Pte Henry Cecil Pugh (Brooks), 8103, 1/2nd Battalion London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers), was killed in action on the Somme on October 4th, 1916. He was formerly 4403, 5th Bedfordshires.
Pal Pte Henry James wrote to Henry's mother, Mrs Mary Hannah Brooks (formerly Pugh) at her home at 7 Hampton Road, Luton, that her son was "buried by several Beds boys behind the line, with his rifle as a tombstone. He was killed instantly."
Born in London in 1897, Henry was the stepson of Alfred Brooks, himself a sergeant stationed at Lowestoft. Prior to joining the Colours he was a moulder at the Diamond Foundry in Dallow Road.
On the day of Henry's death his uncle, Pte J. Brooks, of 75 Beech Road, Luton, was wounded in the thigh and was later recuperating at Tunbridge Wells.