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 Richard John Frederick Comporo

Pte Richard John Frederick Comporo, G/14521, 2nd Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment, was killed in action in Flanders on November 23rd, 1917. He was aged 19.

He had joined up on the declaration of war and was soon drafted out to France. Owing to a regulation that men could not serve at the Front until 19, he returned home before going back to France five months before his death.

Pte Comporo is included under that name on the Luton Roll of Honour, although his parents' name was Pearman. His home address was 7 Windsor Street, Luton.

Private Charles Thomas Wallis

Pte Charles Thomas Wallis, 47794, 14th Battalion Welsh Regiment, was killed in action in France on December 8th, 1917. He was aged 20 and single.

Charles had originally enlisted in the East Anglian Royal Engineers at the outbreak of war but was on home service until a year before his death. He was than transferred to the Welsh Regiment and went to France just before Christmas 1916. The following April he was wounded in the arm and head, but returned to France following recovery.

Private Percy Oliver

Pte Percy Oliver, 60380, 11th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, was killed in action in Flanders on August 10th, 1917.

He was the son of Amos and Eleanor Oliver, of 311 Hitchin Road, Luton. The 1911 Census records him as a 15-year-old general store assistant.

In January 1918 his mother was still appealing for any information about her son, and Percy was included on the 1918 Absent Voters' List.

Private William Hillyard

Pte William Hillyard, 350282, 15th Battalion Highland Light Infantry, was killed in action at Cambrai on November 29th, 1917. He was at first reported wounded.

After twice being medically rejected, William Hillyard finally joined the King's Own Scottish Borderers at Derby in 1916. He did his training in Chelmsford and Ireland before going to France in July 1917, transferring to the Highland Light Infantry.

Private George Leslie Wooding

Pte George Leslie Wooding, 20953, 8th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on November 20th, 1917, at the start of the Battle of Cambrai. He had twice previously been wounded and also escaped an air raid.

George Wooding joined the Bedfordshire Regiment in June 1915, around the time of a three-day recruiting march around Bedfordshire by the 1/5th Bedfords. He was drafted to France the following February and two months later received his first wound, from which he recovered at a base hospital.

Private Albert Ewart Dean

Pte Alfred Ewart Dean, 32422, 7th Battalion Norfolk Regiment, was killed in action at Gonnelieu, France, on November 20th, 1917, at the start of the Battle of Cambrai. He was aged 19.

Comrade L-Cpl Price wrote to parents Thomas Alfred and Eva Dean at 45 Bailey Street, Luton, that their son was killed instantly by a piece of shrapnel piercing his brain.

Private Fred Linger

Pte Fred Linger, 57693, 18th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, died on November 15th, 1917, from wounds sustained on the battlefield the previous day. He was buried in a French cemetery on November 16th.

The son of Walter and Kate Linger, of 123 Biscot Road, Luton, he had enlisted in the East Anglian Royal Engineers at the outbreak of war and had been drafted to the Front with the Northumberlands just two months before his death.

Private William Thomas Loughton

Pte William Thomas Loughton, 200280, 1/5th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, died in Palestine on November 14th, 1917. A Luton News brief report of his death said the cause was heart failure.

William Loughton, son of William and Emily, joined the Bedfords at the outbreak of war after being employed by coal merchants How & Byfield, of King Street, Luton. He had married Edith Edwards in 1908 and his address was given as 80 New Town Street.

Private Herbert Horace Read

Pte Herbert Horace Read, 60076, 11th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, was killed in action in Flanders on October 17th, 1917.

His death was not notified to his family at 11 Back Street, Luton, at the time, and two months later, having received no communication from him for several weeks, his mother Emily appealed for information. A letter from the Front compounded her uncertainty in saying it was thought Pte Read had been sent to hospital on October 28th suffering from concussion of the brain, but it was not known to which hospital he had been sent.

Private Andrew Wood MM

Pte Andrew Wood MM, 12951, 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, is recorded as having been killed in action in Flanders on November 13th, 1917, although in a letter to his parents an officer said his death occurred on the morning of the 14th.

Second Lieut Vivian E, Farr wrote: "It is with infinite regret I have to inform you of the death of your son, Pte Wood (reserve stretcher-bearer) on the morning on November 14th. The battalion was holding a newly captured position, and was being subjected to heavy machine gun fire.

Private Wallace James Oxborrow

Pte Wallace James Oxborrow, 238044, 12th Battalion Middlesex Regiment, was killed in action in Flanders on November 12th, 1917. A comrade wrote that he had heard from others in the regiment that Wallace was killed instantly by a shell after being sent up the line with some wire.

It was the following month before widow Hilda at 315 Hitchin Road, Luton, officially learned of her husband's death. Wallace had married Hilda Blanche Lovell at Luton Register Office on November 21st, 1916.

Private Reginald Alfred Crick

Pte Reginald Alfred Crick, 16481, 16th Battalion Middlesex Regiment, was killed in action on October 9th*, 1917. He was attached to the Headquarters Staff as a runner and was killed instantly in the execution of his duty.

The former straw trade dye worker employed by T. Lye & Sons, New Bedford Road, had enlisted in the Middlesex Regiment on July 6th, 1916, and went to France the following October. (*Based on letters from comrades the Luton News reported that he was killed on October 10th).

Private George James Hodge

Pte George James Hodge, 36994, 4th Battalion Essex Regiment, was killed in action on November 3rd, 1917, near Gaza during the Egypt-Palestine campaign. He had initially been reported wounded and missing on that date.

He had enlisted in the Army Service Corps in September 1916 and went to the Eastern Front at Easter 1917. There he was transferred to the Essex Regiment.

Private Ernest William White

Pte Ernest William White, 235080, 1st Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment, was killed in action in Flanders on October 4th, 1917. The news of his death was conveyed in a letter from a comrade to widow Violet May at her parents' address at 142 New Town Street, Luton.

He had enlisted in the South Staffords in April 1917 and had been in France only ten weeks at the time of his death. He was aged 25, and prior to enlistment was employed as a butcher by Mr Tuffnell, of 102 Park Street, Luton.

Pages

Subscribe to RSS - Private