Cpl Alfred Edward Bertram Burgess, 204386, 12th Battalion East Surrey Regiment, died in a dressing station on August 1st*, 1917, from wounds sustained while serving in a trench in Flanders.

A letter from his Captain to parents Edward and Elizabeth Clara Burgess in Luton said their son had been badly wounded in the trench and died of wounds in the dressing station. He had been conscious for only a few minutes after a shell burst and he passed away despite all being done for him that could be. [*The letter indicated that death had occurred on July 31st].

Pte Humphrey Winton Worthington, 19589, 11th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment, was killed in action on July 31st, 1917. The Luton doctor's son, aged 19, had been transferred from the Norfolk Regiment (32417) only a short time earlier.

News of his death was received by his sister Elizabeth from Cpl H. E. Courtney, Royal Engineers. He wrote: "Your brother Winton was found dead this morning on the battlefield, killed by a piece of shell striking his heart. He must have died instantly."

Pte Walter Watton Page, 269777, 1st Battalion Herts Regiment, died on July 31st, 1917, from wounds sustained in action in Belgium. He had joined the regiment the previous September and underwent training at Halton Camp.

Born in Peckham, London, the son of butcher Walter Page and his wife Alice, Pte Page had built up his own hairdressing business from the family home at 21 Bailey Street, Luton.

On July 28th, 1915, he married Alice Maude Ada Robins at Luton Parish Church and they had a daughter, Mollie Winifred, born on June 30th, 1916.

Pte Joseph Bunker, 60856, 1st Battalion Royal Fusiliers, was killed in action in Belgium on July 31st, 1917. He was aged 24 and left a widow, Lydia Emily.

He enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers in May 1916 and was invalided home with trench foot in February 1917. The following June he returned to the front,

Born in South Normanton, Derbyshire, he had spent much of his life at Flitwick, where his father Richard was a stockman on a farm. At the time of the 1911 Census, Joseph was also working on the farm, as a labourer.

Pte Walter Brazier, 40379, 2nd Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment, was killed in action at Chateau Wood, near Ypres, on July 31st, 1917, the date of the start of the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele). He was aged 21 and left a widow, Olive.

Pte Brazier had been in the Army for only six months, and just 11 weeks in Flanders. Letters from comrades to his wife said he was hit by a piece of shell and died instantly.

Pte James Lamb, 235257, 8th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, was killed in action on July 29th-30th, 1917, when a shell fell on his trench. A comrade with him escaped simply because he had gone to get his rifle.

L-Cpl Harry Woodbridge, 42230, 11th Battalion Middlesex Regiment, was reported missing, later presumed killed, in France from July 29th, 1917.

Pte Alfred Ball, 22996, 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, died on July 29th, 1917, from shrapnel wounds sustained on the battlefield in France. He was aged 21 and single.

According to Sgt C. B. Sell in a letter to parents Henry and Alice Ball, of 22 Bailey Street, Luton, their son was proceeding down the trench to fetch rations for himself and comrades and was unfortunately hit on the way. Comrades in the trench did all they could for him and carried him to a dressing station. The sergeant's letter ended with the hope that Pte Ball would soon recover.

Pte Joseph William Hare, 33634, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in Flanders on July 28th, 1917. He left a widow, Alice, and had been married for only 16 months.

Joseph had joined the Bedfordshire Yeomanry in 1915 and was quickly promoted to lance-corporal. At Christmas 1916 he was transferred to the Bedfordshire Regiment and reverted to the ranks. With them he went to France. On April 20th, 1917, he was wounded but returned to the fighting line after a three weeks stay at the base, and remained in service until his death at the age of 26.

Pte William Peck, 31136, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, is recorded as having died of wounds on July 27th, 1917, after being in action near Arras. A newspaper report at the time said widow Elizabeth, of 69 Chobham Street, Luton, was informed that her husband had been killed in action.

William had married Elizabeth Philpott at St Paul's Church, Luton, on June 24th, 1914, shortly before the outbreak of war. At the time he was a milkman working for dairyman Mr F. W. Pestell, of 17 Burr Street.

Sapper Harry Perry, 184418, 526th Field Company Royal Engineers, was killed in action in France on July 27th, 1917. He was aged 25, single and his home was at 45 Boyle Street, Luton.

After receiving official notification, parents Daniel and Emma Perry learned from commanding officer Major Purcell that their son had been buried not far from the front line with two companions beside him. A cross had been erected to his memory, and a memorial service was to be held.

Cpl Vincent William George Ivory, 25690, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in Belgium on July 26th, 1917. He was aged 24 and single.

He had enlisted in the Beds Regiment in January 1916 and a year later was drafted to France. Before joining the Forces he was employed by hat materials merchant J. Briggs & Co, of King Street, Luton.

Pioneer Thomas Henry Williams, 244645, 2nd Field Survey Company Royal Engineers, died of wounds in France on July 26th, 1917. He was aged 27 and single.

A letter from Capt W. Coates to parents John and Emma Williams, of 10 Essex Street, Luton, was however dated July 26th and said:"Yesterday, while coming off duty, he was caught by a shell and, I regret to say, died in the hospital soon after."

Thomas Williams had been in the Army for 14 months, ten of them spent in France. Previously he was an employee of Vauxhall Motors.

Sapper Arthur Page, 524547, 228th Field Company Royal Engineers, died on July 23rd, 1917, from multiple shell wounds to the head received in Belgium. The 31-year-old had been taken to the No 10 Casualty Clearing station.

Arthur Page and his wife Fanny Elizabeth came to Luton soon after their marriage at Abbotsley, near St Neots, on April 1st, 1907. Arthur was a parcels van man for the Midland Railway in Luton for eight or nine years before joining up.

Just ten days after returning from home leave, Military Medal recipient Pte William Henry Brown, S/7023, 9th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders, was killed in action in Flanders on July 23rd, 1917. He was aged 26.

Pte Brown, who had turned down a commission to continue his work as a stretcher-bearer, was hit at 4 o'clock in the afternoon by a piece of shrapnel from a shell. Just an hour earlier he had been tending the wounded of his own company.