Pte Thomas Ralph Corney, 71953, 137th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps, was killed in action in France on April 9th, 1918. He was on stretcher-bearer duty with fellow Lutonian Pte George William Bone MM when a shell claimed them both and the wounded officer they were carrying.

News of the death of Ralph Corney came in a letter to his former employers, Messrs A. and F. Higgins, of Bute Street, former co-worker and comrade Pte H. Howson MM (R.A.M.C.). He wrote: "My friend Pte Ralph Corney was killed in action on the 9th inst. When the Huns launched their attack that morning he with another pal from Luton, Pte G. Bone was carrying a wounded officer from the Front when a shell came over, killing all three. As Ralph was one of your employees, I feel that it is my duty to inform your of his death."

Pte Corner was son of the late George Corney and Mrs Emily Corney, of West View, 2 Biscot Road, Luton, and had been employed as a straw warehouse clerk. On August 20th, 1917, he had married Daisy Maud Hardstuff, who continued to lived with her parents at 12 Crawley Green Road in Ralph's absence.

Letter writer Pte Howson, whose mother lived at 17 Lyndhurst Road, Luton, had himself been awarded the Military Medal for bringing in a wounded officer, Major Johnson VC, under heavy shell fire.