Luton's People 1914-1918
This page contains a list of soldiers/civilians from Luton and surroundings 1914-1918, and the ancestors of people who live in Luton today. It has been compiled from the 1918 Luton Absent Voters List, Rolls of Honour; and information researched and uploaded by project volunteers and members of the public.
If you find your ancestor here, and there is only basic information available, then feel free to use the comment box to add further information you may already know. The WWI Project Team, can then add this further information to the basic data we already hold.
The sources of this information can be found via the links below. Please feel free to download and use this information, but please please search for and upload your ancestor to the site if/when you find them:-
Absent Voters List
Luton Roll of honour
Before adding anybody to the site, it is always advisable to search for your ancestor first.
Henry Cecil Pugh was born in 1899.
In 1911 he was 13 years old & living with his parents Albert & Mary Hannah Brooks at 97 Ash Road.
Walter J Brooks was born in 1893 in Dunstable. 1 of 13 children born to Albert & Emma.
Sidney Brooks was born on 9th October 1895 In Luton, 1 of 13 children born to Albert & Emma.
On 14th October 1902 His father Albert died & left Emma widowed with a large family to look after.
William Brooks was born in Nottingham in 1881. 1 of 13 children born to Albert & Emma.
On 11th December 1899, aged 18 years old William married Clara Smith in Luton.
Percival Harold Brooks was born in 1899 in Luton. He was 1 of 13 children born to Albert & Emma.
On 14th October 1902 His father Albert died & left Emma widowed with a large family to look after.
L-Cpl Charles Bryan Hobbs, 17138, 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards, was killed in action in France on October 19th, 1915. He was aged 23 and had been in charge of a bomb-throwing section.
Acting L-Cpl Percy William Tilcock, 1485, 1/2nd Field Company, East Anglian Divisional Engineers, died on the hospital ship Glenart Castle on November 26th, 1915, from wounds received at Gallipoli. He was buried at sea in the Mediterranean on the same day.
Pte Arthur Wallace Woodcroft, 18612, 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in Flanders on November 27th, 1915. Some military records name him as Arthur Walter Woodcroft.
Pte Harold Alfred Field, 1722, 1/1st Eastern Mounted Brigade Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps, was killed by a stray bullet as he sheltered in a tent during a storm at Gallipoli on November 27th, 1915. He was aged 19.
Driver Amos Charles Moody, 2720, 3/2nd Field Company, East Anglian Royal Engineers, died in the early hours of Saturday, December 10th, 1915, after being ill for two or three days with pleurisy and double pneumonia.
Lieut Nelson Johnstone, 2/2nd Midland Brigade Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C., stationed at Kings Lynn, died suddenly at Cambridge while undergoing an operation at a military hospital.
Company Sgt-Major Alfred Saunders, 112, 2nd Battalion, King's Royal Rifles, died of wounds sustained in action in Flanders on November 24th, 1915.
First-class Gunner Arthur Best, 37371, Royal Garrison Artillery, died in the Keppel Place Hospital, Stoke, Devonport, on December 23rd, 1915, after suffering two attacks of pleurisy while serving in Gibraltar that led to him contracting consumption which led to a haemorrhage.
Pte Frank William Gilder, 2430, 1/24th Battalion, County of London Regiment, was killed in action at Loos on December 30th, 1915. He was aged 19.
Pte Stephen George Hare, 8426, 1st Battalion, Beds Regt, was killed in action near Fricourt in France on January 6th, 1916. He was aged 29.
Pte George William Rolph, 18924, 2nd Bedfordshire Regiment, is officially listed as killed in action in France on January 15th, 1916. A letter from the battlefield said he was killed by a shell while on sentry duty on January 13th.
Company Quartermaster-Sgt Douglas Ritchie, Army Service Corps, died in the Fulham Military Hospital on January 15th, 1916, from double pneumonia.
Cyclist Henry Albert 'Harry' James, 3164, 47th London Divisional Cyclist Company, was killed in action in action in France on January 21st, 1916.
Sgt Harry Pestell, 16949, C Company, 7th Bedfords, was killed in action near Fricourt, France, on January 21st, 1916. He was aged 29.
Pte Horace Charles Day, 15086, 7th Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in France on January 21st, 1916. He was aged about 21.
Trooper Charles William Reginald 'Reggie' Looker, 1236, 1/1st Bedfordshire Yeomanry, was killed in action in France on February 1st, 1916. His body with a bullet wound through the head was discovered in a trench by his younger brother Richard.
Herbert Dean Cowley was born in Rawtenstall, Lancashire in 1891 to Herbert & Margaret.
In 1911 aged 20 he is working as an apprentice photographer & living with his family at No 61 Brook Street, Luton.
William James Cowley was born in Rawtenstall, Lancashire in 1893
In 1911 aged 18 he is working as a clerk & junior warehouseman at a straw & felt hat manufactures along his father & living with his family at No 61 Brook Street, Luton.
Ronald Cunningham was born in Luton in October 1899.
In 1901 aged just 1 year old he is living with his family at no 16 Gladstone Avenue.
Pte Gustavus 'Will' Eames, 2537, 24th County of London Regiment, died on February 13th, 1916, from wounds sustained in action in Flanders. He was buried at Bethune Town Cemetery, Pas de Calais.
Captain Edward Emil Simeons, 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, died on February 17th, 1916, from shell wounds sustained in action near Ypres the previous day. He was aged 22.
Pte Thomas John Bunker, 18968, 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards, was killed in action in France on February 10th, 1916. Using the name John, he was 19 and his home was at 73 Beech Road, Luton.
Stoker First Class Charles Higgs, K/7429, was lost when the armed boarding steamer HMS Fauvette hit two mines laid by a German submarine and sank in the Thames estuary, off North Foreland, Kent, on March 9th, 1916. He was aged 25 and one of 14 crew reported missing, believed dead.
John Crawford Cunningham was born in Luton in 1894.
In 1901 aged 6 years old he is living with his family at no 16 Gladstone Avenue.
Cpl Henry Lewis Hill, 10092, 2nd Battalion Beds Regiment, was killed in France on March 14th, 1916, when fragments of shell entered a cellar in which he and other men were sheltering. A second man was also killed while the remainder escaped unhurt.
Pte Thomas Everitt, 3/8430, 8th Battalion Beds Regiment, was killed in action near Ypres on March 1st, 1916. His younger brother, Frederick, 15432, Essex Regiment, was killed at Loos on September 26th, 1915.
Christopher Angus Cunningham was born in Luton in 1889, 1 of 4 children born to John Christopher & Clara.
In 1901 aged 12 years old he is living with his family at no 16 Gladstone Avenue.
Pte Albert George Taylor, 8459, 1st Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment, was killed in action at Ypres on November 7th, 1914. His widowed mother Sophia and sister Mabel were then living at 42 Collingdon Street, Luton.
Colin Campbell Daniels was born in Salford, Lancashire in 1894, the eldest of three children born to William Robert and Lily.
Pte Cyril Snoxell, 11370, 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment), died of pneumonia at the 6th Stationary Hospital, Le Havre in France, on March 23rd, 1916. He was aged 23.
Rifleman Augustus Tennyson Bruton, C/1611, 16th Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps, died at the Lord Derby War Hospital, Warrington, Lancs, on April 10th, 1916, from wounds accidentally sustained during bomb-throwing training in France. He was aged 21.