Royal Engineers

Lance Corporal William George Giltrow

L-Cpl William George Giltrow, WR/266190, Railway Construction Coy Royal Engineers, died from influenza and bronchitis in the 48th Clearing Station, Namur, Belgium, on January 29, 1919. He had joined the R.E.C.Z. Headquarters in Belgium.

The 29-year-old, who lived at 23 Althop Road, Luton, was previously Assistant School Attendance Officer for Luton and a member of High Town Primitive Methodist Church, where he was choir ssecretary and a Sunday school teacher. He had also served as a special constable.

Sapper Frank Percy King

Sapper Frank Percy King, 522158, 483rd Field Company Royal Engineers, was killed in action on the Somme on April 2nd, 1918. He was aged 22 and single.

A comrade wrote to parents Frederick and Martha King at 127 Park Street, Luton: "I have some sad news to tell you. we lost an old Park Street boy, killed the last day we were in the line - Easter Tuesday. He was a jolly nice fellow, a little older than myself, and we had some very nice talks together about Park Street, for he and I were the only two Park Street boys in the Company."

Sapper Frederick Jones

Sapper Frederick Jones, 522869, 225th Field Company Royal Engineers, died just after midnight on October 16th, 1917, after being wounded in the neck and thigh by an aerial bomb a short time earlier on the previous day.

He had only recently been discharged from hospital after being wounded by a shell falling on his billet on September 11th. Three men were killed and eight wounded in that incident.

Pioneer Harry Manning

Pioneer Harry Manning, 206755, 'L' Special Company Royal Engineers, died in the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station in France on June 3rd, 1917, after being gassed on he battlefield. He was aged 20.

A week before his death Pioneer Manning had been drafted into the same company as his father, Pioneer William George Manning (128912), who was able to see him in hospital before he died. He was also present at his son's burial in a nearby cemetery.

Sapper Harry Rosson

Harry Rosson was born on 24th November 1886 in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, 1 of 5 children born to Richard & Laura.

In 1891 the family are living on Hockliffe Road, Leighton Buzzard. Richard is 64 & a carpenter, Laura is 44. Frank the eldest son is 14 years old & working as a parchment maker's boy, 10 year old Lily & 8 year old George are at school, whilst 5 year old Harry & 2 year old Laura are at home.

Sapper Fred Clark

 

Sapper Fred Clark, 78518, Royal Engineers, died in German East Africa on January 31st, 1917, from neuritis, attributed to the effects of climate. He was aged 33, married and had three young children.

Sapper Clark was expecting to return home to 152 Leagrave Road, Luton, from East Africa, where he had been serving under General Smuts.

He was formerly employed by engineer Mr Frank Moody, of Chapel Street, Luton, before joinging the East Anglian Royal Engineers on November 19th, 1914.

Sapper John Edward Godfrey

 

John Edward Godfrey, formerly Sapper 1611, 2nd East Anglian Division Royal Engineers, died on July 24th, 1916, nearly 18 months after being discharged as medically unfit for military service. Born in Caddington, he was aged 32.

He joined the Royal Engineers in December 1914 and was discharged the following February. He had suffered from heart trouble which developed into jaundice and he died after a long illness.

Sapper Charles Henry Matthews

Charles Henry Matthews was born in Luton in January 1886. The youngest of 2 sons born to Joseph & Kate.

In 1901 Charles is 15 years old & living with his family at 113 High Town Road. His father is 50 years old & working as a bricklayer. His 20 year old brother Herbert is also a bricklayer whilst Charles is a bricklayer's labourer. His 50 year old mother Kate is a straw hat sewer.

Lance Corporal Bert Gardner

Bert Gardner was born in Luton in 1884, 1 of 12 children born to Philip & Mary (aka Kate).

In 1911 Bert is 20 years old & working as an assistant for a straw hat manufacturer. He is living at No 25 Stockwood Crescent, a 6 roomed house with his father Philip, 64 a mercantile clerk, his 64 year old mother Mary & 2 of his siblings. His sister Maud is 32 & a straw hat finisher & his brother Frederick William is 30 & is also an assistant for a straw hat manufacturer. Florence Joy is living with them as their general domestic servant.

Sergeant Colin Campbell Daniels

Colin Campbell Daniels was born in Salford, Lancashire in 1894, the eldest of three children born to William Robert and Lily.

In 1901 he is seven years old and living at 52 Old Lane, Chadderton, Oldham, Lancashire. His father is working as a weighing machine fitter and his mother is at home looking after Colin, his five-year-old sister Edith and his two-year-old brother William.

Sapper Harry Clarke

Harry Clarke was born in Bromley, London in 1886.

On 8th October 1905 he married Nellie Elizabeth Ennever in St Andrew's Church, Bromley.

In 1911 he is 25 years old & living with his family at No 2 Maple Road Luton & is working as an iron moulder at the gas stove factory. His wife Nellie is at home looking after their 2 sons Henry 5 & 2 year old Alfred. Harry's 66 year old mother Selina is living with them & working as a charwoman. They also have a boarder, 23 year old Bernard McDade who is an iron moulder for rain water pipes.

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