L-Cpl Alfred Thomas William Bird, 97515, 47th Battalion Machine Gun Corps, was killed in action in France on August 22nd, 1918. He had been back in France only ten days after being home on leave.

Pte Fred Clark, 103495, 10th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment), died in the 2nd Canadian Hospital in France on August 19th, 1918, as a result of gas shell poisoning while in action. He was aged 38 and married.

Fred had joined the Beds Regiment (No 30811) in July 1916 and went to France the following November. In May 1917 he was wounded by a bullet in the chest, but recovered to go to France again in March 1918, when he was transferred to the Notts & Derby Regiment.

Pte Richard Cyril ('Dick') Eads, 69348, 6th Battalion The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment), died in the 55th Casualty Clearing Station in France on August 18th, 1918, from wounds sustained in action.

His father, corn merchant William John Richardson Eads, of 24 Rothesay Road, Luton, received a telegram on August 19th to say his fifth and youngest son was dangerously wounded. A second telegram, on August 22nd, said Richard had died on August 18th.

Pte Richard Cyril ('Dick') Eads, 69348, 6th Battalion The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment), died in the 55th Casualty Clearing Station in France on August 18th, 1918, from wounds sustained in action.

His father, corn merchant William John Richardson Eads, of 24 Rothesay Road, Luton, received a telegram on August 19th to say his fifth and youngest son was dangerously wounded. A second telegram, on August 22nd, said Richard had died on August 18th.

Pte Edward Gatward, 19785, 1st Battalion Northants Regiment, was killed in action in Flanders on or soon after November 15th, 1917. Ten months later, parents George and Sarah Ann Gatward, of 61 Hartley Road, Luton, had heard no news of him but were still hopeful that he was alive.

Widow Rose and her four children Violet, George, Winifred and Phyllis, of 27 Cumberland Street, Luton, had previously received notification that her husband had been wounded earlier in France, on February 17th, 1917.

Sgt Harry Abbott, 104336, 1st Garrison Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment), died on duty in Egypt on July 1st, 1918. He was one of three sons of widow Mrs Agnes Abbott, of 11 Moreton Road, Luton, who had been serving in the Forces.

Harry, born in Markyate in August 1892, had joined up at the outbreak of war and was initially serving the Bedfordshire Regiment from 1914. He was afterwards transferred to the Sherwood Foresters and attained the rank of sergeant.

Lance-Sgt Reginald Charles Goodridge Weeks, 23070, 2nd Battalion Beds Regiment, died of wounds in a battlefield casualty clearing station in France on August 7th, 1918. He was aged 21 and single.

Parents Goodridge Charles and Rose Harriet Weeks at Upper Sundon were informed in a telegram on August 9th that their son was dangerously wounded, followed quickly by a second with the news that he had died. A chaplain had buried Reginald.

Gunner Edward Joseph Asbury, 153810, Royal Field Artillery, was listed killed in action on March 25th, 1918, after he had initially been reported wounded and missing on that date.

Born in 1890 to John and Mary Ann Asbury, of 4 Midland Cottages, Harlington, he had joined up in September 1916. Previously he was in business in the milk trade and resided at West View, Old Bedford Road, Luton.

Pte Llewelyn Cadwaller Lamb, 29669, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was reported missing in France on July 1st, 1918, later assumed to have been killed in action on that date.

Born in Thornaby-on-Tees, Yorkshire, he was working at the Diamond Foundry in Luton before he joined up.

He is commemorated on the Luton Roll of Honour/War Memorial but without an address. A Luton News report at the time merely referred to his friend - a Miss Taylor residing at 2 Ivy Road, Luton - having received the report that Llewelyn was missing and seeking information about his whereabouts.

Sapper Horace Charles Godfrey, 78464, OO Cable Section, Royal Engineers, was killed in action in France on August 1st, 1918. He was aged 22 and the only son of Edward and Annie Godfrey, of 13 Baker Street, Luton.

An officer wrote to the parents: “Death occurred while he was on duty as sentry this morning about 1.30. There was an enemy bombing raid in the vicinity, and a bomb was dropped on the stables. Poor Horace was hit and died instantaneously.”

Gunner John Lewington, 254847, 31st Medium Trench Battery, Royal Field Artillery, was killed in action in France on August 3rd, 1918. He was single, aged 30 and had been in Luton for 15 years.

John Lewington was a drayman on the Midland Railway goods staff and made deliveries in the High Town district. He lodged in Church Street, Luton, and supported his widowed mother Rachel, who was living in London.

Pte Thomas Charles Prudden, 25926, 10th Battalion The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment), was killed in action in Flanders on the night of July 27th-28th, 1918. He had recently spent his 19th birthday in the trenches.

Pte Percy Charles Keightley, 41987, 2/5th West Yorks Regiment (Prince of Wales' Own), was killed in action shortly after going over the top with comrades in the advance on the Marne in France on July 20th, 1918.

The news was first received by parents Sidney Charles and Edith Keightley at 49 Cardiff Road, Luton, in a letter from one of their son's comrades. He wrote that Percy was buried in a little cemetery on the left of the Pourcy-Marfaux road.

L-Cpl George Hale, 235558, 2/4th East Lancs Regiment, was killed in action in France on March 21st, 1918, the opening day of the German spring offensive of that year. He was reported missing, and parents Richard and Sarah were still awaiting news of him four months later.

George and his family were residing at 43 Wimbourne Road, Luton, when he joined up. He had been in France for about a year.

Born in Luton in 1893, George had previously worked for hat manufacturer Mr Stokes, of Collingdon Street.

Pte Stanley Welch, 27349, 7th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment, was killed in action in France on July 22nd, 1918. He was aged 34 and married.

His family learned the news via a letter from chum Pte Hanby to his own parents living in Old Bedford Road, Luton. He wrote: “Stanley Welch, who used to be a teacher at Wellington Street, was killed in a raid whilst dressing one of the wounded. A shell burst close to them, and both were killed instantly.”