LUTON
CO-OP - Roll of Honour
World War 1 & 2 - Roll of Honour with detailed
information
Compiled and copyright © 2001 Lynda Smith
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There
are two memorials in the British Legion in Leagrave. One, the large
wooden one with three parts and the wreaths underneath is the
Legion's own. The wooden board, first name on it H Bates is the
Luton Co-Op Memorial, the Luton co-op replaced by the new bowls
club, and is now
in the bar of the Legion. There is additionally the Leagrave and
Limbury memorial on the opposite side of Marsh Road to the Legion.
The
original Co-op building stood in the centre of Luton where the new
cinema complex, 10 pin bowling, etc., called The Galaxy at the far
end of St George's Square opposite the Arndale Centre. It was a
very large department store, and there were other smaller stores
in other areas of Luton. The main Co-op closed many years ago and
the site stood derelict for a long time.
HISTORY
OF LUTON CO-OP MEMORIAL
After
the Second World War, the Co-Op in Luton decided to have a Memorial
to their employees who lost their lives in both World Wars. In 1946,
Audrey Bonner, then aged 15, who had lost her father Reginald, and
her uncle Maurice was asked to unveil the memorial at its Dedication.
The
Dedication and unveiling was carried out on the landing at the top
of the stairs of the offices in the main store in Manchester Street,
Luton.
When
it became clear that the store was to be closed, Audrey, by now
Mrs. Harwood, was concerned that it should not get lost. The Memorial
was moved to offices in Park Street for safe-keeping. In 1992 the
Park Street offices were vacated, and it was decided a permanent
home was needed for the Memorial. The Royal British Legion Club
in Marsh Road agreed to adopt it, and permission was sought and
readily approved from the Co-Op Head Office in Northampton.
In
February 1993, it was re-hung and dedicated in the Chelsea Bar of
the Royal British Legion Club, Marsh Road. Once more Audrey Harwood
nee Bonner was asked to unveil the Memorial which she did, together
with her cousin Janice Rix, daughter of Maurice Bonner, and other
members of the Bonner family.
Photo
attached: Feb 1993. Janice Rix (left) Audrey Harwood (right)
Copyright: Audrey Bonner
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Plaque
moved to British Legion
|
Dedication
in 1946 in old co-op building.
Photograph
Copyright © Janice Rix 2003 |
Janice
Rix & Audrey Harwood unveiling Co-op memorial in British Legion
club in Leagrave
February 1993. Janice Rix (left) Audrey Harwood (right)
Photograph Copyright © Audrey Bonner 1993 |
The
Luton Co-op Memorial just after WW2 Unveiling
This is the Memorial from
the old Luton Co-operative Society building in Luton Town Centre.
There are many men on this Memorial who we are either unable to identify,
or who we have provisionally identified.
We will be grateful for any information about them.
1914
– 1918
| BATES
|
H
|
Possibly:
Horace Edward Bates. Rifleman
392299. 9th (County of London) Battalion (Queen Victoria’s
Rifles). Died 22 April 1917. Lived Luton. Enlisted London. Son of
Edward and Elizabeth Bates of Luton. Buried: Abbeville Communal
Cemetery Extension, Somme, France. Plot II. Row F. Grave 4.
|
| BIRD
|
E
|
Possibly:
Ernest Reuben Bird. Pte.
31902. 6th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. Died of wounds
at home 26 October 1917. Age 20. Born and lived Dunstable. Enlisted
Bedford. Son of Jesse and Lizzie Bird of 56 Capron Road, Dunstable.
Buried: Dunstable Cemetery. Plot/Row/Section E. Grave 82.
|
| BLAND
|
F
|
Possibly:
Frederick Leslie Bland. Pte.
77681. 13th Battalion Royal Fusiliers. Formerly 63850
53rd Y.S. Battn. Killed in action 23 August 1918. Age
18. Son of Mr. G.W. and Mrs. M.E. Bland of 8 Campers Road, Letchworth,
Herts. Native of Chiltern Green, Luton. Born and lived Chiltern
Green. Enlisted Bedford. Commemorated: Achiet-le-Grand Communal
Cemetery Extension, Pas-de-Calais, France. Special Memorial 2.
|
| BROWN
|
E
|
No
further information available at present. |
| BROWN
|
T
|
No
further information available at present. |
| BYSOUTH
|
Herbert
|
Pte.
