Pte Frederick Horace Goodship, 41478, 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, was killed in action in France on April 15th, 1918. It was not until August 1919 that widow Dorothy was officially informed that it was presumed he had died on that date.
Pte Goodship had enlisted in the 1/5th Bedfords (3824) in September 1914 and served at Gallipoli. He was invalided home from Egypt suffering from dysentery, and after recovery he was transferred to the Royal Irish Rifles and sent to France.
L-Cpl Hubert Edley Carrington, 60126, 26th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, was killed in action on September 20th, 1917. But it was a year before the War Office confirmed his death on the Menin Road, near Ypres, to widow Ethel at 98 Cambridge Street, Luton.
Hubert had been a bandsman in the 5th Beds Volunteers. He was in camp with the regiment when war broke out, and he was mobilised with the Territorial Force (no. 40412).
Pte Percy Wood, 200885, 1st Battalion Hertfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in Flanders on April 26th, 1918. He was a single man, aged 19, who had been in the Army for three years but in France for only two months.
Pal Pte Harold Merkins wrote to parents Arthur and Sarah Ward at 51 Frederic Street, Luton, that their son was “sniped through the head” and his death was instant.
Pte Herbert Leonard Lawrence Ball, 20667, 9th Battalion Norfolk Regiment, was killed in action in Flanders on April 15th, 1918. He had been in France for a year and nine months.
Herbert, born in Surrey in 1884, left a widow and four children living at 70 Oak Road, Luton. Since arriving in Luton he had been a labourer at the Luton Gas Works (1911 Census), and, according to a Luton News report, was a former licensee of the Four Horseshoes pub in Park Street who had worked for George Kent Ltd until joining the Army two years before his death.
Pte James Charles Bent, 325189, 1/5th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment, was killed in action on April 21st, 1918 in Flanders. He was single, aged 20 and had served in the Army for 2½ years..
Expressing his sympathy, a military chaplain informed parents Owen and Rosina Bent at 135 North Street, Luton: "He was killed while going into the trenches on the night of the 21st, and was buried next day near the battalion headquarters."
Prior to the war, James had worked for hat manufacturer Mr A. Impey, of 50 Reginald Street.
Sapper Thomas Victor Brown, 524289, 222nd Field Company, Royal Artillery, was killed in action on April 14th, 1918. He was the second son of William Henry Brown, of 9 Brook Street, Luton, to lose his life on the battlefield - Pte William Henry Brown MM (Seaforth Highlanders) was killed in action in July 1917.
Sapper Brown was in trenches that were being badly shelled, and shortly before his own death he had helped a corporal who was badly wounded to get away from the area.
Pte Richard John Frederick Comporo, G/14521, 2nd Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment, was killed in action in Flanders on November 23rd, 1917. He was aged 19.
He had joined up on the declaration of war and was soon drafted out to France. Owing to a regulation that men could not serve at the Front until 19, he returned home before going back to France five months before his death.
Pte Comporo is included under that name on the Luton Roll of Honour, although his parents' name was Pearman. His home address was 7 Windsor Street, Luton.
Pte Harry Titmus, 18602, 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in Flanders on December 9th, 1917. He was aged 40 and left a widow and eight children living at Sundon.
Pte Andrew Wood MM, 12951, 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, is recorded as having been killed in action in Flanders on November 13th, 1917, although in a letter to his parents an officer said his death occurred on the morning of the 14th.
Second Lieut Vivian E, Farr wrote: "It is with infinite regret I have to inform you of the death of your son, Pte Wood (reserve stretcher-bearer) on the morning on November 14th. The battalion was holding a newly captured position, and was being subjected to heavy machine gun fire.
Pte Wallace James Oxborrow, 238044, 12th Battalion Middlesex Regiment, was killed in action in Flanders on November 12th, 1917. A comrade wrote that he had heard from others in the regiment that Wallace was killed instantly by a shell after being sent up the line with some wire.
It was the following month before widow Hilda at 315 Hitchin Road, Luton, officially learned of her husband's death. Wallace had married Hilda Blanche Lovell at Luton Register Office on November 21st, 1916.
Pte Reginald Alfred Crick, 16481, 16th Battalion Middlesex Regiment, was killed in action on October 9th*, 1917. He was attached to the Headquarters Staff as a runner and was killed instantly in the execution of his duty.
The former straw trade dye worker employed by T. Lye & Sons, New Bedford Road, had enlisted in the Middlesex Regiment on July 6th, 1916, and went to France the following October. (*Based on letters from comrades the Luton News reported that he was killed on October 10th).
Pte Ernest William White, 235080, 1st Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment, was killed in action in Flanders on October 4th, 1917. The news of his death was conveyed in a letter from a comrade to widow Violet May at her parents' address at 142 New Town Street, Luton.
He had enlisted in the South Staffords in April 1917 and had been in France only ten weeks at the time of his death. He was aged 25, and prior to enlistment was employed as a butcher by Mr Tuffnell, of 102 Park Street, Luton.
L-Cpl George Henry Howe, 27970, 8th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment, was killed in action in Flanders on September 26th, 1917, the day before his 19th birthday.
His Second Lieut wrote to parents William and Alice Howe at 24 Spring Place, Luton, that theree son had been seen to be wounded on the night of the 26th and it could only be presumed he had succumbed to his wounds as he had not passed through any casualty clearing post.
Pte Sidney Harvey, 265421, 2nd Battalion Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment, was killed in action in Flanders on October 26th, 1917, just five months after going to the Front.
Born in Luton, he was the son of fish merchant Arthur Harvey and his wife Ada, of 39 Park Road West. He was in business as a fish and greengrocery hawker. In 1911 he had married Emily Short and the couple were living at 13 Chequer Street, Luton. Emily remarried in 1920.
Pte Herbert Harry Abrahams, 68102, 7th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, was confirmed killed in action in Flanders on October 30th, 1917, after initially being reported missing on that date.
Born in Leytonstone, Essex, he was son of Harry James and Agnes Jane Abrahams, of 46 Claremont Road, Luton. Before joining up was employed in the counting house of hat manufacturers J. C. Kershaw & Co.
He had enlisted in the Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment in October 1916, and was drafted into the Royal Fusiliers on his arrival in France in September 1917.