E39 Actor

Private Sidney Charles Fensome

Pte Sidney Charles Fensome, 38731, 2/8th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers, was killed in action in Belgium on October 9th, 1917. He had joined the Colours in March 1917 and been in France only since May.

He was the eldest son of the late Mr Sidney Fensome, baker, of Brache Street and Wood Street, Luton, and Kate Fensome. He was with his father in business until his death, when he transferred to baker Mr Fuller and later Messrs Frost and Cooper, of Ash Road.

He left a widow, Rose, and a 10-month-old child, living at 21 Granville Road, Luton.

Private Harry James Boustred

Pte Harry James Boustred, 235101, 1/4th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, died of wounds on October 11th, 1917, while being conveyed to a base hospital in France by ambulance train.

Pte Boustred had sustained severe wounds in the arm and thigh while fighting with the Gloucesters and died from exhaustion, according to a hospital sister in a field postcard sent to widowed mother Priscilla Boustred at 26 Russell Street, Luton.

Private Herbert Gerald Bigmore

Pte Herbert Gerald Bigmore, 203195, 2/5th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) was killed in action near Ypres in Belgium on September 26th, 1917.

In a letter expressing sympathy to his sister Florence, the Officer Commanding wrote: "Your brother was posted missing after action on the 26th September. On that day the Battalion went into action in an attack, and your brother, I am afraid, was one of those for whom we could not account after the Regiment had come out of the line."

Private Walter Stanley Peck

Pte Walter Stanley Peck, 33072, 8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, was killed in action in Belgium on October 1st, 1917. He was aged 24, single and a former employee of the Diamond Foundry, Dallow Road.

The son of Walter and Eliza Peck, of 66 Oak Road, Luton, he had enlisted in the Bedfordshire Regiment (5608) in November 1915 and was transferred to the Leicesters in December the following year in France.

Private Gerald Noel Lovell

Pte Gerald Noel Lovell, 31617, 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in Flanders on October 9th*, 1917, according to military records.

He had enlisted in the Bedfords in November 1916 and was drafted to the Front the following April. His death came when a shell burst near him, also wounding two comrades.

Private Frederick Stevens

Pte Frederick Stevens, 17371, 11th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment, was killed in action in Flanders on September 26th, 1917. He was aged 19 and single.

A letter from a comrade to parents Frederick and Martha Annie Stevens at 49 Stuart Street, Luton, said their son was buried where he fell and a cross was erected over his grave. As Pte Stevens is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium, the location of the grave was presumably subsequently lost.

Private Stanley George Thomas Impey

Pte Stanley George Thomas Impey, 40047, 7th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, died in hospital in Belgium on October 8th, 1917, from the effects of gas poisoning.

He was admitted to hospital on October 2nd. Three days later, a sister at the hospital wrote to parents George and Elizabeth Impey at 43 Bailey Street, Luton, stating that there was every hope of their son's recovery. But on the evening of October 8th he passed peacefully away.

Stanley's father was an employee of The Luton News, according to a report of Stanley's death.

Private Walter John Smith

Pte Walter John Smith, 203211, 1/5th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in Palestine on October 7th, 1917. He was aged 22 and single.

Walter Smith, one of nine surviving children of William and Mary Ann Smith, of 1 Blyth Place, Russell Street, Luton, had before the war been employed by the Luton Co-operative Society at its High Town and Dunstable branches.

Private William Roe

Pte William Roe, 27967, 6th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in Belgium on October 7th, 1917. He was aged 24.

No reports of his death seem to have been published in Luton newspapers, but other records show he was a son of Lewis (or Louis) and Emma (or Emily) Roe, of 6 Talbot Road, Luton. His cousin, Stanley John Roe (32254, 2nd Bedfords), died on the battlefield on September 20th, 1917, and is commemorated on the Luton Roll of Honour with the same address.

Private Archibald William Clarke

Pte Archibald William Clarke, 241584, 1st East Surrey Regiment, died of wounds on October 6th, 1917. He had been at the Front only three weeks after having being transferred from the Middlesex Regiment (5865) to the East Surreys.

Archibald enlisted in the Middlesex Regiment in March 1916 and was stationed for a while at Canterbury after joining the East Surreys and gained a reputation for his talent as a pianist at the Y.M.C.A. and among musical circles there.

Private Arthur William Thomas Claridge

Pte Arthur William Thomas Claridge, G/21209, 6th Battalion The Buffs (East Kent Regiment), died on October 4th, 1917, from wounds sustained in France.

A hospital nurse wrote to parents Frederick and Hannah at Bendish, Herts, stating that their only son died in hospital as the result of shell wounds in the chest, back and arm. He was unconscious from the time he was wounded. He was buried in a French cemetery with a cross erected over his grave.

Gunner Edwin Ernest Jeffs

Gunner Edwin Ernest Jeffs, 144354, 'C' Battery, 74th Brigade Royal Field Artillery, was killed in action in Flanders on October 4th, 1917, "serving his gun like a hero". But in Luton he would be remembered as a founder and conductor of the Luton Orchestral Society, "a man who had just begun to develop those glimmerings of genius...as an outstanding exponent and interpreter of the profession he was so well fitted to adorn".

Lance Corporal Horace Charles Mayles

L-Cpl Horace Charles Mayles, 45373, Machine Gun Corps, was killed in action in Flanders on September 20th, 1917. He was aged 24, married with one child and a home address of 14 Wood Street, Luton. He was also a bandsman in the Park Street Salvation Army Temple Band.

In a letter to widow Elsie, comrade Pte G. Toyer, of 134 Chapel Street, Luton, said they had had to attack the enemy trenches at about 5.45am on September 20th and they had not got far over the top when her husband was hit in the head by a sniper's bullet. He died in a few seconds and did not suffer paid.

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