Sub-Lieut Eric William Squires, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, was killed in action in the battle of Ancre on the Somme on November 13th, 1916. He was aged 24.

The son of hat manufacturer James Squires and his wife Emily, of The Mount, Hart Hill, Luton, Eric joined the public schools battalion of the Naval Reserve on November 11th, 1914. The unit was the only one allowed to use both naval and military uniform. He was in training at the Crystal Palace and obtained his commission in July 1915.

Pte Sidney Charles Worboys, 6063, 1/8th Battalion Middlesex Regiment, was killed in action on October 28th, 1916. He was aged 27.

The son of Albert and Emma Worboys, of 176 High Road Road, Luton, he had served at the Front since July 1916. Second Lieut Burns said in a letter to his parents that Sidney was killed instantly by a trench mortar and was buried with military honours in a little cemetery behind the lines.

Pte John Thomas Canderton, G/13318, 11th Battalion The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on October 26th, 1916. He was aged 19.

In a letter to parents William and Alice Canderton, of 24 Maple Road, Luton, Lieut H. M. Todd wrote that Pte Canderton was killed while observing the enemy lines from his trench. He was buried with all the reverence due to a soldier fighting for his King and country.

Sgt Peter Pieraccini, 19744, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on October 12th, 1916.

Born in Luton, he was the son of James and Elizabeth Pieraccini, of 19 May Street, Luton. He married Ethel May Dyer in 1906 and lived at 4 Manchester Place, Dunstable, with their six children.

A friend who was with him before they went into action wrote to his widow that Peter had been reported missing but was then found by another battalion to have been killed.

Pte Percy Sidney Martin, 23730, 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on November 13th, 1916.

As a six-year-old in 1901 he was living with his mother and grandparents William and Susan at 16 North Street, Luton.

By 1911 he was a plait dyer living at 23 Back Street, Luton, with his mother and her husband James Webb, whom she had married at St Matthew's Church, Luton, on December 23rd, 1905. In the 1911 Census Percy is described as a boarder.

Pte Percival (Percy) Frank Buckingham, 3/7179, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, died on November 4th, 1916, from wounds received on the Somme. He was aged 22.

Parents Alfred and Annie Buckingham, of 136 North Street, Luton, received news earlier that Percy was in hospital in France suffering from shell shock. His mother then received a letter from her son to say he was much better and was expecting to rejoin his unit.

But just a few days later she received a telegram stating that Percy had again been in action and that he had died of wounds received on November 4th.

L-Cpl Ernest Edward Fowler, 42765, 10th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, died on October 27th, 1916, from wounds sustained on the Somme four days earlier. He had transferred from the Bedfordshire Regiment.

Born in early 1896, he was the son of George Henry Fowler and his wife Louisa Elizabeth (nee Wright), of 126 Castle Street, [now in London Road], Luton.

Prior to joining the Colours he was employed by Hart, Baxter and Co, bleachers and dyers, of New Bedford Road, Luton.

Pte Alfred Edward De Fraine (Defraine), 20615, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on October 12th, 1916. He was aged 37.

Born in Luton in May 1879, to Joseph De Fraine, from London, and Mary (nee Jellis), from Luton, he is recorded in family history documents as living with grandparents William and Mary Jellis in Luton from a baby and during his childhood. His parents had married as teenagers in Lambeth in London in 1878 and seem to have continued to live there.

Pte William Impey, 27561, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on October 12th, 1916.

He was the son of Alfred and the late Sarah Ann Impey (died 1901) and stepson of Elizabeth Ann (Garrett), whom Alfred had married in 1909.

Rifleman Arthur David Sharp, C/6265, 18th Battalion King's Royal Rifles, was killed in action on the Somme on September 15th, 1916. He was single and aged 28.

He had enlisted at St Pancras in London in July 1915 and went out to France the following May.

His father David had died in 1911 and his mother Sarah in 1906. At the time of the 1911 Census he was living at 29 Shirley Road, Luton, with two brothers and four sisters, all then unmarried.

Pte Herbert Harold Howkins, 11888, 11th Royal Fusiliers, was reported to have been killed in action on the Somme on September 25th, 1916. He was aged 31.

He was the son of the late John Howkins (died 1892), who had been licensee of the Fox pub in Dunstable Road. His mother, Harriet, remarried in 1895 and lived under her new married name of Seabrook at 134 Dallow Road, Luton.

Capt G. W. Morgan wrote to Mrs Seabrook: "Pte Howkins was a machine gunner, and was hit by a shell and died instantly. The same shell killed four and wounded other men of the same section.

Second Lieut Richard Reeve Emmens, 7th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on September 4th, 1916. He was aged 23.

Born in Birmingham, the public school boy was engaged for 12 months before the war as a chartered accountant with Mr Thomas Keens, Secretary of the Luton Chamber of Commerce. He is included on the Luton Roll of Honour with an address at Cardiff Road, Luton.

L-Cpl Thomas John (Jack) Heley, 15743, 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, died on September 29th, 1916, from wounds sustained on the Somme.

Born in Leighton Buzzard in 1883, he had moved to Luton by 1911 and was living at 180 Wellington Street with his widower father, Fred, and a younger brother and two sisters. He was employed as a carpenter by builder Mr Arthur Cole, of 183 High Town Road.

Pte James Hubert Mimms, 14405, 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on September 28th, 1916.

Born in Luton in 1892, he was the son of William Mimms and wife Sarah Ann (nee Hughes), of 11 Peach Street, Luton. In the 1911 Census James was described as a toolmaker living at home with his parents, four brothers and a sister.

A sergeant wrote that all the men at one gun had been knocked out, except Pte Mimms, who was ordered to another spot.He did not arrive.

Cpl William John Andrews, 22020, 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in an attack on the Schwaben Redoubt, near Thiepval on the Somme, on September 28th, 1916.

He was aged 17 and not legally compelled to have been on the battlefield. He was also wearing two stripes to indicate that he had previously been wounded.