Herbert John Odell (a nephew of my great-grandfather, and my first cousin twice removed!) was born in 1892, and like his father John (with whom he lived at 25 North Street, Luton) was a plasterer by trade. He was called up for service on 23 March 1916, and was first enrolled in 6th Royal Fusiliers (Army No. 6700), later transferring to 1/7th Middlesex Regt. (Army No. 203962). He was posted to France on 9 June 1916, but on 16 August 1916, while he was cleaning his rifle, the weapon went off, wounding his left arm, resulting in the amputation of the arm below the elbow. The Court of Inquiry concluded that the injury was "negligently self-inflicted". He was declared permanently unfit for general service, and his transfer back to England was approved on 3 October 1916. He was discharged on 9 June 1917, after 1 year and 79 days' service. In 1917, he was awarded by the Ministry of Pensions (based at The Royal Hospital, Chelsea) a weekly pension of 27/6d for nine weeks, and thereafter 13/9d for life. He married in 1918, and died in 1970, aged 78.

During 1917/18 he was engaged in correspondence with the Army, seeking a "silver war discharge badge" which, he said, he was entitled to; the Army seem to have refused this request on the grounds that the Court of Inquiry had concluded negligence on his part which had resulted in his injury and discharge.