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.
Hubert Douglas Stratford was born in Luton in 1889, the son of Edward Douglas and Kate Stratford. His father was an auctioneer and land agent living at 33 Downs Road, Luton.
Ernest Charles Mills joined the Bedfordshire Regiment, in 1915 and transferred to the Machine Gun Corps (M.G.C.) in 1916. The M.G.C. was known as the suicide corps, but Ernest survived and was discharged in 1919.
Trooper William George Byron was born in Macclesfield, Cheshire in 1880.
In 1891 he was living with his parents, 4 sisters & brother in Hanover Square area of Belgravia, London. His father is working as a Horse Superintendant.
Pte Stanley Alfred Barton, 14196, 11th Battalion Essex Regiment, was reported missing during heavy fighting on the Somme in France on March 22nd, 1918.
Sidney Price's story is linked to Luton via finding his name in an Autograph Book that existed in Collingdon Street during WW1.
From the Luton News dated 25th May 1916. Private Frederick Gordon Smart of Harcourt Street Luton has just been wounded after serving for nine months with the Bedfords in France. He received a gunshot in the right arm.
From the Luton News 13th July 1916. DEATH OF PRIVATE CUSTANCE. Escaped in Battle - succumbed to Illness. The sad news has just been received of the death in Egypt of Private Henry Custance, of the 1/5th Bedfords, aged 21 years, and son of Mr and Mrs Custance of 15 Kings Road. Luton.
From the Luton News 13th July 1916. OLD CELTIC FOOTBALLER KILLED IN THE GREAT BATTLE.
Matthew Millar Little was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland in 1889. At the outbreak of the First World War he was a coal miner but joined the Scottish Rifles (Reserves). This is a photograph taken in 1914, with Matthew's wife, Elizabeth, and eldest son, Alexander.
From The Luton News 13.7.1916. SAVED BY HIS HELMET. Well known Luton Footballer's Experience. How the British Soldier Goes into Action. Despite his wounds, Pte H C Preece, 2nd Battalion, Beds Regt., writes us a very cheery letter from a V.A.D. hospital at Broadstairs.
From The Luton News 27th July 1916. ANOTHER HERO GONE. Well known both in his native Luton and in Ampthill and district, Pte Joseph Payne, son of Mrs E Payne of 15 Inkerman Street, Luton, has met his death in France after being nearly twelve months in the fighting line, joining the Army soon af
Cyril was a patient at Wardown V.A.D. Hospital, and was discharged from the army in May 1916 due to sickness, under Kings regulations 392 (xvi).
Stuart John Webb was a son of George Webb, a dentist of Westbourne Road, Luton, and his wife Elizabeth.
Bernard Vincent Webb was the son of George Webb, a dentist of Westbourne Road, Luton, and his wife Elizabeth.
Bernard was just 17 when he enlisted with the Bedfordshire Regiment in September 1914. He told the recruiting officer he was 19!
George (jnr) Henry Webb was the son of George Webb, a dentist of Westbourne Road, Luton, and his wife Elizabeth.
Ernest W.T. Groom was a member of the 2nd Battallion The Bedfordshire Regiment, and was killed on the 11th July 1916 during the attack on Trones Wood.
Major General The Hon. Edward James Montagu-Stuart-Wortley, CB, CMG, DSO, MVO (31 July 1857 – 19 March 1934) was a general of the King's Royal Rifle Corps that served the British Army from 1877 to 1919.
Joseph served with the South Staffordshire Regiment when he was killed in March 1918
His entry in the 1911 Census shows he was a father with young children, and lived in Pondwicks Street (now part of Power Court) Luton.
Frederick Walter was born in Luton on 2 July 1897 to Walter & Florence.
He had 1 brother & 3 sisters.
Charles Samuel Irons was born in January 1898 in Luton, the only child of Samuel & Beatrice.
From the Luton News 15th February 1917.
From the Luton News 22nd February 1917. SOLDIER'S WIFE'S SUICIDE. Young Mother Attempts to Strangle her Child. Sad Tragedy at Pepperstock.
From The Luton News 9th January 1917. FROM THE RANKS. Another Brave Lutonian Receives a Commission. We are pleased to announce that Pte Frederick Lewis Pedley, son of Mrs Pedley of 73 Conway Road Luton, has been gazetted to a commission.
Omar Sinfield donates a prize at the 1917 Regimental Sports Day held at Wardown Park. He was posted to the R.F.A. Camp at Biscot, Luton.
From the Luton News 9th January 1917. A WHEATHAMPSTEAD SOLDIER. Reported Missing.
On the 9th January 1916 the Luton News reported the death of Alfred Johnstone. At the outbreak of war, Alfred Johnstone was living with his parents and brother Leonard, at 4 Warwick Road, Luton.
Delete this text first, then replace it with more about who this person is, what is their story, what happened in their life. You can include links to other web places, but not pictures or other files here.
Delete this text first, then replace it with more about who this person is, what is their story, what happened in their life. You can include links to other web places, but not pictures or other files here.
Delete this text first, then replace it with more about who this person is, what is their story, what happened in their life. You can include links to other web places, but not pictures or other files here.
Delete this text first, then replace it with more about who this person is, what is their story, what happened in their life. You can include links to other web places, but not pictures or other files here.
Details imported from Luton Absent Voters list 1918
Details imported from Luton Absent Voters list 1918
Details imported from Luton Absent Voters list 1918
Details imported from Luton Absent Voters list 1918
Details imported from Luton Absent Voters list 1918
Details imported from Luton Absent Voters list 1918
Details imported from Luton Absent Voters list 1918