Pte John Thomas Brown, 10238, 7th Battalion The Buffs (East Kent Regiment), was reported missing, later presumed killed, on August 3rd, 1917. Six months later his widow asked, through The Luton News, for any information about her husband.
Born in Luton in 1876, he was a son of the late John and Ann Brown. He had married Nellie Osborne at Luton Parish Church on August 5th, 1905. At the time of the 1911 Census John was described as a straw trader living at 28 Stanley Street, Luton.
Pte George Scrivener, G/10241, 7th Battalion The Buffs (East Kent) Regiment, died on April 21st, 1917, while a prisoner of the Germans. He had developed inflammation of the bowel after being captured on November 18th, 1916. His death was eventually recorded in The Luton News on January 17th, 1918.
Born in Biscot in 1878, he had married Maria Smith at Biscot Parish Church on April 5th, 1902. The couple had two daughters - Lily Irene (born 1904) and Barbara Eleanor (1911). In 1911 they were living in Limbury, and George was working as a labourer for a nurseryman.
Pte Francis Finch, 23860, 7th Battalion The Buffs (East Kent) Regiment, was killed in action in Flanders on October 13th, 1917, having initially been reported missing.
He had joined the Training Reserve Battalion in February 1917 at the age of 18, and was drafted to France at the beginning of August.
Francis was a son of Joseph and Eliza Finch, who lived at Lower Sundon. His father and three older brothers were farm labourers at the time of the 1911 Census, when Francis was still at school. Francis also became a farm worker, employed by farmer Henry Gates, of Sundon.
Pte Aubrey Julian Pearce, 19182, 7th Battalion The Buffs (East Kent Regiment), was killed in action on the Somme on February 26th, 1917. He was aged 20.
Although born and living in Wheatheampstead, he was an old boys of Luton Modern School and is included on the Luton Roll of Honour.
After leaving school he entered the service of the London and South-Western Bank at the Wood Green branch, from where he joined the Army on April 3rd, 1916. After a period of training in Kent, he went to the Western Front on November 27th.
