Pte Frederick Arthur Fensome, 2553, 16th Battalion (Public Schools) Middlesex Regiment, died in France on March 10th, 1917, following wounds received on the battlefield. He was aged 20 and was serving in the machine gun section.

He had been in France for 12 months and was in action on March 2nd. He sent a field card to his mother Elizabeth (Lizzie) at 33 Inkerman Street, Luton, in which he said he had been wounded in the knee by a gun shot and taken to a clearing station [2/2nd London Casualty Clearing Station] behind the lines.

Pte Herbert Thomas Oliver, 60378, 11th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, died on February 19th, 1917, from wounds received in action on the Somme two days previously. He was aged 27 and died at the 47th Casualty Clearing Station in France.

The captain commanding his company wrote to widow Mrs Agnes Oliver at 1 Moreton Road, Round Green, saying that at the time her husband was wounded he was doing his duty coolly and steadily under heavy fire. All the officers and many of the NCOs had become casualties.

Pte Bert Lathwell, 43154, 6th Battalion Northants Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on February 17th, 1917. He was aged 24.

Chum Pte Hanby wrote to parents John and Clara Lathwell at 3 Clifton Road, Luton, saying their son was killed by a sniper's bullet that struck him just above the heart. He lived for only four minutes, but "died a hero".

Bert Lathwell had been employed in the straw trade since leaving school, having worked for his brother.

Pte Aubrey Julian Pearce, 19182, 7th Battalion The Buffs (East Kent Regiment), was killed in action on the Somme on February 26th, 1917. He was aged 20.

Although born and living in Wheatheampstead, he was an old boys of Luton Modern School and is included on the Luton Roll of Honour.

After leaving school he entered the service of the London and South-Western Bank at the Wood Green branch, from where he joined the Army on April 3rd, 1916. After a period of training in Kent, he went to the Western Front on November 27th.

Trooper Harold Anderson, 1707, Household Battalion [Life Guards], was killed in action on the Somme on February 18th, 1917. He was aged 27.

Born in Toddington, he had enlisted at Biscot with the Royal Field Artillery in the summer of 1916 and was then drafted to the Life Guards, with whom he went to France.

Before joining up, Harold Anderson assisted his father, Thomas, in his grocery and provisions business at 83 Langley Street, Luton.

Pte Charles Henry Pearson, 43204, 6th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on February 17th, 1917. He was aged 32, the youngest son of Kent farmer George Pearson.

Prior to enlisting, he had been for four years a salesman and window dresser in the drapery department of Blundell Bros' department store, where he was known as Tony. He was one of 30 of the firm's employees who had joined up.

Pte William Impey, 43127, 6th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment (ex-Beds Regiment, 26564), was killed in action on the Somme on February 17th, 1917. He was aged 21.

He was the elder son of William and Harriet Impey, of 53 Cowper Street, Luton. Prior to enlistment he worked for Mr Bailey, straw hat manufacturer, of Crawley Road, Luton.

Pte George John Gatward, 11054, 11th Royal Fusiliers (City of London), was killed in action on the Somme on February 17th, 1917. He was aged 36 and married with three children, one aged 15 months old.

News was received by his widow, Clara Alice, at their home at 16 Dorset Street, from Captain H. H. Mundy, Royal Fusiliers. He wrote that before the death of her husband was confirmed he had been reported missing "but has since been found killed outright and was buried where he fell".

Pte George Flitton, 48085, 6th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on February 17th, 1917. He was aged 26.

Familiarly known as Jack, he lived at Slip End, one of 11 children of Thomas and Lizzie Flitton. Prior to joining up under the Derby scheme in February 1916 (he at first served with the Beds Regiment [26066]), he had worked for dyers Messrs E. W. Hart and Sons, of Windmill Road, Luton.

Hed was trained at Landguard and then went to France. He had been in the trenches eight months and three weeks when he was killed.

L-Cpl Charles Lawrence, 23494, 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, died at a clearing station in France on February 16th, 1917, three days after being wounded by shrapnel in action at Beaumont-Hamel on the Somme. He was aged 20.

Born in Luton in 1896, Charles was the youngest of five serving soldier sons of widow Mrs Ann Lawrence, of 59 Ashton Road, Luton (her husband, Frederick, died in 1898). He had enlisted in November 1915, having been formerly employed by Messrs J. Webdale and Sons at their Wellington Street store. He was an old boy of Chapel Street School, Luton.

Pte Stanley George Halfhead, 18925, 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on February 11th, 1917. He was aged 21.

He was the son of widow Mrs Kate Halfhead, of 20 Wood Street, Luton - his father, school caretaker George, had died in 1906. Prior to enlistment in February 1915, Stanley had worked at hat manufacturers Haye & Co, George Street. He was an old boy of Waller Street School, and was Assistant Scoutmaster in the local battalion of Boy Scouts.

Sgt William John Arthur Saxty, 4749, 60th Battalion Machine Gun Corps (Infantry), died at a dressing station in France on February 9th, 1917, from wounds sustained on the battlefield.

Born in Bath in 1881, he was aged 36 and married to Geraldine with four children (John, Hubert, Albert and Beatrice), aged 14 years to five months, living at 40 High Town Road, Luton.

Major Godson, of his regiment, wrote: "He came to me as a private at Grantham and his rapid promotion has been entirely due to his devotion to duty, and I feel very keenly his loss."

Pte Arthur Robert Goodman, 23081, 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on February 5th, 1917. He was aged 20.

Cpl Alec Walter Harris, 23642, 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in the valley of the River Ancre on the Somme on February 4th, 1917. He was just 25 and single.

Born in Luton in 1892, he was the son of labourer Albert and straw hat machinist Selina Harris, of 23 Jubilee Street, Luton. Alec (Alic on his birth registration) was the couple's four son.

Pte Ebenezer Logan, 7360, 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action at Ovillers-la-Boisselle on the Somme on January 24th, 1917. He was aged 20.

Born in Luton, he had lived at 8 Windsor Street with his widowed mother, Hannah, older brother Arthur William and sister Ada. Another brother, Fred, was married and serving with the R.A.M.C. in Egypt.