L-Cpl Cyril Stone Terry Short, 19477, 26th Battalion Royal Fusiliers (Bankers' Battalion) was killed in action on the Somme on or a day or two before 18th September, 1916.

Born in Southsea, Hampshire, where he spent most of his life, L-Cpl Short had arrived in Luton by 1911 as a bank clerk employed by the Capital and Counties Bank on the corner of George Street and Bute Street [now the premises of Lloyds Bank].

Pte Harry (Henry) Waller, 27820, 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on October 24th, 1916. He was aged 35.

His mother Sarah Ann, living at 45 Langley Road [now Latimer Road], Luton, was told in a letter from Second Lieut J. H. Kay that her son was killed by a piece of shell while at his post in the trenches on October 24th.

Before joining up eight months previously he had been employed at Stewart Hubbard's dyeworks in Regent Street. He had been at the Front for three months.

Pte Harry (Henry) Waller, 27820, 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on October 24th, 1916. He was aged 35.

His mother Sarah Ann, living at 45 Langley Road [now Latimer Road], Luton, was told in a letter from Second Lieut J. H. Kay that her son was killed by a piece of shell while at his post in the trenches on October 24th.

Before joining up eight months previously he had been employed at Stewart Hubbard's dyeworks in Regent Street. He had been at the Front for three months.

Rifleman Arthur James Gaunt, 4173, 1/8th Battalion London Regiment (Post Office Rifles), was killed in action on the Somme on September 15th, 1916.

Born in Turvey, Beds, the 20-year-old was the son of Edward Green Gaunt and the late Lucy (nee Burr), who died in November 1915. His father lived at 12 Hartley Road, Luton, at the time of Arthur's death.

In the 1911 Census Arthur is described as a telegraph boy. He became an assistant postman in August 1912, and had transferred to Harrow as a postman before he enlisted.

Pte Lusignan Ernest Jeffery, 26047, 9th Loyal North Lancs Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on September 3rd, 1916. He was aged 25.

Born in Banbury, Oxon, in 1891, he worked for hat firm A. Hucklesby and Co, George Street, Luton, before enlisting in the Bedfordshire Regiment in February 1916. He was transferred to the Loyal North Lancashires and was attached to the Manchester Regiment on the Somme. Comrades at first reported him wounded and the War Office notified that he was missing.

L-Cpl Frank Primett, 14026, 8th Battalion Beds Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on September 15th, 1916. He was the first of two sons of Albert and Agnes Primett to be killed on the battlefield - Pte Charles Augustus Primett, 2nd Bedfords, also died on the Somme, on October 12th,1916.

Born in Ickleford on March 9th, 1886, he spent most of his life in the Hitchin area. By 1915, and possibly after he had enlisted, his parents were living at 18 Spencer Road, Luton, the address on the Luton Roll of Honour.

Pte Charles Augustus Primett, 4/6279, 2nd Battalion Beds Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on October 12th, 1916. He was the second son of Albert and Agnes Primett to be killed on the battlefield - Cpl Frank Primett, 8th Bedfords, also died on the Somme (September 15th,1916).

Born in Ickleford on September 9th, 1887, he spent most of his life in the Hitchin area. By 1915, and possibly after he had enlisted, his parents were living at 18 Spencer Road, Luton, the address on the Luton Roll of Honour.

Pte Alfred Edward De Fraine (Defraine), 20615, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on October 12th, 1916. He was aged 37.

Born in Luton in May 1879, to Joseph De Fraine, from London, and Mary (nee Jellis), from Luton, he is recorded in family history documents as living with grandparents William and Mary Jellis in Luton from a baby and during his childhood. His parents had married as teenagers in Lambeth in London in 1878 and seem to have continued to live there.

Pte Sidney Alfred Burgess, 3/7212, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on October 12th, 1916. He was aged 22.

In a letter to Mrs Burgess at 23 Buxton Road, Luton, Cpl C. Smith wrote that he was fighting near to Sidney, who had suffered no pain as his death was instantaneous. He died from a bullet that hit him near the heart.

Pte William Impey, 27561, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on October 12th, 1916.

He was the son of Alfred and the late Sarah Ann Impey (died 1901) and stepson of Elizabeth Ann (Garrett), whom Alfred had married in 1909.

Second Lieut Harold George Fyson, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on October 12th, 1916. He was aged 26.

Born in Luton in April 1890, he was a son of straw hat dyer employer George Austin Fyson and his wife Kate(nee Cooke), of 36 Leagrave Road.

His parents received a telegram on October 15th to say he had been wounded on the 12th and then a second to say he was wounded and missing. Then two letters from fellow officers confirmed his death.

Rifleman Frederick Horace Rookwood, 3253, 17th Battalion London Regiment (Poplar and Stepney Rifles), was killed in action on the Somme on October 1st, 1916. He was aged 27.

Widow Kate and parents James and Clara, of 14 Ashton Street [later Gillam Street], Luton, heard the news first from Frederick's brother-in-law, who said he had seen Frederick's grave, "which is very nicely laid out". [The grave was probably lost as Frederick is recorded on the Thiepval Memorial for soldiers with no known grave].

Pte Ernest Brandom, G/14511, 2nd Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme on September 9th, 1916. He was aged 20.

He joined up soon after war broke out and left for the Front just a couple of months before his death. Parents Frederick George and Sarah Ann Brandom lived at 38 Duke Street, Luton.

At the time of the 1911 Census, 15-year-old Ernest was described as a grocer's assistant.

Rifleman Arthur David Sharp, C/6265, 18th Battalion King's Royal Rifles, was killed in action on the Somme on September 15th, 1916. He was single and aged 28.

He had enlisted at St Pancras in London in July 1915 and went out to France the following May.

His father David had died in 1911 and his mother Sarah in 1906. At the time of the 1911 Census he was living at 29 Shirley Road, Luton, with two brothers and four sisters, all then unmarried.

Pte Herbert Harold Howkins, 11888, 11th Royal Fusiliers, was reported to have been killed in action on the Somme on September 25th, 1916. He was aged 31.

He was the son of the late John Howkins (died 1892), who had been licensee of the Fox pub in Dunstable Road. His mother, Harriet, remarried in 1895 and lived under her new married name of Seabrook at 134 Dallow Road, Luton.

Capt G. W. Morgan wrote to Mrs Seabrook: "Pte Howkins was a machine gunner, and was hit by a shell and died instantly. The same shell killed four and wounded other men of the same section.