Luton

Private Albert Thomas Smith

Pte Albert Thomas Smith, 238006, 2nd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers, was reported missing, presumed killed in action, on April 23th, 1918. It was not until June 1919 that a letter to parents George and Sarah Smith, of 31 St Saviour's Crescent, Luton, said the War Office had come to the conclusion that their son must be considered dead.

Albert, born in Luton in late 1892 or early 1893, was employed at the Luton Post Office before enlisting with the Middlesex Regiment and afterwards transferring to the Lancs Fusiliers.

Signaller William Pearce

Signaller William Pearce, 956450, A Battery, 76th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, died from pneumonia on May 19th, 1919, in the 42nd Stationary Hospital, Cologne, while serving as a member of the Army of Occupation on the Rhine.

A telegram to his parents at 46 Beech Road, Luton, two days before his death said he was seriously ill, but a permit to visit him could not be granted. A Chaplain and the hospital Sister later wrote to inform them of their son's death.

Rifleman Harry Ernest Hardstaff

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.

Lance Corporal Arthur Litchfield

L-Cpl Arthur Litchfield, 22004, Army Pay Corps, died from influenza in the No 14 General Hospital at Wimereux, France, on February 18th, 1919. He was aged 22.

Born in Luton in 1896, a son of Walter John and Sarah Litchfield, of 212 Wellington Street, Luton, he was employed by grocer Mr Kendall, of Wellington Street, and later the Co-operative Stores in Dallow Road.

He was called up in 1916 but placed on the Reserve, and he then transferred to a Co-operative Society at Coventry. He was again called up in August 1918, and was sent to Wimereux with the Army Pay Corps.

Lance Corporal James Chandler

L-Cpl James Chandler, P/10790, Military Police Corps, died on February 26th, 1919, from pneumonia in the No 17 Casualty Clearing Station in Cologne while serving with the Army of Occupation on the Rhine. He was the only former member of Luton Borough Police Force to have died while on military service during or just after World War One. He was given pride of place at the top of the Police Roll of Honour that once stood in the parade room at Luton.

Private Alfred George Cook

Pte Alfred George Cook, 200573, 1/5th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, died on November 4th, 1918, in hospital at “Afion Farra, Kissar” (Afyonkarahisar), while a prisoner of war of the Turks.
George, as he appears to have been known, had joined the Colours on September 22nd, 1914, and left St Albans with the 1/5th Bedfords for the Gallipoli campaign, during which he was taken ill with dysentery and spent some months in hospital in Egypt.

Private Harry Wright

Pte Harry Wright, 111498, 44th Royal Fusiliers, died from pneumonia in the No 30 General Hospital at Calais on February 18th, 1919. He had returned to France from home leave on February 8th, and was admitted to hospital four days later. He had been expecting his discharge from the Army.

Private Archibald George Dimmock

Pte Archibald George Dimmock, 43069, 2nd Battalion Northants Regiment, died on February 16th, 1919, in the 55th General Hospital, Boulogne, suffering from broncho-pneumonia. He was aged 27 and had one wound stripe.

A son of Annie Dimmock, of 32 Albert Road, Luton, Archibald had attested under the Derby scheme while working on munitions at Chaul End. Early in 1916 he joined the Bedfords, with whom he went through the Battle of the Somme.

Rifleman Thomas Wilfred Hall

Rifleman Thomas Wilfred Hall, 5624, 9th King's Royal Rifles, was killed in action at Arras in France on April 9th, 1917, aged 19. He was the second of three brothers to die in the war.

At the time of the 1911 Census, Thomas plus four brothers, two sisters, father Joseph Henry and stepmother Annie were living at Stockton, Warwickshire, where Thomas was born in 1896.

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.

Driver Horace Coles

Driver Horace Coles, 524501, 360th Water Coy Royal Engineers, died in the 24th Stationary Hospital, Kantara, Egypt, on January 26th, 1919, from bronchial pneumonia following influenza. He had been admitted to hospital on the 18th.

Born in 1894, a son of Arthur William Coles, he had lived with his brother Sidney at 7 Wenlock Street, Luton, and enlisted in August 1915. After training at Marlow, Essex, he was drafted to Egypt in July 1917.

Prior to enlistment he was employed by dyers T. Lye & Co, New Bedford Road.

Private Bertram Wood

Pte Bertram Wood, 41662, 8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, died as a prisoner of war in the Crossen Camp hospital at Kaehmen in Germany on October 22nd, 1918. The cause of death was influenza – inflammation of the lungs, as his Red Cross report stated. He was aged 29.

Company Sergeant Major Alec Cook

Company Sgt Major Alec Cook, 9119, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action at Albert in France on August 20th, 1918, an action in which he was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

The medal was eventually collected by his younger sister Elsie, of 57 Frederic Street, Luton. Lieut-Col Tighe made the presentation at Biscot Camp on January 26th, 1919.

Private William Johnson

Pte William Johnson, 269206, 1/1st Battalion Hertfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on April 28th, 1918, during the German spring offensive. He was aged 33.

William's death was not recorded in local newspapers until the Beds & Herts Tuesday Telegraph of September 2nd, 1919, said his death was by then presumed. On the day of his deaath he went out with a message under very heavy shell fire.

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