Pte Alexander Graves, 4489, 1/5th Bedfords, was killed in action at Gallipoli on August 15th*, 1915. He was aged 27 and the son of Mr Henry Graves, of 5 Ferndale Road, Luton.

Marriage records show he had wed Agnes Maud Ray early in 1915 - probably while on leave as he had joined the 1/5th Beds in October 1914. And it was to his wife's mother at 33 York Street, Luton, that Pte R. Lewin, of the Machine Gun Section, wrote with the news of her son-in-law's death.

Pte Lewin said: "It is with the deepest regret that I am writing to tell you that Pte Graves was killed in action on August 15th. As I was at the side of his at the time I saw him killed by shrapnel, and it was a blessing to know that it was instant death. There was no suffering, as he never moved or spoke after being struck."

He wrote that his widow had the deepest sympathy of all the section, for he was loved and respected by all and was one of Pte Lewin's own special chums and no-one could wish for a better one.

Pte Graves was a native of London, the son of Henry and Helen Graves, and had been employed at the Diamond Foundry in Dallow Road prior to enlisting. At the time of the 1911 Census he was living with his London-born sister Ellen, her husband Frederick,a general labourer, and their three-year-old son at 3 Wenlock Street, Luton

[Although Pte Lewin provided a day and date for Pte Graves' death, the date on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website is August 16th.]