpl William John Andrews, 22020, 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in an attack on the Schwaben Redoubt, near Thiepval on the Somme, on September 28th, 1916.

He was aged 17 and not legally compelled to have been on the battlefield. He was also wearing two stripes to indicate that he had previously been wounded.

Private Ernest William Furr

 

Pte Ernest William Furr, 3/7722, 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on September 27th, 1916.

Born in Stopsley in 1897, he was the son of Selina and the late Alfred Furr, who in 1911 were living at Ramridge End with the surviving 12 of their 16 children. Alfred died in 1913, after which Selina and family moved to Hitchin Road, Luton.

In a 1915 street directory Selina is shown as living at 440 Hitchin Road, and on the Luton Roll of Honour commemorating Ernest the address is given as 454 Hitchin Road.

 

Company Sergeant Major Arthur Fountain

 

Company Sgt Major Arthur Fountain, 15400, 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on September 27th, 1916.

Born in Markyate in 1881, he was a son of the late William Richard and Sarah Ann Fountain,of Luton Road, Markyate. He enlisted on September 7th, 1914, and had served at the Front without a scratch for about 18 months, with just one brief spell of home leave.

Private Percy George Lane

 

Pte Percy George Lane, 14614, 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on September 27th, 1916. He was aged 22 and the only son of George and Elizabeth Lane, of 212 High Town Road, Luton.

Born in Coleshill, Amersham, Bucks, he was familiarly known as 'Mandy' to football comrades in Luton Victoria Rangers FC. Prior to enlistment he was a moulder at the Borough Engineering Works in Luton.

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