Lieut Arthur Hugh Johns, Royal Sussex Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on September 1st, 1916. Although born in Pembrokeshire, he was the son of the Rev Roger Owen Johns, who had been Pastor at Park Street Baptist Church, Luton, for about five years until shortly before World War One.
Arthur Johns, born on May 3rd, 1893, was employed by hat manufacturers Messrs J. C. Kershaw & Co until he joined the London Regiment in August1914. He was given a commission about 18 months before his death and had been in training until six months before.
At the time of the 1911 Census the Johns family were living at 'Hazelmere,' 189 Castle Street, Luton [now in London Road]. Arthur was a member of South Beds Golf Club.
Before coming to Luton, the Rev Johns and his wife Jessie Marianne, were in London, and afterwards moved on to a ministry near Horsham in Surrey, where they were living at the time of Arthur's death.