Pte Harry Gilmore Bumstead (Bumpstead*), 90017, 45th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps, was killed in action in France on April 12th, 1917. He was aged 21.

He had joined the Territorials in October 1913, and on the outbreak of war was stationed near Brighton and later at Rendlesham Park, Norfolk. He saw service overseas when he went to the Dardanelles in October 1915. There he contracted dysentery and was invalided home the following January. After a stay in England he went to Ireland before being drafted to France.

Pte Frederick Reginald Allen, 27968, 6th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action while serving as a stretcher bearer in Flanders on April 9th, 1917. He was aged 27.

Cpl Sydney Arthur Smart, 33269, 8th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, died on April 6th, 1917, from wounds sustained in France. He was aged 24 and left a widow, Bertha May (nee Harper), living at 46 St Saviours Crescent Luton.

A Chaplain wrote to Mrs Smart to inform her that her husband had been brought into a Casualty Clearing Station at about midnight very badly wounded and, although everything possible was done for him, he passed peacefully away at 5.30am.

Charles Griffin, previously head of police at Clitheroe, Lancashire, was appointed Luton's new Chief Constable on April 3rd, 1917, by the unanimous decision of the Town Council. His new job followed the death of previous Luton police chief David Teale on December 13th, 1916. Mr Griffin took up his duties officially on May 8th.

The new police chief was 34 years old and married but with no children. He had 11 years and 29 days approved service in the police, but had 13½ years of practical experience of police duties.

Signalman James Baird Stewart RN, J/29093, was drowned in a collision in the North Sea in which the minesweeper HMS Q20 sank. The body of the 19-year-old was never recovered.

Mother Mrs Jessie Stewart, of 25 John Street, Luton, was officially told of his death on the following Monday. The family had moved to Luton from Scotland some years earlier, and James had served in the Navy for three years. Prior to enlistment he had worked at the Diamond Foundry in Dallow Road, Luton.

Sapper Horace George Andrews, 522510 (3337), 486th Field Company Royal Engineers, was presumed killed in action at Gaza in Egypt on March 27th, 1917. He was initially reported to be wounded and missing with the possibility he had been taken as a prisoner of war by the Turks.

His Captain wrote in a letter to parents Joseph and Barbara Andrews, at 34 Ashburnham Road, that their son had been missing since the night of March 27th. He had last been seen bravely carrying ammunition to the front line, and it was known that it was then he was wounded.

Gunner William Childs, 28795, 86th Heavy Battery Royal Garrison Artillery, died of enteric fever while a prisoner of war of the Turks on January 19th, 1917. He was aged 27 and had served in the Army in India for eight years prior to the outbreak of war.

Pte Frank (Francis) George Miller, 27839, 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in France on March 14th or 15th, 1917. Official records give the date as the 14th, letters from the front said 15th.

Lieut Harry T. Trowman wrote to widowed mother Mrs Miriam Miller at 17 Oxford Road, Luton: "It is with great regret that I write to tell you about your son, F. Miller. He was killed on the 15th when the battalion was about to attack in the neighbourhood of Achiet.

Cpl Leonard Euinton, 32990, 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in France by a minenwerfer [trench mortar] on March 16th, 1917. He was aged 28.

A chaplain wrote that he had been killed while holding a post in a front trench. His death must have been instantaneous as the part of the trench in which he was on duty was blown in. He was buried the next day in a little cemetery near the line he was defending, in the presence of a number of his comrades.

L-Cpl Cecil Clement Robinson, 16318, 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action near Achiet-le-Grand in France on March 15th, 1917. He was aged 37.

Second-Lieut Meredyth Robert Owen Williams, 25th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, was killed in action in France on March 14th, 1917. He was the younger son of Luton Alderman Herbert Owen Williams, of Farley Lynches, Castle Street [now Farley Hill]. He was a month short of his 23rd birthday.

His commanding officer wrote to parents Herbert and Edith Jane Williams that their son was manning a support trench with his platoon during a German raid at about five o'clock in the morning. The gun fire was terribly heavy, and Lieut Williams was killed by a bursting shell.

Second-Lieut Ralph Wycombe Butcher, 4th Battalion Manchester Regiment (attached 22nd Battalion), was killed in action in France on March 14th, 1917. The 21-year-old had initially been reported wounded and missing.

Parents William Joseph and Lily Rhoda Butcher, of Bendrose, Braithwaite Road [later part of Malzeard Road], Luton, were told by their son's commanding officer that Ralph's body had been found by a search party close to the enemy's wires.

Pte Patrick Harry Godding, 19653, Dorsetshire Regiment, died at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, Hampshire, on March 6th, 1917, his death attributed to exposure on the battlefield. He was aged 41.

Pte Gooding had broken his thigh on the way to the trenches during his service of about six weeks in France. One report was that the injury was the result of a kick from a horse. He was immediately sent back to England, and his wife, Louisa Annie, visited him in hospital shortly before he died.

Pte Charles Mardle, 20175, 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the banks of the River Ancre in France on February 13th, 1917.

He joined the Bedfords in April 1915, and after a period of training at Ampthill was drafted to France the following January. In July 1916 he was seriously wounded in a bomb accident and was sent to Manchester. After recuperating, he rejoined his regiment and was again sent to France in early November.

Pte Herbert Thomas Oliver, 60378, 11th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, died on February 19th, 1917, from wounds received in action on the Somme two days previously. He was aged 27 and died at the 47th Casualty Clearing Station in France.

The captain commanding his company wrote to widow Mrs Agnes Oliver at 1 Moreton Road, Round Green, saying that at the time her husband was wounded he was doing his duty coolly and steadily under heavy fire. All the officers and many of the NCOs had become casualties.