L-Cpl Ernest David Rattle, 40902, 1st Herts Regiment, was killed in action in France on March 23rd, 1918. His widow, in ill health and with five small children under the age of seven to care for in Luton, had heard nothing from him since March 18th.

Ernest had been promised home leave, and widow Alice at 12 Naseby Road, Luton, was daily expecting a telegram to say he was on his way. But it was not until August 1919 that the War Office concluded that he had been killed in action or died of wounds on March 23rd, 1918.

Pte Percy Edward Roe, 203850, 1/1st Hertfordshire Regiment, was into only his third day in the trenches when he died on September 25th, 1917, from wounds sustained on the battlefield near Ypres. He left behind a young widow whom he married only about three months earlier.

His section commander wrote that he and his men were in a support trench when a heavy bombardment started. A shell burst near and blew up eight men, including Pte Roe.