Pte George Draper, 10763, 1st Battalion Beds Regt, was killed in action near Hill 60 on July 11th, 1915. He was aged 20.

The son of John and Annie Draper, who were living at 128 Chapel Street [Farley Hill], Luton at the time of the 1911 Census, he was a plumber before enlisting shortly after war broke out. He was killed at a listening post which the Germans blew up at 7 o'clock in the evening.

Pte Arthur Dillingham, of 14 Dudley Street, who had enlisted with George and was with him when they were both gassed two days after going to the Front, wrote to Mr and Mrs Draper.

He said: "Your son seemed to be one of the unlucky ones, as we were waiting to be released by another Company at the time. He was one of the bravest chaps we had got in our company, as he did not care where he went, and he had always a smile when you asked him to do anything.

"I don't know whether he got buries or was blown up, but by the way the mine went up I should think he got buried by sandbags."

In a subsequent letter Pte Dillingham wrote: "I have not heard any more about your brave son, but I must tell you that if they have found him you can rest assured that he will be buried as a British soldier always is buried."

Pte George Draper is included on the Luton Roll of Honour, along with Pte Dillingham, 18421, who was killed on April 19th, 1917, and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial.