Three months after being demobilised, Harry Ernest Hardfast, formerly Pte S/3114, Rifle Brigade, died on June 4th, 1919, in the Northumberland War Hospital, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, from poisoning resulting from a shrapnel wound in the chest received in action at Achiet-le-Grand, France, on August 23rd, 1918.
Born in Luton in 1891, Harry was one of 11 children born to William and Annie Hardstaff, of 12 Crawley Green Road.
Rifleman John Archibald Sives, 209436, 21st (Midland) Battalion Rifle Brigade, died in the 19th General Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt, from appendicitis on February 28th, 1918. His age is widely given as 49, although records suggest he was born in Cannock, Staffordshire, in the first quarter of 1874.
John married Luton girl Jane Hucklesby in Luton in 1895. At the time of his death his widow was living at 70 May Street, Luton.
Sgt Walter Henry (Harry) Ford, 9047, Rifle Brigade, was killed in action at Hill 60 on May 3rd, 1915. He lived at 11 May Street, Luton, and left a widow (Minnie Clara) and three children (Doris Emily, Beatrice Maud and Harry). The couple had married at St Paul's Church, Luton, early in 1907
Rifleman Sidney George Lewin, 2154, 4th Battalion Rifle Brigade, was killed in action on March 1st, 1915. Only son of Sarah Lewin and the late George William Lewin, of 23 Winsdon Road, Luton, he was aged 24.
Official War Office notification received by his mother that resulted in a The Luton News report at the time said he was killed in action on March 2nd. The March 1st date is contained on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website.
Details imported from Luton Absent Voters list and the National Roll of the Great War (Section V)
Charles was the son of Clara and Thomas Worker of Barton, who had two other sons killed. Charles was severely wounded on 21st March 1918. His brother Sidney was killed the following day and their brother Thomas had previously been killed on 23rd April 1917.
Albert was the third son of George and Ann Horsler of Great Bramingham, who had seven sons serving on the Western Front. Three brothers were killed and two, including Albert, were wounded.
The first page of Albert's army record can be found in the National Archives as part of the "Burnt Documents" ( most of the WWI service records were damaged in the Blitz in WWII and fragments have been preserved on microfilm).
