Soldier

Sergeant Edward Norton

Sgt Edward Norton, 277640, 15th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, was killed in action in France on September 10th, 1918. He had been in France only five weeks, was married and his widow was residing at 22 Pondwicks Road, Luton.

In the absence of official notification of her husband's death, Mrs Norton had received a letter with a wallet and her photograph which had been found by a soldier on her husband as he lay, shot through the head.

Private Harold Stuart Lee

Pte Harold Stuart Lee, 73494, 23rd Brigade Royal Fusiliers, was killed in action in France on September 7th, 1918. His widowed mother Olive, living at Marsh Farmhouse, was informed that he had been shot through the heart by a German sniper.

Harold had taken the place in the Army of Aubrey William, so that his brother could manage the farm following the death about 18 months previously of their father, Evan William Lee.

Private Hugh Cumberland

Pte Hugh Cumberland, 51175, 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in France on September 5th, 1918. He was aged 19.

Born in Leagrave on March 26th, 1899, he was one of four sons of John and Eleanor Jane Cumberland, of 89 Marsh Road, Leagrave.

Sergeant Frederick William Dawzie Rowley

Sgt Frederick William Dawzie Rowley MM, 6535, 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action during the advance on Bapaume on August 21st, 1918. Born in Luton in 1880, he had lived in the Middlesex area since serving in the Boer War and had completed almost 21 years in the Army.

Frederick had won the Military Medal for his devotion to duty at Vimy Ridge, and had been recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

Private James Barnard Watkins

Pte James Barnard Watkins, 11021, 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, died on September 3rd, 1918, from wounds sustained in action at Gezaincourt in France. He had returned from home leave only a week earlier, and had crossed over from Dover on August 29th.

A letter of sympathy from a Chaplain informed parents James Barnard and Alice Maud Watkins, of 125a North Street, Luton, that he had would be burying their eldest son on September 4th at a military cemetery. In due course a cross would be erected over his grave.

Lance Corporal Reginald William Wiley

L-Cpl Reginald William Wiley, 78463, 4th Battalion London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers), was killed in action in France on August 31st, 1918. He was aged 19 and single.

Born in Luton in 1899, he was a son of William James and Mary Ann Wiley, of 81 Selbourne Road, Luton. He worked at George Kent's and had joined up in April 1917.

The Luton News reported that he was a well-known football player who had belonged to several junior clubs.

Private Arthur Jesse Little

Pte Arthur Jesse Little, 69011, 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment, was killed in action in France on August 30th, 1918. He was aged 20.

Born in Hertfordshire, he was one of four sons of Jesse and Emily Sarah Little, who in 1911 were living at Napps Nursery, Toddington Road, Leagrave. He is commemorated on the Leagrave War Memorial.

Private Arthur Samuel Victor Long

Pte Arthur Samuel Victor Long, 22461, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in France on August 29th, 1918.

Parents Samuel and Martha Long, of 139 North Street, Luton, were informed that their son had been shot through the heart by a sniper at Combles while crossing an open space with his captain, who had just chosen him as orderly. He died in a very few minutes, and was conscious only a few seconds. Pte Long, who was aged 20, had been expecting home leave at the time.

Private Thomas Orchard

Pte Thomas Orchard, 6260, 23th Battalion Middlesex Regiment, was reported missing on August 20th, 1918, and later listed as killed in action on August 22nd. He was aged 33 and married with a daughter.

Widow Annie, living at 172 Wellington Street, Luton, with daughter Connie Freda (born 1909), was appealing for information on his whereabouts when Thomas's picture was published in The Luton News with little information about him.

2nd Lieutenant Alfred Melbourne Coate

Sec-Lieut Alfred Melbourne ('Chum') Coate, 15th Battery, 36th Brigade Royal Field Artillery, third son of the nine children of Canon Harry Coate, Vicar of St Matthew's Church, Luton, and his Australian-born wife Henrietta Mercy Coate, was killed at an observation post during a battle north of Albert in France on August 28th, 1918. [Newspaper reports at the time give a date of August 27th.]

Private Aubrey Chance

Pte Aubrey Chance, 49556, 1/1st Battalion Cambridgeshire Regiment, was killed instantly in action when hit by a shell during fighting in France on August 26th, 1918. He was aged 19 and single.

Born in 1899, Aubrey was a son of William and Jemima Chance, of 20 Vicarage Street, Luton. He was still at school at the time of the 1911 Census.

Before joining the Colours he was employed as a carter by Mr Stanley Tilcock, of Castle Street.

Able Seaman Claud Elwyn Corrin

Able Seaman Claud Elwyn Corrin, R/5720, Hawke Battalion, Royal Naval Voluntary Reserve, was reported by the Admiralty to have been killed in action on August 25th, 1918. He had suffered being gassed in the spring of that year.

He had joined the Navy in the summer of 1917 and was posted to the Hawke Battalion.

Born at Rushden on the Isle of Man in August 1889, he was manager of the branch of chemists Duberley & White at 215 Dunstable Road. He was lodging at 20 Dunstable Road.

Lance Corporal Hubert Edley Carrington

L-Cpl Hubert Edley Carrington, 60126, 26th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, was killed in action on September 20th, 1917. But it was a year before the War Office confirmed his death on the Menin Road, near Ypres, to widow Ethel at 98 Cambridge Street, Luton.

Hubert had been a bandsman in the 5th Beds Volunteers. He was in camp with the regiment when war broke out, and he was mobilised with the Territorial Force (no. 40412).

Private Archibald Marshall

Pte Archibald ('Archie') Marshall, 47728, 14th Battalion Welsh Regiment, was killed in action in France, on August 22nd, 1918, less than three weeks before his 21st birthday.

He had joined the Royal Engineers shortly before war broke out and was subsequently transferred to the Welsh Regiment. He went out to France with a draft in January 1916.

Born in Hitchin on September 10th, 1897, he had moved to Luton with parents Herbert and Mina (Minnie) Marshall and his three sisters before the 1911 Census took place. The family lived at 10 Queen Square.

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