L-Cpl James Chandler, P/10790, Military Police Corps, died on February 26th, 1919, from pneumonia in the No 17 Casualty Clearing Station in Cologne while serving with the Army of Occupation on the Rhine. He was the only former member of Luton Borough Police Force to have died while on military service during or just after World War One. He was given pride of place at the top of the Police Roll of Honour that once stood in the parade room at Luton.

Previously a gardener and born in Hampshire, James Chandler had joined Luton Police on September 11th, 1914, and served for about a year before enlisting in the Eastern Mounted Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps, at Grove Road in Luton, under Dr Archibald. However, he was quickly transferred to he Military Foot Police.

His address in the 1918 Absent Voters' list was given as 7 Russell Street, Luton, although in November 1917 he had married Sarah Elizabeth Baxter in Berkhamsted, and she was still living there with her parents at the time of James's death.

James had visited his former police colleagues just six weeks before his death and was then said to be in the best of health and spirits and looking forward to his release from the Army to rejoin constabulary duties.

A silent tribute was paid to James at a police gathering in Luton on March 7th, 1919, when Chief Constable Charles Griffin welcomed back returning officers.