Private

In the British Army, a private (Pte) equates to both OR-1 and OR-2 on the NATO scale, although there is no difference in rank. Privates wear no insignia. Many regiments and corps use other distinctive and descriptive names instead of private, some of these ranks have been used for centuries, others are less than 100 years old.[2] In the contemporary British Armed Forces, the army rank of private is broadly equivalent to able seaman in the Royal Navy, aircraftman, leading aircraftman and senior aircraftman in the Royal Air Force, and marine (Mne) or bandsman, as appropriate equivalent rank in the Royal Marines. The term as a military rank seems to come from the Sixteenth Century when individuals had the privilege of enlisting or making private contracts to serve as private soldiers in military units.

Private Albert Edward Munt

Pte Albert Edward Munt, 269647, 1st Battalion Herts Regiment, was killed in action on July 31st, 1917. He was reported missing from that date, but his widow was still awaiting definite news in the following March.

Pte Munt, a native of Wheathampstead, married Lillian Florence Bent in St Albans in early 1911 and the couple moved to Luton. They lived at 11 Oxford Road, Luton, and Albert worked for Messrs Burgess's mineral water works in Luton.

Private Cyril Almond

Pte Cyril Almond, 33161, 6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, was killed in action in France on May 3rd, 1917. He was reported missing after the Battle of Arras, but it was nine anxious months before his parents at Chiltern Green received the official intimation of his death.

Private Horace Arthur Clark

Pte Horace Arthur ('Jack') Clark, 12427, 6th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, died of wounds in a Canadian clearing station in Flanders on February 28th, 1918. He had previously served in the trenches for three years without injury.

A telegram on March 1st, 1918, stated that Pte Clark had been severely wounded in the legs, arms, hands and face. The following day brought news of his death and burial by a Church of England chaplain in a military cemetery.

Private Samuel Charles Wiseman

Pte Samuel Charles Wiseman, G/28641, 2nd Garrison Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers, died from pneumonia in the 28th General Hospital in Salonika on February 17th, 1918.

Son of the late Samuel and Elizabeth Wiseman, of Cumberland Street, Luton, he had married Annie Isabella Smith in her native Carlisle, Cumberland, in 1910. Birth records suggest they had three children - Samuel (born 1911), Margaret (1913) and Rose (1916).

Samuel had enlisted in the Border Regiment (9189). In 1911 he was stationed at the Martinique Barracks in Hampshire, while Annie remained in Carlisle.

Private John Rayner

Pte John Rayner, 33874, 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action near Cambrai on January 12th, 1918. Born at Barton Bendish, Norfolk, he was a resident of Luton before moving to live in Leighton Buzzard.

While in Luton, John was an employee of the British Gelatine Co, New Bedford Road, and lived at 64 Russell Street, Luton. He had married Florence Kate Walker in Luton in the summer of 1913 and later the couple moved to East Street, Leighton Buzzard.

Private Horace Karl Leaney

Pte Horace Karl Leaney, 30858, Bedfordshire Yeomanry, died at Shoreham-on-Sea Military Hospital in Sussex from pneumonia on February 1st, 1918. He was wounded in action in May 1917 and had been in hospital ever since. He was buried at Holy Trinity Churchyard, Biscot, on February 8th.

Private Henry Jasper Broome

Pte Henry Jasper Broome, 73133, 16th Battalion Middlesex Regiment, was taken prisoner by the Germans at Cambrai on November 30th, 1917.

In a letter dated December 9th, 1917, to his sister Margaret [married name of Davis], at 9 Bailey Street, Luton, the former Luton Corporation Tramways employee wrote: "There is no need to worry about me, as I am quite safe and looked after well. I am not alone by many hundreds. Do not send me any parcels as I have already received one, and we often get one from the Red Cross...

Private John Thomas Brown

Pte John Thomas Brown, 10238, 7th Battalion The Buffs (East Kent Regiment), was reported missing, later presumed killed, on August 3rd, 1917. Six months later his widow asked, through The Luton News, for any information about her husband.

Born in Luton in 1876, he was a son of the late John and Ann Brown. He had married Nellie Osborne at Luton Parish Church on August 5th, 1905. At the time of the 1911 Census John was described as a straw trader living at 28 Stanley Street, Luton.

Private Harold Stewart Lawson

Pte Harold Stewart Lawson, 201403, 1/4th Battalion Norfolk Regiment, was killed in action in Palestine on December 11th, 1917. He was aged 19.

A letter to parents George and Ellen Lawson, who lived on Mr Cripps' Chaul End Farm, said their son was killed by a stray bullet, death being instant.

At the time of joining up at the age of 18, Harold worked at Danby's Nursery, Leagrave. He had previously worked for builder Charles Jeyes, of Windsor Street, Luton.

Chaul End-born Harold had also had a long association with the Sunday school at Caddington.

Private William Pedder

Pte William Pedder, 68552, Royal Fusiliers, was killed in action in Flanders on November 30th, 1917. He had been reported wounded and missing on that date, leading to his widow Kate appealing in The Luton News in January 1918 for any information about him.

William was the son of Albert and Harriet Pedder and a member of the family saddlery business of A. Pedder & Son, 9 Hitchin Road, Luton. He had married Kate Gertrude Bairster in Luton in 1911, Kate living at 95 Cambridge Street when she issued her appeal.

Private Walter Alfred Horwood

Pte Walter Alfred Horwood, 202801, 11th Battalion Essex Regiment, was killed in action in France on December 3rd, 1917. He was aged 39.

At the time that widow Martha received notification of her husband's death she was expecting him home on delayed Christmas leave after two years of service. Walter had married Martha Ellen Lawrence in Luton in 1898 and they had a son, Horace, who was himself in uniform, and a daughter, Eva. They lived at 48 Stanley Street, Luton.

Private Sidney Medcalf

Pte Sidney Medcalf, 32647, 1/4th Battalion Norfolk Regiment, was killed in action near Jerusalem on December 15th, 1917. He was aged 19.

The son of Jonathan (John) and Lizzie (nee Gurney) Medcalf, of 33 Ashton Street [later Gillam Street], Luton, he joined up in February 1917 and, after training at St Albans and Felixstowe, went to Egypt in the following August. Before the war he was employed at the Diamond Foundry in Dallow Road, Luton.

Private George Scrivener

Pte George Scrivener, G/10241, 7th Battalion The Buffs (East Kent) Regiment, died on April 21st, 1917, while a prisoner of the Germans. He had developed inflammation of the bowel after being captured on November 18th, 1916. His death was eventually recorded in The Luton News on January 17th, 1918.

Born in Biscot in 1878, he had married Maria Smith at Biscot Parish Church on April 5th, 1902. The couple had two daughters - Lily Irene (born 1904) and Barbara Eleanor (1911). In 1911 they were living in Limbury, and George was working as a labourer for a nurseryman.

Private Frederick Ernest Wiles

Pte Frederick Ernest Wiles, 81053, 2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers, died in France on November 22nd, 1917, from gunshot wounds to the head. He was aged 36 and left a widow and a 12-year-old son at 49 Oak Road, Luton.

Born in Stotfold, he enlisted in the East Surrey Regiment (5884) on October 20th, 1916, going overseas on August 15th, 1917, and being transferred to the Royal Fusiliers.

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