Rifle Brigade

Rifleman William Ernest Ratcliffe

 

Rifleman William Ernest Ratcliffe, S/11035, 3rd Battalion Rifle Brigade, died on the Somme on August 18th, 1916.

He is recorded as having been born in Luton around 1895 and is on the Luton Roll of Honour, but without an address. It is likely that his family had left Luton before the time of his death. The 1911 Census suggests that 16-year-old William was a boarder in a boys' home in London.

The Luton News carried a picture of the late Rifleman Ratcliffe, of Luton, in its October 5th, 1916, edition, but without further details.

 

Lance Corporal Harry Whinnett

 

L-Cpl* Harry Whinnett, 9289, 1st Rifle Brigade, was killed in action on April 26th, 1915. Prior to the war he was a police constable in Grimsby whose mother lived at 103 Frederic Street, Luton.

His wife Annie and three children, who lived at 61 Fraser Street, Grimsby, learned of his death in an official War Office notification.

Harry Whinnett was the first Grimsby policeman to lose his life at the front. He had joined the police in May 1906 and was one of the few reservists in the Grimsby force. He was called up at the outbreak of hostilities.

Sergeant Walter Henry Ford

 

Sgt Walter Henry (Harry) Ford, 9047, Rifle Brigade, was killed in action at Hill 60 on May 3rd, 1915. He lived at 11 May Street, Luton, and left a widow (Minnie Clara) and three children (Doris Emily, Beatrice Maud and Harry). The couple had married at St Paul's Church, Luton, early in 1907

Rifleman Sidney George Lewin

 

Rifleman Sidney George Lewin, 2154, 4th Battalion Rifle Brigade, was killed in action on March 1st, 1915. Only son of Sarah Lewin and the late George William Lewin, of 23 Winsdon Road, Luton, he was aged 24.

Official War Office notification received by his mother that resulted in a The Luton News report at the time said he was killed in action on March 2nd. The March 1st date is contained on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website.

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