15 star

Corporal Harry Meeds

Cpl Henry (Harry) Meeds, 25317, 11th Battalion Suffolk Regiment, was killed in action in Flanders on April 29th, 1918. He had volunteered just before his death to return to the firing line, having for a considerable time beforehand been doing police duty for another battalion, journeying to and fro with German prisoners of war.

Harry was the son of former undertaker William Meeds and his wife Jennie, of 2 Windsor Street, Luton. He was born in Boscombe, Bournemouth, and was single.

Sapper Frank Percy King

Sapper Frank Percy King, 522158, 483rd Field Company Royal Engineers, was killed in action on the Somme on April 2nd, 1918. He was aged 22 and single.

A comrade wrote to parents Frederick and Martha King at 127 Park Street, Luton: "I have some sad news to tell you. we lost an old Park Street boy, killed the last day we were in the line - Easter Tuesday. He was a jolly nice fellow, a little older than myself, and we had some very nice talks together about Park Street, for he and I were the only two Park Street boys in the Company."

Sergeant Sidney Fensome

Sgt Sidney Fensome, 19789, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on March 22nd, at the start of the German spring offensive of 1918. He was aged 28.

The son of Samuel and Ellen Fensome, of Ramridge End Lane, Stopsley, he was the third of the couple's sons to die in battle. Sidney is commemorated on both the Stopsley and Luton War Memorials.

Pte Horace Fensome, of the Beds Regiment, had died on the Somme in September 1916, just days before the loss of his brother, Arthur William (Machine Gun Corps).

Private Horace Arthur Clark

Pte Horace Arthur ('Jack') Clark, 12427, 6th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, died of wounds in a Canadian clearing station in Flanders on February 28th, 1918. He had previously served in the trenches for three years without injury.

A telegram on March 1st, 1918, stated that Pte Clark had been severely wounded in the legs, arms, hands and face. The following day brought news of his death and burial by a Church of England chaplain in a military cemetery.

Corporal Sidney Francis Waring

Sidney Francis Waring was born in Luton in October 1884.

In July 1911 he married May Camp in Luton.

Sidney enlisted into the 5th Bedfordshire Regiment & was posted to Gallipoli.

Sidney died at Brighton Military Hospital on 26th March 1916 from meningitis following his wounds received in Gallipoli.

He is buried in the cemetery on Rothesay Road.

Private Thomas Eames

Thomas Eames was born in Sundon, Bedfordshire in 1889 to John & Emma.

In 1911 Thomas is 23 years old & working as a farm labourer. His brother Arthur, 28 & also a farm labourer is now head of the household as both their parents have died. Living in Sundon with them are sister Annie, 30, housekeeper to her brothers & their 4 year old niece Minnie Blackaby.

Thomas joined the Bedfordshire Regiment on the outbreak of war & was sent to France. In November 1916 Thomas was injured in the arm & sent home where he had his arm amputated just above the elbow.

Gunner Patrick Grogan

Patrick Grogan was born in Ireland in 1885. He came from a large Roman Catholic family, 1 of 9 children born to Paul, a farmer & Maria.

In 1901 he is living in Feakle, Co. Clare. He is working with his mother &  father on the farm with his siblings James 24, Mary 22, Ellen 20, Delia 14, Michael 12, Thomas 10, Dan 8, Paul 6 & 2 year old Josie.

Patrick married Edith Mary Fulks on 28th September 1913 in Poole in Dorset. Their son Percy Raymond was born on 3rd December 1914 in Wigginton, Tring, Hertfordshire.

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