Remarkable acts of daring in September 1918 earned Sgt Joseph Henry Barford from Luton the Distinguished Conduct Medal, awarded the following November. The Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph of December 7th, 1918, recorded his exploit.

“One day in September he led a party and killed six German machine gunners and captured the guns and put them our of order.

“A day or so afterwards he was sent to get in touch with a company which had become isolated. He went on his own, linked up with the company, and brought another sergeant back to report to his battalion headquarters.

“He noticed a body of the enemy is a trench in a sunken road. There were 47 Germans there, including an officer, with a machine gun. He simply walked up to them, kicked the gun over, and motioned to the company he had left to follow him. His courage cowed the enemy, and they surrendered like lambs. He sent them into our lines.”

Sgt Barford had joined up in February 1916 and went to France the following July. He had formerly worked at Vauxhall Motors.

He was a son of Mr and Mrs Barford, of 64 Harcourt Street, Luton, but was living with his wife's parents, Mr and Mrs Jesse Cook, 50 Duke Street, Luton. Joseph had married Eva Jessie Cook by licence at St Matthew's Church, Luton, in 1916.

His brothers, L-Cpl Sidney William Barford (Royal Marines) had earned the Distinguished Service Medal for his part in the sinking of a German U-boat; Driver A. Barford (Royal Engineers) had been in France for 18 months, and George was in training at Colchester.