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 Sidney Harvey

Pte Sidney Harvey, 265421, 2nd Battalion Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment, was killed in action in Flanders on October 26th, 1917, just five months after going to the Front.

Born in Luton, he was the son of fish merchant Arthur Harvey and his wife Ada, of 39 Park Road West. He was in business as a fish and greengrocery hawker. In 1911 he had married Emily Short and the couple were living at 13 Chequer Street, Luton. Emily remarried in 1920.

Private Francis Finch

Pte Francis Finch, 23860, 7th Battalion The Buffs (East Kent) Regiment, was killed in action in Flanders on October 13th, 1917, having initially been reported missing.

He had joined the Training Reserve Battalion in February 1917 at the age of 18, and was drafted to France at the beginning of August.

Francis was a son of Joseph and Eliza Finch, who lived at Lower Sundon. His father and three older brothers were farm labourers at the time of the 1911 Census, when Francis was still at school. Francis also became a farm worker, employed by farmer Henry Gates, of Sundon.

Private Herbert Harry Abrahams

Pte Herbert Harry Abrahams, 68102, 7th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, was confirmed killed in action in Flanders on October 30th, 1917, after initially being reported missing on that date.

Born in Leytonstone, Essex, he was son of Harry James and Agnes Jane Abrahams, of 46 Claremont Road, Luton. Before joining up was employed in the counting house of hat manufacturers J. C. Kershaw & Co.

He had enlisted in the Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment in October 1916, and was drafted into the Royal Fusiliers on his arrival in France in September 1917.

Private Harry Dennis Gutteridge

Pte Harry Dennis Gutteridge, 27949, 7th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, was reported missing in action on February 5th, 1917, but his death on that date was not confirmed until the following November.

Born in Leighton Buzzard, Harry Gutteridge was a son of widow Mary Ann Isabella and the late Dennis Gutteridge. At the time of his death his family were living at 8 Holly Walk, Luton.

Private George Leonard Hawkes

Pte George Leonard Hawkes, 204221, 1st Battalion Norfolk Regiment, died of wounds in Belgium on November 5th, 1917. He joined the Bedfordshire Regiment (No. 3443) at the outbreak of war and was severely wounded in the jaw and shoulder at Gallipoli, requiring two years of medical treatment. Within a fortnight of later being drafted to France with the Norfolks he was so severely wounded in the head that he died a few hours later.

Private Percy Herbert Moulden

Pte Percy Herbert Moulden, 200847, 1/5th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on November 3rd, 1917, during the climax to the Third Battle of Gaza.

Hitchin-born Percy Moulden was living at 74 Ivy Road, Luton, when he enlisted in the Beds Regiment in 1915. He had served two years in Egypt.

A letter from one of his comrades gave the news of Percy's death to his widow Eva, then living at 56 Dudley Street, Luton. Percy had married Eva Mary Ann Jackson in Luton in 1909.

Private William Stenhouse

Pte William Stenhouse, 200962, 1/5th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on November 3rd, 1917, during the climax to the Third Battle of Gaza.

The death of the Scottish-born soldier went unreported in Luton newspapers, but the 1911 Census reveals that he was then living with the family of his brother Thomas, along with his widower father John, at 40 Clifton Road, Luton. He was an iron dresser in a foundry.

Private Albert Edward Hill

Pte Albert Edward Hill, 200054, 1/5th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, died in Palestine on November 3rd, 1917, from wounds sustained in the battle for Gaza.

In his last letter to his invalid sister Minnie at 38 Cowper Street, Luton, Albert wrote: "We lost our platoon officer and three men on Monday morning. They were taken prisoners, so we had to go out last night to find 'Johnny Turk'. We waited on them and they ran right into my mate and I. We had a Lewis gun with us and gave them 'pepper.' I can tell you.

Private Frederick William Dickens

Pte Frederick William Dickens, 200582, 1/5th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on November 2nd, 1917, during the 3rd Battle of Gaza. He was aged 34.

An in memoriam notice in The Luton News of November 29th, 1917, from his "sorrowing wife and family at Rugby" was the sole public acknowledgement of his death.

Private Herbert Bysouth

Pte Herbert Bysouth, 201034, 1/5th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in the 3rd Battle of Gaza on November 2nd, 1917. He was aged 26.

He had enlisted in the Beds Regiment in November 1915 and served in Egypt. Prior to joining up he was an employee of the Luton Co-operative Society.

Private Sidney Walter Seabrook

Pte Sidney Walter Seabrook, 200453, 1/5th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action at Gaza on November 2nd, 1917, during the Palestine campaign. He was aged 27.

He was the eldest of three sons of Walter Joseph and Sarah Seabrook, of 7 Baker Street, Luton. The couple also had three daughters living at home in 1911. Sidney was then described as a plait salesman.

Private Sidney George Ward

Pte Sidney George Ward, 33678, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, died on November 2nd, 1917, from wounds sustained near the front line in Belgium the previous day. He was aged 28.

In a letter to parents Herbert John and Louisa Ward, of 94 Dallow Road, Luton, CSM A. Cook wrote: "Your son was one of a working party which went to dig a trench not far from the front line, and whilst digging it he was hit by a bullet which pierced his side. He was immediately taken to the field ambulance, but unfortunately his wound proved fatal and he died the following morning."

Private Stuart John Webb

Pte Stuart John Webb, 42358, 2/7th Battalion Manchester Regiment, died in the 26th General Hospital at Etaples, France, on October 23rd, 1917, from gunshot wounds sustained at the Front on October 8th. He was aged 21 and had seen only seven months service in the Army.

Stuart had three times been rejected for military service owing to a weak heart, but in March 1917 he joined the Northamptonshire Regiment (No. 45954) as a private. After three months training he was drafted to France with the Manchester Regiment.

Private Harry Crawley

Pte Harry Crawley, 205822, 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action near Passchendaele on October 30th, 1917. He was aged 24.

Born in Luton in 1893, he was the son of Harry and Amy Gertrude Crawley, of 12 Rothesay Road, Luton. Before joining up he had been employed as a clerk in the Borough Surveyor's office of Luton Corporation for about four years. He had joined the Beds at the outbreak of war and was stationed at Maresfield and in Ireland for training. He went to the Front in April 1917.

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