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 J Allen

Submitted by KarenC on

J Allen was born in 1875.

He was the husband of Lily Allen of 61 Chase Street, Luton.

He served with The Royal Army Service Corps.

He survived the war but died on 10th July 1920.

He is buried in the cemetery on Crawley Green Road.

 

Private Frank Percival Ralley

Submitted by KarenC on

Frank Percival Ralley was born in Luton in January 1886.

In 1891 he is 5 years old & living with his parents & 4 of his 6 siblings at 10 Hart Hill Lane.  His father Thomas Francis is 33 & working as an iron moulder alongside Frank's 14 year old brother Thomas. His 33 year old mother Mary Ann is at home looking after 2 year old Anne whilst William 12 & Herbert 8 are at school.

Frank joined the 1st battalion Bedfordshire Regiment.

He survived the war but died on 5th March 1919. He is buried in the cemetery on Crawley Green Road.

Private Reginald Stuart Stares

Submitted by Deejaya on

 

Pte Reginald Stuart Stares, 14809, C Company, 12th West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales' Own), is recorded as killed in action at the battle of Loos in France on September 26th, 1915. He was posted missing following an engagement on September 27th.

Born in Luton in late 1892, he was the son of Londoner George Stares, who died in early 1913, and Martha Harriet, who died in early 1905. The couple had married at Lambeth in 1873, and George remarried in late 1905, his new wife being Sarah Ann Parcell.

Private Frederick Charles Everitt

Submitted by Deejaya on

 

Pte Frederick Charles Everitt, 15432, 11th Battalion Essex Regiment, was killed in action in the battle of Loos in Flanders on September 26th, 1915.

The third son of Mr Thomas Everitt, of 12 Harcourt Street, Luton, he had been transferred to the Essex Regiment from the 8th Bedfords and had gone out to the front shortly before his death. Initially he was reported missing.

A comrade wrote to Mr Everitt to say they went into action on the Saturday night [September 25th], and early the next morning they left the trenches to attack the German position.

Private Horace Hammett

Submitted by Deejaya on

 

Pte Horace Hammett, 3/7435, 1st Bedfords, was killed in action at Hill 60 in France on May 5th, 1915. He was posted "missing and wounded" on June 9th but it was not until September that his parents received official notification of his death.

Private William George Ibbett

Submitted by Deejaya on

 

Pte William George Ibbett, 3073, 1/5th Bedfords, died of pneumonia on board the hospital ship Guildford Castle and was buried at sea on September 23rd, 1915. He was aged 18.

Christened George William Ibbett, he had switched his first names when he enlisted to avoid confusion with a comrade with exactly the same name. He was the eldest son of bricklayer John Thomas and Susan Ibbett, of 6 Warwick Road, Luton. The family had moved from Wollaston, Northamptonshire, their two youngest children, aged eight and five, having been born in Luton.

Private William James Proctor

Submitted by KarenC on

 

Pte William James Proctor, 25628, 8th Battalion East Surrey Regiment (Depot), died from pneumonia in the London General Hospital, Camberwell, on March 3rd, 1917. He was aged 33.

Born in Redbourn, he played football for Luton's Clarence FC and in June 1916 joined the 27th Middlesex Regiment (the Footballers' Battalion) [3445] under the Derby scheme. He trained at Aldershot and about five months before his death proceeded to France, where he was transferred to the East Surrey Regiment.

Private James William Swain

Submitted by KarenC on

James William Swain was born in West Hampstead, Middlesex in 1895.

Aged 16 & working as a butcher's boy in 1911, he is living with his father Jabez 39,  a cab driver, his mother Mary Ann 49 & his 3 brothers Jack 13, Arthur 11 & 9 year old Horace at No 18 Arthur Street.

In 1915 James was working at a munitions factory.

He joined the Northamptonshire regiment on 4th August 1916 & on 8th December 1916 was sent to France.

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