Second Lieut William Samuel Scruby, 12th Battalion Middlesex Regiment, was killed in action near Thiepval on the Somme on September 26th, 1916. He was aged 25 and had planned to marry during his next leave.

He had joined the Coldstream Guards in the ranks (Pte 11338) at the outbreak of war and only received his commission three months before his death in recognition of meritorious conduct in the field. He was gazetted to the Middlesex Regiment.

Second Lieut Scruby was born in Newbury, Berks, the eldest son of the Rev William J.T. Scruby, who was minister of High Town Methodist Church from 1899 to 1908. Rev Scruby died in Hinckley, Leics, in 1911, but at the time of his son's death his widow, Alice, was living at 37 Westbourne Road, Luton, her home given the name Hinckley House.

Details of his death published in both The Luton News (October 5th, 1916) and The Luton Reporter (October 9th) are confirmed on William's medal rolls index cards, but the date on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website and in "UK Soldiers Died in The Great War" is given as June 29th,1916 (29-6-1916 instead of 26-9-1916).