With the second anniversary of Gallipoli looming and its large toll of Luton casualties, the unmistakable indications that the 1/5th Bedfordshire Regiment had been in action again came with a casualty list that included the name of Commanding Officer Lieut-Col Edgar Brighten among those slightly wounded.
For some days, said The Luton News in its August 2nd, 1917, edition, we have known that there had been "something on". And over the coming weeks both The Luton News and the Saturday Telegraph would carry reports and pictures of men killed and wounded at Umbrella Hill, near strategically important Gaza - starting with a first raid on the Turkish position on July 20th, 1917.
A detailed report of the build-up to Umbrella Hill is available on the Bedfordshire Regiment website, click here. The casualties reported in The Luton News and Saturday Telegraph were:
KILLED/DIED OF WOUNDS
BLAYDON: Pte Cecil Harold (Beds Regiment), son of Sidney and Lily, of The Knapps, Toddington Road, Leagrave (July 20th).
BREED: Cpl Bertie (Beds Regiment), husband of Lilian, of 7 Talbot Road, Luton (July 20th).
BYSOUTH: Pte Frederick James (Beds Regiment), husband of Beatrice, of 123 Russell Street, Luton (July 20th).
FELKS: Pte Thomas Arthur (Beds Regiment), son of John and Mary, of 23 John Street, Luton (July 20th).
FLITTON: Pte William (Beds Regiment), son of David and Jane, of Letchworth Road, Limbury (died of wounds, July 21st).
HULL: L-Sgt Charles (Beds Regiment), son of William Hull, of 34 Buxton Road, Luton, and husband of Emily, of Bury St Edmunds (July 20th).
HULL: Pte Frederick (Beds Regiment), son of William Hull, of 34 Buxton Road, Luton (July 20th).
MOATE: L-Cpl Robert John Cecil (Beds Regiment), only son of Lizzie Moate, of 23 Union Street, Luton (July 20th).
RHODES: Pioneer William (Royal Engineers), son of William and Edith, of 20 Reginald Street, Luton (July 20th).
THURLOW: Pte Percy (Beds Regiment), second son of Arthur and Harriet, 216 Wellington Street, Luton (July 20th).
WATKINS: L-Cpl Philip Herbert (Beds Regiment), husband of Maud, of 14 Highbury Road, Luton (July 20th).
WOUNDED
BRIGHTEN: Lieut-Col Edgar W., Commanding Officer (Beds Regiment), Lansdowne Road, Luton - slight wounds.
BAXTER: Sapper I. J. (Royal Engineers, attached Beds Regiment), husband of Mrs Baxter, of 42 New Town Street, Luton - admitted to hospital with wounds or illness.
BILLINGTON: Pte J. (Beds Regiment), husband of Mrs Billington, of 21 Windmill Street, Luton - admitted to 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital, El Arish, Egypt, with gunshot wound in left buttock (July 20th),
BROWN: L-Cpl F. (Beds Regiment), husband of Mrs Brown, of 85 Lea Road, Luton - admitted to 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital, El Arish, Egypt, with gunshot wound to chest (July 22nd).
BROWN: Pte Percy (Beds Regiment), of 27 Whitby Road, Luton - admitted to 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital, El Arish, Egypt, with gunshot wound in the left shoulder (July 20th).
COATE: 2nd Lieut T. A. J. (Beds Regiment), second son of the Rev H.Coate, Vicar of St Matthew's Church, Luton - admitted to 21st General Hospital, Cairo,with gunshot wounds to right arm and right thigh (July 29th).
COOK: Sapper Tom (Royal Engineers, attached Beds Regiment), son of Mr and Mrs A. Cook, of 65 Langley Street, Luton - admitted to 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital, El Arish, Egypt, with gunshot wounds in both legs (July 23rd).
EUINTON: Pte Stanley (Beds Regiment), son of Mr and Mrs Euinton, of 48 Park Road West, Luton - 2nd Australian Station Hospital, El Arish, Egypt, wounded in the back and right leg (July 20th).
FIELD: Pte J. (Beds Regiment), son of Mrs Field, of 53 Alma Street, Luton - slightly wounded (July 20th).
GARRETT: Signaller W. (Beds Regiment), 82 New Town Street, Luton - admitted to 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital, El Arish, Egypt, with multiple gunshot wounds (July 20th).
HENSMAN: Cpl Percy G. (Royal Engineers), of 171 Park Street, Luton - admitted to 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital, El Arish, Egypt, with gunshot wound in right leg.
IMPEY: Pte Horace (Beds Regiment), son of Mrs Impey, of 53 Cowper Street, Luton - admitted to 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital, El Arish, Egypt, with gunshot wound in the left leg (July30th)
LOGAN: Pte Neil (Beds Regiment), son of Mrs Logan, of 51 Warwick Road, Luton - admitted to 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital, El Arish, Egypt, with gunshot wound in the left arm (July 22nd).
MORGAN: Pte Alfred George (Beds Regiment), son of Mrs Morgan, of 16 Wimbourne Road, Luton - admitted to 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital, El Arish, Egypt, dangerously wounded by gunshot in abdomen (July 20th).
ROOKWOOD: L-Cpl Arthur (Beds Regiment), son of Mrs Rookwood, of 14 Ashton Street, Luton - admitted to 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital, El Arish, Egypt, with gunshot wound in left thigh (July 20th).
SKINNER: Pte Ray (Beds Regiment), of 12 Holly Walk, Luton - in an undisclosed hospital with scorching of the face and powder in the eyes (July 20th).
WICKSON: Scout Arthur John (Beds Regiment), son of Mr and Mrs Robert Wickson, of 71 Dordans Rad, Luton, and orderly to Lieut-Col Brighten - slightly wounded (July 20th).
PRISONERS OF WAR
COOK: Pte Alfred George (Beds Regiment), son of Samuel Frederick and Matilda, of 15 Langley Road, Luton (July 20th - died in captivity November 4th, 1918).
SMITH: Pte Frederick D. (Beds Regiment), son of Mrs Smith, of 7 Chobham Street, Luton (July 20th).