6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment

Private Henry Bunyan MM

Pte Henry Bunyan MM, 33018, 6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, was killed in action in the battle of the Lys in Flanders on April 26th, 1918, when the Allies were about to halt the German spring offensive of 1918.

He had joined the 5th Bedfords (3666) just before the outbreak of war and was mobilised when hostilities began. After being drafted to France he fought at Ypres, Arras, Messines and on the Somme. He gained his Military Medal for bravery in the field in October 1917.

Private Cyril Almond

Pte Cyril Almond, 33161, 6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, was killed in action in France on May 3rd, 1917. He was reported missing after the Battle of Arras, but it was nine anxious months before his parents at Chiltern Green received the official intimation of his death.

Private Christopher Shepheard

Christopher Shepheard was born on 22nd April 1892 in Luton, 1 of 10 children born to Sydney & Ellen.

In 1911 Christopher is 18 years old & working with his twin brother Harold as a warehouseman within the straw hat trade & living at 14 Rothesay Road with his family. His 63 year old father Sydney is a house painter, his brother John Sidney, 40 is a self employed straw hat manufacturer alongside his 36 year old sister Hellen Eliza, Lilley Louisa, 38 is a straw hat finisher & 29 year old George Henry is a carpenter & joiner.

Private Walter George Smith

Pte Walter George Smith, 40356, 6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, was killed in action in France on June 8th, 1917. He was aged 21.

In a letter of sympathy to parents George and Harriet Smith at 49 Hampton Road, Luton, Second Lieut W. A. Fletcher wrote: "Your son, Pte W. G. Smith, was killed yesterday evening, June 8th,. He was on a working party up in the front line and was hit on the back by a piece of shrapnel. It pierced his heart, and the doctor told me that death must have been instantaneous."

Private Frederick Perry

 

Pte Fred Perry, 33070, Leicestershire Regiment, was killed in action near Arras on April 13th, 1917. He left a widow, Alice Maud and six children, two of them adopted as their mother had died and their father was serving in France.

Fred Perry had been discharged from the Army on account of varicose veins after joining up at the outbreak of war. However, in November 1915 he rejoined and spent time training in Luton, Bedford, Halton Camp, Yorkshire and Folkestone. He went to France in December 1916.

Private Edgar Frederick Ambridge

 

Pte Edgar Frederick Ambridge, 40000, 6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, was killed in action in Flanders on February 25th, 1917. He was aged 27 and single.

His platoon officer wrote to parents William and Amelia Ambridge at 5 Clifton Road, Luton, that their son was killed on the night of February 25th during a heavy bombardment. He and five others gallantly held their post until a shell landed among them, instantly killing Edgar and two others..

A Chaplain later wrote that Edgar was buried on February 27th in a cemetery behind the firing line.

Subscribe to RSS - 6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment