Luton and Leagrave

Sergeant Frederick James Munns

Sgt Frederick James Munns, 10394, 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards, was killed in action in France on May 6th, 1918. He was aged 34 and left a widow and two children.

An officer wrote to Ivy Munns, who was living in London, that her husband was killed instantly by a sniper's bullet while he was out with a wiring party.

Born in Limbury, a son of Charles and Jane Munns, of The Tanyard, Frederick was called up as a reservist on August 4th, 1914. He had gone through the whole campaign without a scratch until the the fateful night of Monday, May 6th, 1918.

Private Sidney George Dimmock

Pte Sidney George Dimmock, 42561, 8th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, was killed in action in France on October 20th, 1917. He was aged 29 and a member of a Lewis gun team.

One of Sidney's chums wrote to parents William and Mary Ann Dimmock, of 'Hiawatha,' Toddington Road, Leagrave: "A bomb which burst in our trench struck him in the head and back, fatally injuring him. Death was practically instantaneous, so that he did not suffer. He is to be buried in a British cemetery lying behind the line in open, undulating country near a French cathedral town [Arras]."

Private Frank (Franklin) Fane

Pte Frank (Franklin) Fane, 202749, 1/4th Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment, died in a casualty clearing station in Mesopotamia on October 13th, from severe neck wounds sustained in the British advance on Baghdad. His death had followed a week of intense suffering.

The second son of the late George Fane (died 1907, aged 55), of Herne Farm, Toddington, and Emily Fane, he was a Territorial who was with his company training at Ashridge when way broke out. After a period of further training he was sent out to Mesopotamia and was engaged in most of the battles in that region.

Private William Peck

Pte William Peck, 31136, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, is recorded as having died of wounds on July 27th, 1917, after being in action near Arras. A newspaper report at the time said widow Elizabeth, of 69 Chobham Street, Luton, was informed that her husband had been killed in action.

William had married Elizabeth Philpott at St Paul's Church, Luton, on June 24th, 1914, shortly before the outbreak of war. At the time he was a milkman working for dairyman Mr F. W. Pestell, of 17 Burr Street.

Private Cecil Harold Blaydon

Pte Cecil Harold Blaydon, 200712, 1/5th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed instantly in a raid on enemy lines on July 20th, 1917. The 21-year-old was buried in a cemetery behind British lines.

He was the second son of Sidney and Mary Lily Blaydon, of The Knapps, Toddington Road, Leagrave, to have died in action. Youngest son Albert Edward died at Gallipoli in August 1915.

Cecil served as a stretcher-bearer with the Bedfords from the outbreak of war. Like his younger brother he had served at Gallipoli.

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