Pte Joseph William Hare, 33634, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in Flanders on July 28th, 1917. He left a widow, Alice, and had been married for only 16 months.

Joseph had joined the Bedfordshire Yeomanry in 1915 and was quickly promoted to lance-corporal. At Christmas 1916 he was transferred to the Bedfordshire Regiment and reverted to the ranks. With them he went to France. On April 20th, 1917, he was wounded but returned to the fighting line after a three weeks stay at the base, and remained in service until his death at the age of 26.

A chum, Cpl J. Crawley, of 36 Ramridge Road, Luton, wrote to Alice at 63 North Street, Luton, to say her husband was killed instantly, along with several others, by a shell while doing his duty in the trenches.

Before joining up, Joseph Hare was a straw plait buncher for hat manufacturers Wing, Arnold and Wing, of Guildford Street, Luton. His parents, Henry and Emma Hare, lived at 92 Biscot Road, Luton.

Shillington-born Joseph Hare had married Alice Giddings at St Matthew's Church, Luton, on April 22nd, 1916. Alice remarried in 1923, her new husband being Albert Frederick John Custance, and they lived in William Street, Luton.