Pte Frederick William Kirby, 18560, 54th Divisional Army Cyclist Corps, died from malaria in the 17th General Hospital at Alexandria, Egypt, on November 16th, 1918. He had been admitted dangerously ill on October 15th, appeared to be out of danger by November 3rd, but relapsed on November 9th, leading to his death a week later.

Pte John Henry Ford, 242622, 1/5th Battalion Norfolk Regiment, died in Wardown Hospital on November 24th, 1918. He had been discharged from service the previous July with diabetes mellitus and muscle wastage that he first began to suffer while serving in Egypt and Palestine.

The 23-year-old was buried with full military honours at Biscot Church Cemetery on November 29th, 1918.

Pte George William Bone MM, 90015, 137th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps, was killed in action in France on April 9th, 1918, along with fellow stretcher-bearer and Lutonian Pte Thomas Ralph Corney. They were carrying a wounded officer from the trenches when all three were killed by a shell. Pte Bone had earned the Military Medal in September 1917 after being wounded while carrying an injured man a distance of 350 yards under shell fire.

Pte Ernest Sylvester Harris, 18614, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action by a shell at the Third Battle of Ypres on August 1st, 1917. He was aged 25.

His death seems to have been included in Luton newspapers only as a name on a Beds Regiment casualty list published in the Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph of September 8th, 1917, although he is included on the Luton Roll of Honour.

L-Cpl Robert John Cecil Moate, 200634, 1/5th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in Palestine on July 20th, 1917, and has no known grave. He was aged 20 and the only son of widowed Lizzie Moate, of 23 Union Street, Luton.

Cecil Moate, as he was known, was under age for foreign service when he joined the Bedfords (No 4641) but went to Gallipoli in 1915. There he suffered from dysentery and was in hospital in Malta for six months before being posted to Egypt.

Bertie Breed was born in 1882, 1 of 8 children born to William & Mary Ann.

In 1891 he is a 10 year old school boy & is living with his family 192 High Town Road. His father William is 41 years old & working at the Gas Stove factory, his 41 year old mother Mary is a straw hat sewer, at home whilst looking after 4 year old Eunice & 2 year old Sidney. His 14 year old brother Ernest is working as a servant boy.

Percy Luck was born in 1884 in Luton, 1 of 4 children born to William & Sarah Ann.

In 1911 Percy is 17 years old & assisting in the family business of bakers & confectioners at 38 Bury Park road. His 50 year old father, 50 year old mother & 19 year old sister Nellie May are all working at the bakery. Percy's paternal aunt Ada Williamson, 44 is living with them, so is their general domestic servant 22 year old Edith Aston.

Pte Charles Frost MM, 15525, Gloucestershire Regiment, died in hospital at Taplow, Bucks, on September 27th, 1918, as the result of a gunshot wound that fractured his right thigh in France on August 11th.

He had spent three weeks in hospital in France before being brought back to England and an anticipated recovery. His body was brought back to Luton and buried at the General Cemetery in Rothesay Road on the afternoon of October 3rd.

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.

Previously he lived at London Road Lodge, Stockwood, with parents John and Fanny Bunker and family. His father was gamekeeper to Mrs Crawley, of Stockwood House, for nearly a quarter of a century.

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.

Amos Godbeer Coleman was born in 1884.

In 1905 Amos married Alice Louisa Cheshire in Luton & in 1911 they are living with their 2 year old daughter Lillian Maud Francis in Summer Street, Slip End, Luton. Alice was pregnant with their first son Stanley William Edward. Amos is 27 years old & working as a gardener's labourer.

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.

Walter J Brooks was born in 1893 in Dunstable. 1 of 13 children born to Albert & Emma.

William Fensome was born on 23rd January 1883 in Luton to Henry & Matilda.

In 1900 William joined the 3rd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. He is described on his service record as 5ft 4 inches tall with a fresh complexion, hazel eyes & brown hair. He has many scars on his body including burns to his chest. He was working as a moulder in an iron factory & living at 14 Round Green. He spent 6 years with the Bedfordshire Regiment.

On 13th April 1903 William married Rose Poulton.  

Edwin Benjamin Eales was born in 1892 in Hammersmith, London.

In the 1911 census it tells us that he is living at 19 South Road, Luton with his widowed mother Kate 42, & sister Edith Florence 14, both are working as straw hat machinist. His elder brother Horace William 22, is a boiler maker in the iron foundry, whilst 6 year old Cyril Thomas is at school.