Luton-born Company Sgt-Major Harry Parks (DCM), P/154, 16th Rifle Brigade, was killed in action near Ypres in Belgium on July 31st, 1917. His home was in London, and he left a widow and six children.

According to military records, Pte Stanley ('Tom') Toyer, 235151, 2nd Battalion South Lancs Regiment, was killed in action on August 3rd, 1917.

But a lieutenant in his company wrote to parents Alfred and Martha Toyer, of 218 North Street, Luton, to say their son was killed in action on July 31st during the latest advance in the Ypres sector. He was killed by a shell which fell in the trench close to him.

Pte Toyer enlisted in the South Lancs Regiment in September 1916 and had been in France only six weeks when he was killed.

Pte Sidney James Bone, 27319, 7th Battalion Norfolk Regiment, was killed in action on August 2nd, 1917. He was aged 30, and left a widow and daughter.

After nine weeks training with the Norfolks he had been drafted to France in May 1917. He had married Minnie Evelyn Nicholls in 1908 and had a daughter, Gladys. The family home was at 64 Cowper Street, Luton.

Sidney had worked as a dairyman since he was 18, while his father Edwin had been a milk purveyor for 30 years. Edwin and his wife Mary Ann lived in Baker Street.

L-Cpl Herbert Smith, 60089, 26th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, was the third of five serving sons of Joseph and Jane Smith, of 58 New Town Street, Luton, to lose his life on the battlefield. He died of wounds in Belgium on August 2nd, 1917.

Herbert had enlisted at the outbreak of war into the Bedfordshire Regiment (40374). He was wounded at Gallipoli and invalided home. After recovery he was drafted into the Royal Fusiliers and went to France.

Cpl Alfred Edward Bertram Burgess, 204386, 12th Battalion East Surrey Regiment, died in a dressing station on August 1st*, 1917, from wounds sustained while serving in a trench in Flanders.

A letter from his Captain to parents Edward and Elizabeth Clara Burgess in Luton said their son had been badly wounded in the trench and died of wounds in the dressing station. He had been conscious for only a few minutes after a shell burst and he passed away despite all being done for him that could be. [*The letter indicated that death had occurred on July 31st].

Pte Joseph Bunker, 60856, 1st Battalion Royal Fusiliers, was killed in action in Belgium on July 31st, 1917. He was aged 24 and left a widow, Lydia Emily.

He enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers in May 1916 and was invalided home with trench foot in February 1917. The following June he returned to the front,

Born in South Normanton, Derbyshire, he had spent much of his life at Flitwick, where his father Richard was a stockman on a farm. At the time of the 1911 Census, Joseph was also working on the farm, as a labourer.

Pte Joseph William Hare, 33634, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in Flanders on July 28th, 1917. He left a widow, Alice, and had been married for only 16 months.

Joseph had joined the Bedfordshire Yeomanry in 1915 and was quickly promoted to lance-corporal. At Christmas 1916 he was transferred to the Bedfordshire Regiment and reverted to the ranks. With them he went to France. On April 20th, 1917, he was wounded but returned to the fighting line after a three weeks stay at the base, and remained in service until his death at the age of 26.

Sapper Harry Perry, 184418, 526th Field Company Royal Engineers, was killed in action in France on July 27th, 1917. He was aged 25, single and his home was at 45 Boyle Street, Luton.

After receiving official notification, parents Daniel and Emma Perry learned from commanding officer Major Purcell that their son had been buried not far from the front line with two companions beside him. A cross had been erected to his memory, and a memorial service was to be held.

Sapper Arthur Page, 524547, 228th Field Company Royal Engineers, died on July 23rd, 1917, from multiple shell wounds to the head received in Belgium. The 31-year-old had been taken to the No 10 Casualty Clearing station.

Arthur Page and his wife Fanny Elizabeth came to Luton soon after their marriage at Abbotsley, near St Neots, on April 1st, 1907. Arthur was a parcels van man for the Midland Railway in Luton for eight or nine years before joining up.

Just ten days after returning from home leave, Military Medal recipient Pte William Henry Brown, S/7023, 9th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders, was killed in action in Flanders on July 23rd, 1917. He was aged 26.

Pte Brown, who had turned down a commission to continue his work as a stretcher-bearer, was hit at 4 o'clock in the afternoon by a piece of shrapnel from a shell. Just an hour earlier he had been tending the wounded of his own company.

L-Cpl Walter Jesse Goodge, 50300, 9th Battalion Suffolk Regiment, was killed in action in France on July 22nd, 1917. He was aged 21.

Lieut G. K. Moseley, of the Suffolk Regiment, wrote to parents Albert and Harriet Goodge, of Darley Hall, near Luton: "On the morning of the 22nd at 12.15am a gas shell came over and landed in our front line trenches, killing your son where he stood at his post. The effect of these shells is not shattering like that of high explosives, but as it landed very close L-Cpl Goodge was killed instantly, and there could have been no suffering."

Pte Bert Frederick Good, 43098, 6th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment, was killed in action in Belgium on July 21st*, 1917. He was aged 20 and single.

He had joined the Northampton Regiment in January 1916 and was drafted to France three months later. He had returned to the firing line just a fortnight after recovering from previous wounds when he was killed.

Pte William Flitton, 200760, 1/5th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, died of wounds on July 21st, 1917, after seeing action in Palestine. He had previously fought in the Gallipoli campaign in which he was wounded in the arm but quickly recovered to serve in Egypt.

William Flitton was born at Watbridge, East Hyde, the son of David and Jane Flitton, who were living at Letchworth Road, Limbury, at the time of their son's death. In the 1911 Census he is described as a 15-year-old farm labourer. He was employed on Mr Hartop's farm at Biscot before he joined up at the outbreak of war.

Sgt Nelson Tom Pike, M1/07617, Army Service Corps, died in the 41st Stationary Hospital, Gailly, France, on July 20th, 1917. He had been taken to hospital the previous day suffering from shell wounds.

Nelson Pike had enlisted in the A.S.C. (Transport Section) soon after the outbreak of hostilities. He was soon transferred to France, where he was continually engaged in conveying ammunition to the firing line. He had had a particularly rough time at Mons and Ypres, a period when he gained rapid promotion.

Pte Percy Thurlow, 200236, 1/5th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was the second son of Arthur and Harriet Thurlow, of 216, Wellington Street, Luton, to die on the battlefield.

Percy was killed in action in Palestine on July 20th, 1917. Older brother Frederick William had died of wounds at Gallipoli on August 17th, 1915.