Pte Frank Gates, 13335, 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in the "Big Push" on the Somme on July 1st, 1916. He was aged 23.

The son of the late Benjamin (died 1908) and Elizabeth Rose Gates, of 82 Burr Street, Luton, he was before the war employed by George Kent's Ltd and was a regular attendant at the Wesleyan Central Mission Brotherhood. He enlisted with the Colours at the outbreak of war.

Prominent Luton athlete Sgt Percy Edward Rickard, 3/8141, 7th Bedfords, was killed instantly while in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme - July 1st, 1916.

Well before official confirmation was received, parents William and Lucy Rickard, of 45 Crawley Road, Luton, had had letters from comrades who saw him fall.

Rifleman Arthur Thomas Mahon, 301057, London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade), was killed in action on July 1st, 1916, at the age of 19. Born in Aberdeen, he was the son of the Rev Edward Mahon, Pastor of King Street Congregational Church, Luton, and Mrs Agnes Catherine Mahon, of 48 Napier Road, Luton.

Pte Frederick William Armstrong, 19794, 7th Bedfords, was killed in action on July 1st, 1916 - the first day of the Battle of the Somme. He was aged 20.

Born in a cottage at Eaton Green Farm, Stopsley, in 1896, he was the son of Thomas and Annie Elizabeth Armstrong. His brother Charles, also a private in the 7th Bedfords, wrote to his parents with the sad news of his death. Frederick had been homes on leave five weeks before his death.

Pte Joseph Henry Woollard, 14307, D Company, 6th Bedfordshire Regiment, died on June 26th, 1916, from wounds sustained in action the previous morning near Arras. He was aged 22.

The Stopsley-born son of Mr and Mrs Joseph Woollard, of 57 Lyndhurst Road, Luton, he had been employed as a clerk by Messrs Lye & Sons, New Bedford Road, for whom he had worked from the age of 14.

After enlisting, he went to France on August 11th, 1915, and came home on seven days leave in May 1916 before returning to his fate at the Front.

Pte Thomas Frederick Harris, 17671, 6th Bedfordshire Regiment, died on June 25th, 1916, from wounds sustained in action. He was aged 28 and left a widow and three young children living in Slip End.

Born in Bricket Wood, he was the son of Thomas and Jemima Harris, of Front Street, Slip End. The former clay miner at a brickworks had been in France for about 11 months. He was married in 1909.

Pte Albert Stratton, 3/10395, 2nd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, was killed in action in France on June 2nd, 1916. He was born in High Town in 1877.

The son of the late Arthur and Sarah Stratton, of Back Street, the former iron moulder had served in the Grenadier Guards for 12 years before re-enlisting with the Northants Regiment in August 1914. He returned to serve in the firing line in France for a second time in April 1916.

Pte Sidney Thomas Fleckney, 13164, 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action in the front line at Arras on June 4th, 1916. He had at first been reported missing by the War Office.

Born on April 4th, 1893, he was the son of the late George (died 1915) and Hannah (died 1906) Fleckney, of Mangrove Green, and he had been living with a married sister at Mangrove, near Luton.

Engineer-Lieut John McLennan Hine was died or was killed as a result on enemy action during the Battle of Jutland on May 31st, 1916, while serving on board the battlecruiser HMS Invincible, which was sunk.

Born in Maryport, Cumberland, in 1872, he and his family had lived in Rothesay Road, Luton, for two or three years prior to 1910. He had married Lydia Emma Booth in Suffolk on May 5th, 1901. They had four children - Alfred, Lydia Margaret, Joan McLennan and Nancy Mary McLennan. Nancy was born in Luton.

Signal Boy Frederick George Darby was a month short of his 17th birthday when he was drowned when HMS Black Prince was sunk during the Battle of Jutland on May 31st, 1916. His body was not found for burial.

The former Beech Hill pupil had been in the Navy for 18 months at the time of his death. Prior to going to sea he was a straw worker employed by Mrs Kerridge of Bute Street. He served with HMS Powerful and HMS Ganges before joining HMS Black Prince.

Gunner RMA12399 Edmund Charles Dexter was killed or died as a direct result of enemy action while serving with the Royal Marines Artillery on the battlecruiser HMS Invincible, which was sunk during the Battle of Jutland on May 31st, 1916. His body was not found.

He was the eldest son of old soldier and sailor Mr Edmund E. Dexter and Mrs Sarah Dexter, of 5 Warwick Road, Luton. The son had been in the navy for seven years, was 26 years old, had been married for three years and had a wife and three-month-old baby living in Southsea.

Cyril Burberry Gibbons was born in Luton on 17th January 1895. He was the youngest of 5 children born to Henry & Henrietta.

Henry Gibbons was the owner of a drapery establishment at Denmark House No 2 Park Street, Luton.

Frederick Edward Garrett was born in 1899 in Luton.

In 1911 he is living with his family at 80 Queen Street. His father Frederick Edward is 31 years old & a house painter, his mother Ellen Daisy is 30 & a straw hat finisher. Frederick is 11 years old & at school with his 8 year old sister Olive May & brother Horace who is 6.

Frederick joined the 2/1st Sussex Yeomanry, a cyclist brigade, providing home service.

Bert Gardner was born in Luton in 1884, 1 of 12 children born to Philip & Mary (aka Kate).

In 1911 Bert is 20 years old & working as an assistant for a straw hat manufacturer. He is living at No 25 Stockwood Crescent, a 6 roomed house with his father Philip, 64 a mercantile clerk, his 64 year old mother Mary & 2 of his siblings. His sister Maud is 32 & a straw hat finisher & his brother Frederick William is 30 & is also an assistant for a straw hat manufacturer. Florence Joy is living with them as their general domestic servant.

Pte Frederick Thomas Sharp, 3/8705, 8th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action near Ypres on April 19th, 1916. He was aged 29 and the father of six children.

Pte Sharp, of 21 Essex Street, Luton, joined the colours in October 1914 and was drafted to the Western Front in October 1915. He fought at Ypres, Messines and Vimy Ridge and was gassed in December 1915. On recovery he returned to the trenches.

He formerly worked as an iron moulder at the Diamond Foundry in Dallow Road. He was also well-known in athletics circles and was a harrier.