Pte Alfred Edward Mitchell, 4401, 1/5th Bedfords, was killed in action at Gallipoli on September 3rd, 1915. He was aged 27 and had been married to Jane (nee Heath) only since October 1914.

He joined the 1/5th Bedfords a year earlier after working as a moulder at Messrs Brown and Green's, Windsor Street, Luton, for 11 years. He was also a popular sportsman, figuring in several local teams, including that of the firm he worked for.

Mrs Mitchell received intimation of Pte Mitchell's death from the Territorial Records Office just a day before her husband's final letter to her arrived. It was dated September 2nd, the day before he died.

In it he wrote: "I must tell you we are having a rough time out here. It is a very hard job to get water, and that is chiefly what we want. We have to put up with it. We are a long way from the base, and have to get it from wells.

"It doesn't matter where we go, we are shelled, and they don't forget to let us have it. We have has a rest out of the trenches, but we are back again with the Londoners and the Australians on our right, and they are good chaps in the trenches.

"I think the Turks have had enough of it, according to what they say. It seems as if we have got them pinned in, as our lines of trenches are only 500 yards from them, and we can see them walking about. That is the time we get the chance to pop them off.

"It would be a treat to get a nice sleep. We only get about two hours a night, as we have to keep a good look-out all the time."

Pte Mitchell ended his letter with the words: "Goodbye and God bless you."

No address was included for Jane, a barmaid at the Richard III pub, but the official notice of his death gave an address of 30 John Street, Luton.