Pte George Butterfield, 17000, 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in France on September 27th, 1918. He was born in Luton and had been married for almost two years.

A chum wrote to widow May: “He was going back from the battalion to brigade headquarters after delivering a message and was hit by a machine gun bullet. His death must have been instantaneous.

“He was sent back behind the firing line and buried in a British cemetery in a little village.”

Acting Lieut-Colonel (Rev) Bernard William Vann VC, MC, DSO, 8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment), was killed in action in France on October 3rd, 1918.

Although born in Rushden, Northants, in 1887 and with a family living in Cirencester at the time of his death, he had been at one time an assistant master at St Gregory's School in Downs Road, Luton.

Pte Clement Philip Ernest Rash, 51377, 2nd Battalion Manchester Regiment, was killed in action on October 1st, 1918. He was aged 24 and a native of Haverhill, Suffolk, who had been working as a fitter at George Kent's Ltd.

In a letter of sympathy to parents Walter and Miriam, of Haverhill, a chum wrote: “We had been together since the day we enlisted and always got on well together. Now dear Clem has gone I find it very hard, and can hardly realise the loss of such a friend as he always was to me.

Gunner Daniel Thomas Martin, 277580, 119th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, died in the 12th General Hospital at Rouen in France on September 30th, 1918. He had been severely wounded in the chest and right arm at the beginning of August.

The son of a Crimean War veteran, he had served 21 years in the R.G.A., rejoining his regiment at the age of nearly 45 on the outbreak of war. He was drafted to France, where he served for three years and ten months.

Pte Reginald Bass, 30585, 6th Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment, was killed in action in France on September 21st, 1918. He was single and aged 19.

He was a son of Eli and Ellen Bass, of 54 Cromwell Road, Luton, living there in 1911 with two brothers and ten sisters.

Prior to joining up in March 1918, Reginald had worked as a moulder for Hayward Tyler & Co, and had attended Park Street Baptist Church and Sunday school.

Gunner William Ewart Waller, 125244, 317th Brigade Royal Field Artillery, was killed in action on September 12th, 1918. He was aged 20.

Luton-born son of George and Mary Ann Waller, he was by 1911 living with his uncle and aunt, Elijah and Rebecca Rickard at 95 Boyle Street, Luton.

Pte Reginald Barton, 14510, 2nd Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment, was killed in action in France on September 24th, 1918. He was aged 20.

Born in Luton in June 1898, Reg was a son of Edward and Charlotte Barton, of 18 Brache Street. He had joined up in 1914 at the age of 16 and even went out to the trenches, but was sent home because of his age.

Elder brother Bert was the first notified casualty of the 1/5th Bedfords received from Suvla Bay during the Gallipoli Campaign of 1915, and brother-in-law Edward Anderson also met his death there.

Capt Arthur George Starkings, 38th Canadian Infantry (Eastern Ontario Regiment), was killed in action instantly by a machine gun bullet through the heart while serving in France on September 27th, 1918. He was born in Luton and went to Canada as a missionary in 1913 at the age of 25.

Pte Harry Ford, 41898, 1st Battalion Northants Regiment, Machine Gun Section, became the third son lost to his family when he was killed in action in France on September 24th, 1918, a month before his 19th birthday.

An officer wrote to parents John and Emma Ford at 48 Burr Street, Luton: “Your son was killed instantaneously on the morning of September 24th. He was killed by machine gun bullets in the trench which was our final objective, and was buried with several others close by by the battalion chaplain.”

Cpl George Clarke, 240673, 1/5th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, died of wounds in France on October 29th, 1917. He was one of three sons of widow Mary Ann Clarke, of 338 Hitchin Road, Luton to have served and the first to die. Born in Round Green in 1897, George was described as a straw worker in the 1911 Census.

Under the heading of 'Three patriotic brothers', the Saturday Telegraph carried George's photograph and address along with similar for his brother, Pte Bert Clarke (Middlesex Regt), who had been killed in France on May 27th,1918.

Pte Bert (Bertie) Clarke, 96779, 2nd Battalion Middlesex Regiment, was reported missing, later killed in action, in France on May 27th, 1918. He was one of three sons of widow Mary Ann Clarke, of 338 Hitchin Road, Luton to have served and the second to die.

Born in Slip End in 1899, Bert was described as a chemical labourer in the 1911 Census. He enlisted in August 1917 and was drafted to France in April 1918.

Pte Frank Rowley, 86184, 13th Royal Fusiliers, was killed in action in France on September 18th, 1918. He was aged 34 and had worked as a coach and motor trimmer at Vauxhall Motors.

An officer wrote to his widow Kate at 39 Manor Road, Luton, that her husband was killed in action on the morning of the 18th. Owing to their position in the fighting it was necessary to bury him at once, and he lay by the side of a comrade and close to the spot where he fell.

Pte George Thomas Janes, 79040, 1/7th Durham Light Infantry, died from dysentery in the Crossen prisoner of war camp in Germany on September 6th, 1918. He had been reported captured at Maizy in France on May 27th. Pte Janes had seen two years of military service, but had been in France only since the January before his capture.

For about 20 years before joining up he had been the postman for the Leagrave area. In the 1901 Census he was described as a rural postman living with parents John and Rebecca and family at 127 Russell Street, Luton.

Pte Percy Henry Shedd, 248112, 2/2nd Battalion London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers), was killed in action in France on August 26th, 1918. He was aged 25.

A son of Manchester Street confectioner Mr Harry Shedd and his wife Eliza, Percy had joined the the Army in January 1917. In April 1918 he was wounded in the leg and received treatment in England for three months before returning to the firing line six or seven weeks before his death.

Cpl Frederick Harry Shackleton, 25435, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action at Fricourt in France on August 25th, 1918, two months after first going into action. He was aged 23.

A son of plait merchant Frederick Reeves Shackleton and his wife Ellen, of 27 Clarendon Road, Luton, Cpl Shackleton joined up in January 1916, two days before his 21st birthday.