Pte Alfred Joseph Whitworth, G/7804, 4th Middlesex Regiment, was killed in action on June 10th, 1915. He was aged 20.

Born at Dinton, Buckinghamshire, he spent most of his young life at Kimpton, near Luton, where his father Clement Ernest was schoolmaster at the National Schools and his mother Elizabeth was assistant mistress. The family, including five sons and three daughters in 1901, lived at School House, High Street, Kimpton.

At the time of Alfred's death, Mr and Mrs Whitworth were living at 11 Alfred Street, Luton. A memorial service for the young soldier was held at Kimpton Parish Church, with his father as organist. Mr Whitworth himself died in late 1918.

In a letter to the family, Second-Lieut R. P. Hallowes, commanding Pte Whitworth's platoon, wrote that Alfred had died doing his duty digging trenches.

"It may be some comfort to you to know his end was instantaneous. He was hit by a bullet in the head, and fell without a sound. He was not called upon to suffer. We buried him decently in a field near where he fell. A wooden cross marks the spot - the best we could do under the circumstances. He was popular with his comrades. A keen soldier, he did his duty."

Pte Whitworth was employed by Oakley Bros in Chapel Street, Luton, before he enlisted in January 1915. He had been at the Front for about ten weeks.

On November 20th, 1917, the family lost a second son killed in action. Cpl Herbert William ("Tubby") Whitworth, 23236, served with the 50th Coy Machine Gun Corps (Motors). He had worked at the Vauxhall and West Hydraulic Engineering Co Ltd in Kimpton Road, Luton, and played football for Clarence FC.

"Tubby" Whitworth had been praised for heroism in a letter sent by a comrade to Luton. He had crawled out on his stomach with rum for wounded soldiers in trenches who faced lying out in the open all night.

Two other brothers, Pte Reginald Whitworth, Army Service Corps, and Pte Bertram Whitworth, 3rd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, were also serving with the Colours.