AUSTIN

Horace

Gunner 123502. 12th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Killed in action in France & Flanders on 6th December 1917. Born Kensworth. Lived Caddington. Enlisted Luton. Buried: Ruyaulcourt Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Ref. G. 2.

BURGESS

Harry

Private 27483. 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action in France & Flanders on 23rd July 1916. Born Caddington. Lived Aley Green, Caddington. Enlisted Bedford. Commemorated: Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Pier and Face 2 C.

COLLINGS-WELLS, VC DSO

John Stanhope

Lieutenant Colonel. 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action on 27th March 1918. Aged 38. Son of Arthur and Caroline Mary Collings-Wells, of Brand's House, Hughenden, High Wycombe, Bucks. Awarded The Victoria Cross and The Distinguished Service Order. Buried: Bouzincourt Ridge Cemetery, Albert, Somme, France. Ref. III. E. 12.

Citation: An extract from The London Gazette, dated 23rd April, 1918, records the following: - "For most conspicuous bravery, skilful leading and handling of his battalion in very critical situations during a withdrawal. When the rearguard was almost surrounded and in great danger of being captured, Lieutenant Colonel Collings-Wells, realising the situation, called for volunteers to remain behind and hold up the enemy whilst the remainder of the rearguard withdrew, and with his small body of volunteers held them up for one and half hours until they had expended every round of ammunition. During this time he moved freely amongst his men guiding and encouraging them, and by his great courage undoubtedly saved the situation. On a subsequent occasion, when his battalion was ordered to carry out a counter-attack, he showed the greatest bravery. Knowing that his men were extremely tired after six days' fighting, he placed himself in front and led the attack, and even when twice wounded refused to leave them but continued to lead and encourage his men until he was killed at the moment of gaining their objective. The successful results of the operations were, without doubt, due to the undaunted courage exhibited by this officer."

CRUMP

Horace J W

Died on 9th January 1917. No further information available at present.

FORD

Frank Eric

Private 33787. 1st/4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Formerly S/4/199386 Royal Army Service Corps. Killed in action in France & Flanders on 27th May 1918. Aged 28. Born Portsmouth. Lived Caddington. Enlisted Luton. Son of Mr. A. Ford, of Market Place, Reepham, Norfolk; husband of Catherine Ford, of Council Houses, Caddington, Luton, Beds. Buried: Vendresse British Cemetery, Aisne, France. Ref. II. B. 5.

GODFREY

Archer

Private 3/6526. 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action in France & Flanders on 9th November 1914. Aged 22. Born Caddington. Lived and enlisted Luton. Son of Alfred and Elizabeth Godfrey, of 32, St. Saviour's Crescent, Luton. Commemorated: Le Touret Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 10 and 11.

GODFREY

John Edward

Sapper 1611. 2nd East Anglian Division, Royal Engineers. Died on 24th July 1916. Aged 32. Son of Alfred Godfrey; husband of Clara Godfrey, of 5, Dane Rd., Luton. Buried: Caddington (All Saints) Churchyard. (No record found on Soldiers Died CD).

GRACE

Charles Henry

Private 23835. 12th Battalion South Wales Borderers. Killed in action in France & Flanders on 13th August 1916. Aged 22. Born Manchester. Enlisted Luton. Son of Arthur and Kate Grace, of Lower Woodside, Luton, Beds. Buried: Loos British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Ref. XVIII. D. 10.

HART

William

Corporal 17369. 6th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment. Formerly 8775 Royal Fusiliers. Died of wounds in France & Flanders on 1st October 1918. Aged 34. Born Tottenham, Middlesex. Enlisted St Albans. Son of Thomas and May Ann Hart, of Woodside, Luton; husband of Elizabeth Hart, of Caddington, Luton. Buried: St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, Seine-Maritime, France. Ref. S. II. E. 21.

LAWSON

Harold Stewart

Private 201403. 1st/4th Battalion Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action in Palestine on 11th December 1917. Aged 19. Born Caddington. Enlisted Luton. Son of George and Ellen Lawson, of Chaul-End, Luton, Bedfordshire. Buried: Ramleh War Cemetery, Israel. Ref. D. 53.

MARDLE

Charles

Private 20175. 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action in France & Flanders on 13th February 1917. Aged 37. Born and lived Caddington. Enlisted Bedford. Son of Thomas and Betsey Mardle, of Council Houses, Caddington, Luton. Buried: Ancre British Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel, Somme, France. Ref. VII. F. 57.

MARDLE

Horace

Private 4065. 5th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. Died of wounds at Gallipoli on 16th August 1915. Commemorated: Helles Memorial, Turkey. Panel 54 and 218.

MATTHEWS

Frederick Alfred

Private 35792. 136th Company Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). Formerly 25541 Bedfordshire Regiment. Died of wounds in Mesopotamia on 24th April 1917. Born and lived Caddington. Enlisted Luton. Commemorated: Basra Memorial, Iraq. Panel 41.

MATTHEWS

Harry

Gunner 123535. "A" Battery, 58th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Died of wounds in France & Flanders on 17th June 1917. Born and enlisted Luton. Buried: Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension (Nord), Nord, France. Ref. III. D. 47.

MATTHEW, MM

John T

Corporal 19483. 11th Field Company, Royal Engineers. Died in France & Flanders on 4th October 1917. Born Caddington. Enlisted Luton. Awarded the Military Medal. Buried: Mont Huon Military Cemetery, Le Treport Seine-Maritime, France. Ref. IV. O. 5A.

OWEN

Thomas

Probably: Private 10825. 3rd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. Died at home on 15th October 1915. Aged 19. Born Brighton, Sussex. Lived and enlisted Luton. Son of John and Caroline Owen. Buried: Felixstowe New Cemetery. Ref. J. 7.

SWAIN

John Reginald

Private 202783. 11th Battalion Essex Regiment. Formerly 9151 Hertfordshire Regiment. Killed in action in France & Flanders on 30th November 1917. Born and lived Caddington. Enlisted Luton. Commemorated: Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, Nord, France. Panel 7 and 8.

WEBB

Charles William

Private 13085. "B" Company, 6th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action in France & Flanders on 10th July 1916. Aged 18. Born Barton le Clay. Lived Luton. Enlisted Bedford. Son of Mr. J. and Mrs. E. Webb, of Farley Green, Luton, Beds. Buried: Becourt Military Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt, Somme, France. Ref. I. R. 4.

WEBB

Josiah

Private 18683. 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. Died of wounds in France & Flanders on 12th July 1916. Born Luton. Lived Caddington. Enlisted Bedford. Buried: Dive Copse British Cemetery, Sailly-Le-Sec, Somme, France. Ref. II. E. 9.

And in the War 1939 - 1945

ROE

Ernest John

Pilot Officer (Air Gnr.) 176769. 44 Squadron Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died on 7th June 1944. (Memorial gives date as 6th June). Aged 28. Son of John and Ethel Mary Roe, of Caddington, Bedfordshire. Buried: La Delivrande War Cemetery, Douvres, Calvados, France. Ref. III. G. 8.

SNOXELL

Charles Henry

Probably: Aircraftman 1st Class 1219969. 242 Squadron Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died on 23rd November 1942. Commemorated: Singapore Memorial. Column 418.

See our on-line bookstore