Cpl Bertie Breed, 200662, 1/5th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in Palestine on July 20th, 1917 - in a battle with a growing casualty list described by the Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph as almost, if not quite, as severe as that in the struggle on the Gallipoli Peninsular.

Bertie Breed had also fought at Gallipoli and was wounded in the leg in the August 15th, 1915, charge there. The wound meant he was in hospital for three months in Cairo, underwent three operations and became ill with dysentery.

He rejoined his regiment in March 1916 and had since seen considerable service in Egypt, during which time he was promoted to the rank of corporal.

War Office official notification of his death was sent to widow Lilian at 7 Talbot Road, Luton. As Lilian Titmus, she had married Bertie Breed at St Matthew's Church, Luton, on August 4th, 1906. They had four children - Elsie (born 1907), Winifred (1910), Charles (1913) and Ian (1915). Sadly, Winifred died in 1913 at the age of two, and Bertie never saw Ian, who was born after he had left England in July 1915.

Bertie Breed had served with the Metropolitan Police for eight years before being employed by Barford Bros as a straw plait buncher at their North Street dyeworks immediately prior to enlistment. In 1911, Bertie, Lilian and their then two children were living at 27 Ridgway Road, Luton.