Pte Thomas Carruthers, 30635, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, died of wounds in France on March 29th, 1918. It was not until the following December that news reached his widowed mother Julia that her son had died of wounds two days after being captured as a prisoner of war.

His Red Cross report said his death followed the shattering of his left upper arm. He was buried in the cemetery at Damery in France.

Thomas had joined the Colours in June 1916 and trained with the county regiment at Felixstowe. He was the son of George Carruthers, who established a bleaching, dyeing and felt hat business at the old brewery in Park Street. George, his wife Julia and family moved from 15 King Street, Luton, to live at Streatley House in Streatley, but following George's death on March 3rd, 1903, most of the family moved back to Luton.

Thomas's interests, however, seem to have turned to London, where he married Lottie Isabel May Lewis, of Acton, at St Mary's Church, Acton, on January 31st, 1907. He was listed as visiting his wife's parents at the time of the 1911 Census.

In 1911 his mother, Julia, was living at 78 Dunstable Road, Luton, but by the outbreak of war had moved to 'Peverill,' 10 Cardiff Road, Luton, where she died on March 19th, 1919, at the age of 65.

Thomas's brother Andrew had taken over his father's business, which became known as Carruthers Bros.