Luton

Private Sidney James Bone

Pte Sidney James Bone, 27319, 7th Battalion Norfolk Regiment, was killed in action on August 2nd, 1917. He was aged 30, and left a widow and daughter.

After nine weeks training with the Norfolks he had been drafted to France in May 1917. He had married Minnie Evelyn Nicholls in 1908 and had a daughter, Gladys. The family home was at 64 Cowper Street, Luton.

Sidney had worked as a dairyman since he was 18, while his father Edwin had been a milk purveyor for 30 years. Edwin and his wife Mary Ann lived in Baker Street.

Private Horace John Sanders

Pte Horace John Sanders, 27416, 7th Battalion Norfolk Regiment, was killed in action in France on August 2nd*, 1917, about three months after going to the Front. He had been slightly wounded a few days previously but returned to duty almost immediately.

Horace, aged 29, was the elder son of grocer, farm owner and member of the Luton Board of Guardians John Sanders and his wife Sarah Agnes, of 54 Hastings Street, Luton.

Corporal Alfred Edward Bertram Burgess

Cpl Alfred Edward Bertram Burgess, 204386, 12th Battalion East Surrey Regiment, died in a dressing station on August 1st*, 1917, from wounds sustained while serving in a trench in Flanders.

A letter from his Captain to parents Edward and Elizabeth Clara Burgess in Luton said their son had been badly wounded in the trench and died of wounds in the dressing station. He had been conscious for only a few minutes after a shell burst and he passed away despite all being done for him that could be. [*The letter indicated that death had occurred on July 31st].

Private Humphrey Winton Worthington

Pte Humphrey Winton Worthington, 19589, 11th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment, was killed in action on July 31st, 1917. The Luton doctor's son, aged 19, had been transferred from the Norfolk Regiment (32417) only a short time earlier.

News of his death was received by his sister Elizabeth from Cpl H. E. Courtney, Royal Engineers. He wrote: "Your brother Winton was found dead this morning on the battlefield, killed by a piece of shell striking his heart. He must have died instantly."

Private Walter Watton Page

Pte Walter Watton Page, 269777, 1st Battalion Herts Regiment, died on July 31st, 1917, from wounds sustained in action in Belgium. He had joined the regiment the previous September and underwent training at Halton Camp.

Born in Peckham, London, the son of butcher Walter Page and his wife Alice, Pte Page had built up his own hairdressing business from the family home at 21 Bailey Street, Luton.

On July 28th, 1915, he married Alice Maude Ada Robins at Luton Parish Church and they had a daughter, Mollie Winifred, born on June 30th, 1916.

Private Joseph Bunker

Pte Joseph Bunker, 60856, 1st Battalion Royal Fusiliers, was killed in action in Belgium on July 31st, 1917. He was aged 24 and left a widow, Lydia Emily.

He enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers in May 1916 and was invalided home with trench foot in February 1917. The following June he returned to the front,

Born in South Normanton, Derbyshire, he had spent much of his life at Flitwick, where his father Richard was a stockman on a farm. At the time of the 1911 Census, Joseph was also working on the farm, as a labourer.

Private Alfred Ball

Pte Alfred Ball, 22996, 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, died on July 29th, 1917, from shrapnel wounds sustained on the battlefield in France. He was aged 21 and single.

According to Sgt C. B. Sell in a letter to parents Henry and Alice Ball, of 22 Bailey Street, Luton, their son was proceeding down the trench to fetch rations for himself and comrades and was unfortunately hit on the way. Comrades in the trench did all they could for him and carried him to a dressing station. The sergeant's letter ended with the hope that Pte Ball would soon recover.

Pioneer Thomas Henry Williams

Pioneer Thomas Henry Williams, 244645, 2nd Field Survey Company Royal Engineers, died of wounds in France on July 26th, 1917. He was aged 27 and single.

A letter from Capt W. Coates to parents John and Emma Williams, of 10 Essex Street, Luton, was however dated July 26th and said:"Yesterday, while coming off duty, he was caught by a shell and, I regret to say, died in the hospital soon after."

Thomas Williams had been in the Army for 14 months, ten of them spent in France. Previously he was an employee of Vauxhall Motors.

Sapper Arthur Page

Sapper Arthur Page, 524547, 228th Field Company Royal Engineers, died on July 23rd, 1917, from multiple shell wounds to the head received in Belgium. The 31-year-old had been taken to the No 10 Casualty Clearing station.

Arthur Page and his wife Fanny Elizabeth came to Luton soon after their marriage at Abbotsley, near St Neots, on April 1st, 1907. Arthur was a parcels van man for the Midland Railway in Luton for eight or nine years before joining up.

Private William Henry Brown

Just ten days after returning from home leave, Military Medal recipient Pte William Henry Brown, S/7023, 9th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders, was killed in action in Flanders on July 23rd, 1917. He was aged 26.

Pte Brown, who had turned down a commission to continue his work as a stretcher-bearer, was hit at 4 o'clock in the afternoon by a piece of shrapnel from a shell. Just an hour earlier he had been tending the wounded of his own company.

Private Albert Bunnage

Gunner Albert Bunnage, 365941, 308th Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery, died on July 22nd, 1917, from wounds sustained on the battlefield. He had been attended to by the No 6 Canadian Field Ambulance. He was aged 32 and single.

In a letter to parents William and Ann Bunnage, of 47 Windmill Road, Luton, Second Lieut F. Gardner said their son was killed in the performance of his duties. A chaplain had conducted his burial service.

Private Bertie Frederick Good

Pte Bert Frederick Good, 43098, 6th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment, was killed in action in Belgium on July 21st*, 1917. He was aged 20 and single.

He had joined the Northampton Regiment in January 1916 and was drafted to France three months later. He had returned to the firing line just a fortnight after recovering from previous wounds when he was killed.

Lance Corporal Philip Herbert Watkins

L-Cpl Philip Herbert Watkins, 200985, 1/5th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in Palestine on July 20th, 1917. He was aged 27 and married to Maud, living at 14 Highbury Road, Luton.

Capt Armstrong said he had died leading his men, and Lieut W. A. Shaw wrote: "On July 20th we attacked a Turkish position at night time. He was under my command and behaved in a most gallant way. He showed the greatest coolness. On reaching our lines he was hit in the head by a flying fragment of shell."

Private Percy Thurlow

Pte Percy Thurlow, 200236, 1/5th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was the second son of Arthur and Harriet Thurlow, of 216, Wellington Street, Luton, to die on the battlefield.

Percy was killed in action in Palestine on July 20th, 1917. Older brother Frederick William had died of wounds at Gallipoli on August 17th, 1915.

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