L-Cpl Ellis Henman, 27814, 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on September 4th, 1916. He had been in France foronly a month when he was reported missing in an attack on Falfemont Farm.

The 31-year-old had married in Luton just before going to the Front, and was the first of two sons of William James and Alice Priscilla Henman, of Breachwood Green, to die on the Somme within 11 days. Pte Walter Henman, 19546, 8th Bedfords, lost his life on September 15th, 1916, and both brothers are commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

Ellis Henman was born in the early summer of 1885 at Breachwood Green. In 1911 was described as a contractor's labourer. He had worked for builder Mr A. W. Butt, of Cromwell Road, Luton, before attesting under the Lord Derby scheme in February 1916. He was called up the following month and married 27-year-old Clara Wiles, of 46 Cobden Street, Luton, while doing his military training.

He was drafted to a base in France with the Bedfords in August and within a month was sent to the trenches. A letter informing Clara of her husband's death said he was killed during the attack made by the Bedfords on Falfemont Farm. He was "one of the first over the top and must have died instantly".

Widow Clara Henman never remarried and at the end of the war was living at 5 Cavendish Road, Luton. That was still her address when she died on January 1st, 1964, at the age of 75.

Brother Walter, aged 21, had undergone 11 months of training at Ampthill before going to the Front in January 1916. The former worker at Winch Hill Farm, near Luton, was killed on September 15th, 1916. The brothers were among 13 children of William and Alice Penman.