Gunner William George Cheshire, 131349, 70th Brigade Royal Field Artillery, was killed in action in France on April 19th, 1917. He was aged 24 and had been a shoe repairer in Dallow Road, Luton, before joining up in April 1916.

In a letter to parents Walter and Lizzie Cheshire at 162 Dallow Road, Major S. Graham wrote: "Your son, Gnr Cheshire, was killed in action yesterday afternoon. He and a comrade were killed instantaneously by a shell and are buried together near the spot where they fell."

Pte Arthur Dillingham, 18421, 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action near Arras in France on April 19th, 1917. His death was reported to be instantaneous.

He was 30 years of age and had enlisted in the Bedfords at the outbreak of war. He had served in France for two years and three months, during which period he was gassed, mined and spent a spell in hospital suffering from shell shock.

Pte William Stanford, 33856, 8th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action around Arras in France on April 18th, 1917. Born in Kings Lynn, Norfolk, he was appointed a postman there in December 1908 before later transferring to Luton around 1912.

He had married Mary Ann Scrivener, from Marsh Road, Leagrave, at Biscot Church on Monday, May 31st, 1909, before the couple initially set up home in Kings Lynn.

William Stanford had enlisted in the Bedfordshire Regiment in June 1916 and, after training at Tring, went to France on New Year's Day 1917.

Pte Stanley Glenister, 90031, Royal Army Medical Corps, was lost at sea when the troopship SS Arcadian was torpedoed by a German submarine off the Greek island of Milos in the Aegean Sea on April 15th, 1917. A total of 279 lives were lost, including another Lutonian, Pte Cyril Charles Scoats, R.A.M.C., as the converted cruise liner with 1,335 soldiers and crew on board sank within six minutes on a journey from Thessaloniki to Alexandria in Egypt.

Pte Cyril Charles Scoats, 90044, Royal Army Medical Corps, was lost at sea when the troopship SS Arcadian was torpedoed by a German U-boat off the Greek island of Milos in the Aegean Sea on April 15th, 1917. A total of 279 lives were lost, including another Lutonian, Pte Stanley Glenister R.A.M.C., as the converted cruise liner with 1,335 soldiers and crew on board sank within six minutes on a journey from Thessaloniki to Alexandria in Egypt.

Pte Arthur Joseph Wright, 33833, 8th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action near Loos in France on April 15th, 1917. He left a widow, Florence Caroline, and a three-year-old son, Sidney, residing at 6 Clarendon Road, Luton.

Pte Wright was killed instantly by a shell which burst through the parapet of his trench two days after his 31st birthday. His last letter home was written on his birthday, but Florence had received no early news as her husband's chums were killed with him.

Pte George Hull, 15287, 6th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in France some time between April 9th and 12th, 1917. He was 28 and single from Upper Sundon, and had worked at the Sundon Cement and Lime Works before enlisting.

He was first reported to be missing on April 9th but it was not until early June that his mother Anne had confirmation that George had been killed in action.

Pte Charles William Soper, 32160, 6th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment was killed in action in France on April 11th, 1917. He was aged 23.

In a letter to parents Charles and Jane Soper at 81 Boyle Street, Luton, Second Lieut Dudley W. Wright wrote that their son was killed during the last great advance on April 11th. Charles was shot through the head and his death must have been instantaneous.

Pte Albert Edward Nicholson, 233543 (8090), 1/2nd Battalion London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers), was killed in action in Flanders on April 12th, 1917. He was aged 28.

A Roll of Honour advert in The Luton News appears to the only local mention of Pte Nicholson's death. That was placed by his widow, Florence (nee Phillips), whom Albert had married in Luton in June 1915, and who was living at the time at 68 Tavistock Street, Luton. Florence later returned to live with her widowed mother, Hannah, at 50 Ivy Road, Luton, and never remarried.

Pte Harry Gilmore Bumstead (Bumpstead*), 90017, 45th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps, was killed in action in France on April 12th, 1917. He was aged 21.

He had joined the Territorials in October 1913, and on the outbreak of war was stationed near Brighton and later at Rendlesham Park, Norfolk. He saw service overseas when he went to the Dardanelles in October 1915. There he contracted dysentery and was invalided home the following January. After a stay in England he went to Ireland before being drafted to France.

Pte George Soffe, 32262, 6th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on April 11th, 1917. He was aged 20 and was the third member of the Luton News staff to have died on the battlefield.

Trooper Thomas Harry Pipkin, 5495, 12th (Prince of Wales') Royal Lancers was killed in action in France on April 11th, 1917. He had survived the first cavalry charge of the war and was engaged in another cavalry advance when he met his death at the age of 19.

Second Lieut Frederic George Thompson, 7th Bedfords attached to 6th Bedfords, was killed in action by a shell in France on April 11th, 1917. He was aged 30.

Although living in Castle Road, Bedford, he had spent 12 years as a cashier at Barclays Bank in Luton, whom he joined in 1904.

He had offered himself for service in he early stages of the war but had been rejected. About a year before his death, however, he got into the Inns of Court Officer Training Corps and was later gazetted to the Bedfordshire Regiment, with whom he went from Landguard to serve in France.

Pte Frederick Reginald Allen, 27968, 6th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action while serving as a stretcher bearer in Flanders on April 9th, 1917. He was aged 27.

Pte Horace George McDonnell, 31903, 6th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in France on April 9th, 1917. This date was supplied in two contemporary letters received independently from the front by parents Walter and Alice McDonnell, of 29 Malvern Road, Luton, although later records give a date of April 12th.