L-Cpl Alfred Thomas William Bird, 97515, 47th Battalion Machine Gun Corps, was killed in action in France on August 22nd, 1918. He had been back in France only ten days after being home on leave.

A letter to parents William and Eliza Bird at 43 Arthur Street, Luton, from their son's chum, A. W. Brodie, said Alfred was killed in action by a shell at 2.50am on the 22nd. “It was his wish that I should write to you is anything should happen to him, as I myself come from Luton and, of course, fellows from the same town take more interest in one another than those who come from different towns.

“There is one thing we ought to be grateful for – that is that he suffered no pain at all, and was killed instantly with two others. He was liked by everyone out here, and I know that he will be missed very much by everybody who has been lucky enough to get through safely.”

Pte Bird was employed by bleachers and dyers Messrs Rogers & Ashby, Dunstable Road, before joining up about 18 months previously, and had once suffered from gas poisoning. He was last home on leave on August Bank Holiday.

Alfred was born at Chaul End in 1890. By 1911 he and his family had moved to Arthur Street.