Pte Percy Dumpleton, 4631, 1/5th Bedfordshire Regiment, died in the 27th General Hospital, Abassia, Cairo, Egypt, on August 22nd, 1916, following an attack of dysentery and enteric fever (typhoid). A Luton News report said he died of inflammation of the membrane of the brain.
Born at Chalgrave in 1893 and later living with parents Harry and Louisa in Victoria Street, Dunstable, he married Alice Emily (nee Folks) at St Paul's Church, Luton, in 1914. Their only child, daughter Kathleen, was born later that year.
Ronald McCormick, 3142, 1/5th Bedfordshire Regiment, died of enteric fever (typhoid) at the 18th Stationary Hospital, Suez, on July 16th, 1916. He was aged 26.
Military records show him as a lance-corporal or corporal, while on the Luton Roll of Honour he is described as a sergeant. A Luton News report said he was promoted to sergeant in the field while serving at Gallipoli in August 1915.
Born near Nuneaton, Warwickshire, in early 1890, he was the son of George and Isabella McCormick, and had five brothers and three sisters.
Pte Frank Herbert Lewin (Lowin*), 5349, 5th Bedfords, died in hospital in Egypt on June 28th, 1916, a few days after being admitted suffering from heat stroke. He was aged 35 and was familiarly known as "Larry".
Born in October 1880, he was the son of the late Solomon and Mary Ann Lowin. He married Amelia (nee Watson) in 1901, his wife and eight children - seven aged under 14 - living at 33 Brunswick Street, Luton.
Pte Frank Boutwood, 4626, B Company, 1/5th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, died in the 5th Southern General Hospital at Portsmouth on October 23rd, 1915, from complications arising from dysentery contracted in Gallipoli. He was aged 34.
His death meant that Luton had its first experience a funeral of one of its Territorials who had been on active service with the 1/5th Bedfords in Gallipoli. He had been invalided home about a month before his death suffering from dysentery, but complications set in and he passed peacefully away in the presence of his relatives.
Pte Alfred James Ellingham, 3915, 1/5th Bedfords, was killed in action at Gallipoli on August 16th, 1915, and has no known grave. He was the son of John and Sarah Jane Ellingham, of 39 Hibbert Street, Luton.
His wife and parents were informed in letters from Pte William King, of 6 Tavistock Street, Luton, who was himself wounded on the same day. Pte King wrote that they were fighting side by side at the time of Pte Ellingham's death.
The promotion of Major Edgar William Brighten, of the 5th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel was announced in The London Gazette on Saturday night (May 15th, 1915).
From the Luton News 13th July 1916. DEATH OF PRIVATE CUSTANCE. Escaped in Battle - succumbed to Illness. The sad news has just been received of the death in Egypt of Private Henry Custance, of the 1/5th Bedfords, aged 21 years, and son of Mr and Mrs Custance of 15 Kings Road. Luton.
