Pte Harold Edward Steevens Phillips, 8344, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was posted missing, later presumed killed in action, on March 21st, 1918, at the start of the German spring offensive on the Somme.

Shortly before being missed, Ted, as he was known, was escorting prisoners when heavy shell and machine gun fire broke out and the escort were ordered to take cover. Since then there had been no trace of him.

Pte Sidney Louis Felks, 33000, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was posted missing, later presumed killed in action, in the German spring offensive on the Somme on March 22nd, 1918.

After joining the Bedfords in September 1914 and undergoing training at Newmarket and Darlington, he went to France in December 1916. On December 1st, 1917, he was wounded at Marcoing in the battle of Cambrai.

Prior to enlistment, Luton-born Sidney was employed by George Kent Ltd. Parents Albert and Clara Felks lived at 39 Collingdon Street, Luton.

Sgt Arthur Percy Wilson DCM, 9492, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in Flanders on December 8th, 1917. He was aged 29 and single.

In a letter to his mother Emily at 30 Queen Street, Luton, Capt J. Coe wrote that her son was killed on the night of December 8th while out wiring.

"I have known your son since 1911, when the regiment was stationed in Bermuda and South Africa," wrote Capt Coe. "He was always a keen soldier. I must say that since I have been in command of this company he has proved himself a brave man on several occasions during the war."

Pte Sidney George Ward, 33678, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, died on November 2nd, 1917, from wounds sustained near the front line in Belgium the previous day. He was aged 28.

In a letter to parents Herbert John and Louisa Ward, of 94 Dallow Road, Luton, CSM A. Cook wrote: "Your son was one of a working party which went to dig a trench not far from the front line, and whilst digging it he was hit by a bullet which pierced his side. He was immediately taken to the field ambulance, but unfortunately his wound proved fatal and he died the following morning."

The death in action on September 20th, 1917, in the Third Battle of Ypres in Belgium of Pte Stanley John Roe, 32254, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment appears to have gone unrecorded in Luton newspapers.

Census and other records, however show that he was the son of David (died 1908) and Kate (died 1914) Roe, both of whom lived only into their 30s. By 1911, Stanley was a 15-year-old foundry worker living at 98 Hitchin Road, Luton, with his widowed mother and a three-year-old sister, Gladys.

Pte Horace Edgar Hubbocks, 3/7430, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in Belgium on September 20th, 1917.

Born in Tring in 1898 and a son of William and Kate Hubbocks, of the Hare and Hounds pub, 32 New Town Street, Luton, he was mobilised at the outbreak of war and was stationed at Landguard, Suffolk, for 12 months. He was drafted to France while still aged only 17 and had served two years out there.

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.

Pte Joseph William Hare, 33634, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in Flanders on July 28th, 1917. He left a widow, Alice, and had been married for only 16 months.

Joseph had joined the Bedfordshire Yeomanry in 1915 and was quickly promoted to lance-corporal. At Christmas 1916 he was transferred to the Bedfordshire Regiment and reverted to the ranks. With them he went to France. On April 20th, 1917, he was wounded but returned to the fighting line after a three weeks stay at the base, and remained in service until his death at the age of 26.

Pte William Peck, 31136, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, is recorded as having died of wounds on July 27th, 1917, after being in action near Arras. A newspaper report at the time said widow Elizabeth, of 69 Chobham Street, Luton, was informed that her husband had been killed in action.

William had married Elizabeth Philpott at St Paul's Church, Luton, on June 24th, 1914, shortly before the outbreak of war. At the time he was a milkman working for dairyman Mr F. W. Pestell, of 17 Burr Street.

Cpl Vincent William George Ivory, 25690, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in Belgium on July 26th, 1917. He was aged 24 and single.

He had enlisted in the Beds Regiment in January 1916 and a year later was drafted to France. Before joining the Forces he was employed by hat materials merchant J. Briggs & Co, of King Street, Luton.

Pte Joseph Bransome, 22530, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, died in hospital on July 8th, 1917, from wounds sustained on the battlefield on July 1st. He was aged 33.

Sgt John McPheat, 35986, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action at Messines on June 7th, 1917. He was aged 36.

Born in Perth, Scotland, he enlisted as a volunteer at Luton at the outbreak of war. He served with the 1/5th Bedfords (No. 2961) at Gallpoli, from the Suvla Bay landing to the evacuation of the peninsular. He was finally invalided home suffering from shell shock and dysentery to recover in England before leaving Halton for France with the 2nd Bedfords in January 1917. He fought at Ypres and Messines.

Sgt Albert Mullett, 19166, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in Flanders on June 2nd, 1917. He was in charge of a Lewis gun company.

In a letter to parents William Frederick and Emily Mullett, of 142 Castle Street, Luton, his commanding officer wrote: "We were heavily shelled in the early hours, and he went off with a Lewis gun and team to a piece of trench isolated by two blocks, the outcome of the bombardment. Just after he had arrived a shell blew in the parapet and he, poor man, was pinned between two pieces of rivetting timber, and died there at once.

Sgt Peter Pieraccini, 19744, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on October 12th, 1916.

Born in Luton, he was the son of James and Elizabeth Pieraccini, of 19 May Street, Luton. He married Ethel May Dyer in 1906 and lived at 4 Manchester Place, Dunstable, with their six children.

A friend who was with him before they went into action wrote to his widow that Peter had been reported missing but was then found by another battalion to have been killed.

Sgt William Ginger, 18144, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on October 12th, 1916.

The father of three sons and three daughters, he had married Mary Jane Goodge in 1898 and was living in Summer Street, Slip End. The Flamstead-born soldier was a labourer working for builders T. & E. Neville, of Castle Street, Luton, before he joined up on December 7th, 1914.