Arthur Walter Aylott was born in September 1897 to Bransom Aylott & Elizabeth (ne Cook). He had an older sister Lily who was also born in Luton, in 1890.

In 1901 Bransom died & the family was split up. 11 year old Lily went to live with one of her father's sisters, Annie Toyer at 11 New Town Street & 3 year old Arthur went with his mother to live with her parents, Thomas 70 & 71 year old Mary Ann Cook at 10 Upper George Street. Elizabeth is 30 years old & working as a straw hat sewer.

Arthur was the son of Walter & Mary Jane of 36 Bailey Street, Luton.

He served in the Bedfordshire Regiment at Depot.

He survived the war but died on 25th February 1917.

He is buried in the cemetery on Crawley Green Road.

Richard was born in 1891.

He served in the 8th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment.

He survived the war but died on 23rd August 1921.

He is buried in the cemetery on Crawley Green Road.

William was born in 1888.

He seved in the 5th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment.

He survived the war but died on 15th October 1919.

He is buried in the cemetery on Crawley Green Road.

Frank Percival Ralley was born in Luton in January 1886.

In 1891 he is 5 years old & living with his parents & 4 of his 6 siblings at 10 Hart Hill Lane.  His father Thomas Francis is 33 & working as an iron moulder alongside Frank's 14 year old brother Thomas. His 33 year old mother Mary Ann is at home looking after 2 year old Anne whilst William 12 & Herbert 8 are at school.

Frank joined the 1st battalion Bedfordshire Regiment.

He survived the war but died on 5th March 1919. He is buried in the cemetery on Crawley Green Road.

George Taylor was born in Luton in 1879.

On 28th August 1906 aged 27 he joined the 3rd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. At the time he was employed by H Corley of Old Bedford Road, a straw hat manufacturer. George had worked for him as a straw hat blocker for 10 years. On 26th March 1908 George purchased a discharge from the army after serving for 19 months.

Albert Giddins was 1 of 8 children born to Charles & Maria. He was born in Harpenden, Hertfordshire in 1878.

At the age of 18 he joined the Bedfordshire Regiment on 17th September 1895, his trade at the time was a fitter. He is described on his pension record as 5ft 4 inches tall with a sallow complexion, brown eyes & dark brown hair. He has a tattoo of crossed flags on his right forearm, scars on his left wrist, left middle finger, over his right eye & the front of his left knee.

Henry Isaac Pearson was born in Luton in October 1894 to Frederick & Sarah Minnie.

In 1911 he is 16 years old & listed on the census as an inmate at the Reformatory School, Chapmore End near Ware in Hertfordshire. It was a place that provided care & training for boys that were involved in criminal or anti-social behaviour. Henry would have learnt agricultural skills by working on the farm there as well an education by attending school for a few hours each day.

Frederick Pearson was 1 of 7 children born to Alfred & Sophia in Luton in 1869.

His father was a master saddler, his older brother Charles was also in the family trade as a journeyman saddler, but Frederick did not follow in their footsteps as he joined the Army.

In 1891 aged 22 he is in the Bedfordshire Regiment & living at the Depot in Kempston.

He married Sarah Minnie Sharp in January 1892 in Luton.

William Fensome was born on 23rd January 1883 in Luton to Henry & Matilda.

In 1900 William joined the 3rd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. He is described on his service record as 5ft 4 inches tall with a fresh complexion, hazel eyes & brown hair. He has many scars on his body including burns to his chest. He was working as a moulder in an iron factory & living at 14 Round Green. He spent 6 years with the Bedfordshire Regiment.

On 13th April 1903 William married Rose Poulton.  

Edwin Matthews was born in Kensworth, a village on the outskirts on Dunstable in about 1879.

In 1891 he is a 10 year old schoolboy & living in the village with his father David 38, an agricultural labourer & mother Letitia 36, a straw plaiter. His 14 year old sister Louisa is working as a live-in domestic servant for the King family at 5 Gladstone Avenue, Luton.

In January 1903 Edwin married Annie Elizabeth Nicoll in Luton.

Pte Samuel Snoxell was taken prisoner of war on 22 March 1918.

He was born in Luton in 1888 to William & Susan. He had 2 brothers, Thomas & Charles & 3 sisters, Emily, Elizabeth & Mary.

In 1911 he is living at 31 Chase Street with his widowed mother who is working as a servant & his sister Elizabeth who is a straw hat manufacturer. Samuel is working for E W Hart & Co Dye Works as a plait buncher.

It was reported in the Luton News on 2nd May 1918 that he had been captured by the Germans, but was quite well.

Walter Allen was born in 1869.

There is no service record for Walter, but the medal roll index tell us that he served in the Bedfordshire Regiment. He received the Silver War Badge in France on 27th April 1915 as well as the Victory, British & 15 Star medals.

He was later attached to 319th M.T. Coy. Royal Army Service Corps.

John Gazeley was born in Luton in 1875.

In 1891 he is 17 years old & is working as an errand boy. He is living at 17 Taylor Street with his family. His father Albert 48, & 21 year old brother Frederick are working as agricultural labourers. His mother Mary Ann, 38 is at home looking after his younger siblings, Ada 13, Sarah 11, Sophia 7, Joseph 4 & 2 year old Rosey.

Private Archer (Archie) Godfrey, 3/6526, 1st Battalion, Beds Regt, was killed in action on November 9th, 1914. He was aged 23.

Born in Caddington the son of Alfred and Elizabeth Godfrey, of The Green, he was listed in the 1911 Census as a bricklayer. At the time of his death his family had lived at 32 St Saviour's Crescent, Luton, for two years.