Sapper Ernest Robinson, 522390, 486th Field Company Royal Engineers, was killed in action in Egypt on March 27th, 1917. Born in 1896, he was an orphan living with step-parents Joseph and Sarah Bent at 54 Boyle Street, Luton.
Ernest had joined up two months after the outbreak of war and was wounded in the leg in training when a trench was blown up. Subsequently he came unscathed through the Gallipoli campaign before being drafted to Egypt with his unit.
Sapper Horace George Andrews, 522510 (3337), 486th Field Company Royal Engineers, was presumed killed in action at Gaza in Egypt on March 27th, 1917. He was initially reported to be wounded and missing with the possibility he had been taken as a prisoner of war by the Turks.
His Captain wrote in a letter to parents Joseph and Barbara Andrews, at 34 Ashburnham Road, that their son had been missing since the night of March 27th. He had last been seen bravely carrying ammunition to the front line, and it was known that it was then he was wounded.
Driver Arthur Smith, 524236, 1/2nd East Anglian Division Royal Engineers, died suffering from pneumonia in the Government Hospital in Suez, Egypt, on August 28th, 1916.
It was just the day before that parents Joseph and Jane Smith, of 58 New Town Street, Luton, learned that Arthur was dangerously ill in hospital. He was the second of their sons to die during the war.
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.
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.
