Pte Archie Alec Champkin, 76499, 4th Battalion London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers), was killed in action in France on October 8th, 1918. He was aged 19 and prior to enlistment had worked for Commercial Cars in Biscot Road, Luton.

The younger son of Harry and Emma Jane Champkin, of 1 Collingdon Street, Luton, he had been in France since Easter 1918. He had joined up 19 months earlier with the Sussex Regiment, but was quickly transferred to the Royal Fusiliers, with whom he was a Lewis gunner. In one of his last letters home, he wrote that he been “over the top” five times in a few days.

Archie was a member of Luton Liberal Club, where, like his father, he was something of an expert on the billiard table. His father was club marker for billiard matches.

Archie is commemorated on the Luton Roll of Honour/War Memorial and in the Book of Life (pictured) compiled at Luton Parish Church.