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 Frederick David Smith

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Pte Frederick David Smith, 200696, 1/5th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, wrote to parents William and Mary Ann Smith, of 7 Chobham Street, Luton, on July 24th, 1917, informing them that he was a prisoner in Turkish hands, taken four days previously.
Writing that he was being treated very well, he said: "I must explain how it happened. Five of us went back to fetch a wounded comrade, and we got surrounded and, of course, captured. In doing this I got wounded in the leg but, I am glad to say, not seriously.

Private Percy Walter Manton

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Pte Percy Walter Manton, 22846, 'D' Company, 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was taken as a prisoner of war at Beaucourt-sur-Ancre in France on February 11th, 1917, and was held captive in Germany until he was repatriated at the end of the war.
His prisoner of war records show he was held variously at the Limburg, Friedrichsfeld and Parchim camps. He was included on Luton's 1918 absent voters list but then spent most of his life residing at 14 Chobham Street.

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