Sapper William Henry Trotter, 524322, 4th Foreway Coy Royal Engineers, was killed by a shell in France on October 7th, 1918, while at a medical station going through the formalities for being granted home leave. He was aged 20 and single.

Major Matthews, in a letter of sympathy to parents Frederick George and Frances Susan Trotter at 66 Cowper Street, Luton, wrote: “He was granted leave on October 7th and proceeded to the medical station to pass the doctor, and while there he was killed outright by a shell. He was buried the same day where he fell, near Passchendaele. A cross will be erected over his grave by his comrades.”

William Trotter had joined the East Anglian Royal Engineers in April 1915 as a voluntary recruit. He went to France around a year before his death.

Born in Shawford, Hants, he had come to Luton with his family while still a small child. He attended Surrey Street School, and was employed as a fitter at the Diamond Foundry, Dallow Road, before enlisting. He was a member of the Luton St John Ambulance Society, a member of Mount Tabor Primitive Methodist Church, and was also fond of cross country running, having won a silver cup and three medals in the sport.