Pte Sidney John Vass, 23489, 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, died in the No. 13 Stationary Hospital in France on November 24th, 1916, 11 days after he was wounded in action on the Somme.

Pte John Radford, his lifelong pal from Luton with whom he enlisted and went to France, had also died in hospital from November 13th wounds sustained on the Somme. He passed away on November 14th, 1916.

Pte Vass, son of Alfred John and Alice Vass, of 121 Castle Street, Luton, was employed as a painter by Mr A. Perry, of Victoria Street, Luton.

Arthur Eames was born in Sundon, Bedfordshire in 1883, 1 of 9 children born to John & Emma.

In 1911 Arthur is 28 years old & working as a farm labourer. He is now head of the household as both his parents have died. Living in Sundon with him are his brother Thomas, 23, also a farm labourer, sister Annie, 30, housekeeper to her brothers & their 4 year old niece Minnie Blackaby.

Arthur enlisted into the 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment in December 1914.

Arthur died of wounds received in the Battle of Arras on 29th April 1917.

Pte Joseph Ward, 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, died on November 21st, 1916, from wounds sustained in action on the Somme four days earlier. He was aged 24.

Being an orphan, he had lived with his married sister, Mrs Alice Gore, for upwards of ten years prior to joining the Ampthill Training Camp a year earlier.

Official notification reached Mrs Gore at her home at 86 Park Road West, Luton, that her brother had sustained gunshot wounds in the right thigh and a fracture of the femur, and was seriously ill in Dannes-Camiers General Hospital in France.

Sapper Bert Tomlinson, 1749, East Anglian Royal Engineers, was killed in action on the Somme on November 14th, 1916. He was aged 32 and had enlisted in January 1915.

Sapper Tomlinson, a painter and house decorator employed by Mr Smith, of West Hill Road, was secretary of the Luton branch of the House and Shop Decorators' Union.

Pte John Radford, 23496, 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, died in the No. 44 Casualty Clearing Station in France on November 14th, 1916, the day after he was wounded in action on the Somme.

Pte Sidney John Vass, his lifelong pal from Luton with whom he enlisted and went to France, was also to died in hospital from November 13th wounds sustained on the Somme. He passed away on November 24th, 1916.

Second Lieut Charles Frederick Burley, 4th Battalion (attached 10th) Royal Warwickshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on November 18th, 1916. The younger son of leading Luton hat manufacturer Richard Burley, he would not have been 19 years old until December 1st - and still under military age for service abroad.

Pte Sidney Charles Anthony, 60778, 24th Royal Fusiliers, was killed in action on the Somme on November 13th, 1916. He was aged 33.

Two comrades wrote to his widow, Marion, at 83 Bury Park Road, Luton, to say they had seen Sidney go into action in the first wave of a charge but had not seen him since.

One comrade, L-Cpl C. Lennon, said the battalion had gone into action on the morning of the 13th and had a great victory,but lost quite a number of brave lads.

John Jellis was born in Flitwick, Bedfordshire in January 1883. He was 1of 9 children born to John & Sarah-Ann.

In October 1905, aged 22 John married Louie Buckingham in Ampthill, Bedfordshire & in 1906 their first son Arthur was born.

Sub-Lieut Eric William Squires, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, was killed in action in the battle of Ancre on the Somme on November 13th, 1916. He was aged 24.

The son of hat manufacturer James Squires and his wife Emily, of The Mount, Hart Hill, Luton, Eric joined the public schools battalion of the Naval Reserve on November 11th, 1914. The unit was the only one allowed to use both naval and military uniform. He was in training at the Crystal Palace and obtained his commission in July 1915.

Pte Sidney Charles Worboys, 6063, 1/8th Battalion Middlesex Regiment, was killed in action on October 28th, 1916. He was aged 27.

The son of Albert and Emma Worboys, of 176 High Road Road, Luton, he had served at the Front since July 1916. Second Lieut Burns said in a letter to his parents that Sidney was killed instantly by a trench mortar and was buried with military honours in a little cemetery behind the lines.

Pte Samuel Stokes, 43241, 6th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on October 25th, 1916. He was the second son of Samuel and Phoebe Stokes, of 10 Alfred Street, Luton, to perish on the battlefield in three months - L-Cpl Robert Stokes was killed in action on August 9th.

At the time of Samuel's death, Robert, a holder of the Military Medal, was reported missing with hopes that he may have been taken as a prisoner of war.

Frederick James Hull was born in Sundon, Bedfordshire in January 1898.

In 1911 Frederick James is 13 years old & working as a farm boy & living in Slate Hall Cottages, Sundon with his family. His father Percy is 36 & working as a farm labourer, his mother Matilda is 33. His older brother Percy John is 15 & also working as a farm boy. His other siblings, 11 Year old Florence Emma, 9 year old Frank & 7 year old Dorothy are at school.

Pte John Thomas Canderton, G/13318, 11th Battalion The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on October 26th, 1916. He was aged 19.

In a letter to parents William and Alice Canderton, of 24 Maple Road, Luton, Lieut H. M. Todd wrote that Pte Canderton was killed while observing the enemy lines from his trench. He was buried with all the reverence due to a soldier fighting for his King and country.

Percy John Hull jnr was born in Sundon, Bedfordshire on 16th November 1895.

In 1911 Percy John is 15 years old & working as a farm boy & living in Slate Hall Cottages, Sundon with his family. His father Percy is 36 & working as a farm labourer, his mother Matilda is 33. His younger brother Frederick James is 13 & also working as a farm boy. His other siblings, 11 Year old Florence Emma, 9 year old Frank & 7 year old Dorothy are at school.

Percy John Hull was born in Sundon, Bedfordshire in July 1874.

He married Matilda Fowler on 5th August 1895.

In 1911 Percy is 36 years old & working as a farm labourer & living in Slate Hall Cottages, Sundon with his 33 year old wife Matilda & their children. Percy John is 15 & Frederick James is 13 & both are working as farm boys. 11 Year old Florence Emma, 9 year old Frank & 7 year old Dorothy are at school.