201034. 1st/5th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment.
Killed in action 2 November 1917. Lived Luton. Enlisted Bedford.
Buried: Gaza War Cemetery, Israel. Plot XXII. Row A. Grave 9.
|
| CLARK
|
Ewart
[William] |
[Spelt
CLARKE on SDGW] Private 82, 54th (1st/1st East Anglian) Casualty
Clearing Station (Territorial Force), Royal Army Medical Corps.
Died at sea 13th August 1915. Aged 17. Enlisted Luton. Son of Emma
Jane Clark, of 7, Park Rd. West, Luton, and the late Daniel Clark.
Commemorated on Helles Memorial, Turkey. Panel 199 and 200 or 236
to 239 and 328. |
| EAMES
|
[Augustusa]
William |
Private
2537, 24th (County of London) Battalion (The Wueen's), London Regiment.
Died 13th February 1916. Aged 18. Born and resident Luton, enlisted
St. Alban's. Son of William and Harriet Eames of 107, Cambridge
Street, Luton. Buried in Bethune Town Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.
Plot V. Row A. Grave 14. |
| GOODSON
|
J
|
Possibly:
John Godson. Sgt. 19064.
2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action
23 March 1918. Age 25. Born Gorleston–on-Sea. Lived Luton. Enlisted
Bedford. Husband of Mabel Goodson of 20 Reginald Street, Luton.
Commemorated: Poziers Memorial, Somme, France. Panel 28 & 29.
|
| JOHNSON
|
W
|
Possibly:
William Johnson. Pte. 269206.
1st Battalion Hertfordshire Regiment. Killed in action
28 April 1918. Age 33. Born, Lived and enlisted Luton. Son of Edward
and Emma Johnson of Luton; husband of Ruth Johnson of 65 Park Road
West, Luton. Buried: Wytschaete Military Cemetery, Heuvelland, West-Vlaanderen,
Belgium. Plot IV. Row F. Grave 17. |
| MOSS
|
W
|
No
further information available at present. |
| SMITH
|
J
|
No
further information available at present. |
| SMITH
|
W
|
No
further information available at present. |
| STEER
|
H
|
Possibly:
Henry Steer. Pte. 31483.
1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action
23 April 1917. Born Woking. Lived and enlisted Luton. Commemorated:
Arras memorial, Pas-de-Calais, France. Bay 5. |
| STEVENS
|
F
|
Possibly:
Frederick Stevens. Pte. G/17371
(CD has G/17370). 11 Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment. Killed in
action 26 September 1917. Son of Frederick and Martha Annie Stevens
of 49 Stuart Street, Luton. Commemorated: Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke,
West Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 86 – 88. |
| WILSON
|
F
|
No
further information available at present. |
| WOODING
|
G
|
Possibly:
George Leslie Wooding. Pte.
20953. 8th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in
action 20 November 1917. Born Bedford. Lived and enlisted Luton.
Commemorated: Ribecourt British Cemetery, Nord, France. Special
Memorial Plot/Row/Section A. Grave 28. |
1939
– 1945
Much of the personal information
about these men comes from The Roll of Honour
published in "Luton at War" compiled by The Luton News in 1947.
Occasionally there is a discrepancy between the date of death given in
the book and date given on CWGC )
| BATES
|
Arthur
Frederick |
Trooper
14203366. 53rd Reconnaissance Regt. R.A.C. Died of wounds
Normandy 18 August 1944. Age 21. Son of Edgar Thomas and Agnes Bates
of Toddington. Lived 16 The Crescent, Toddington, Beds. Worked at
Luton Co-operative Society. Buried: Ryes War Cemetery, Bazenville,
Calvados, France. Ref. VII.E.2. |
| BONNER
|
Maurice
Norman |
 |
L/Cpl.5779370.
4th Battalion Royal Norfolk Regiment. Died of beri-beri
on the Burma Railway as a prisoner of the Japanese at Thanbyuzayat,
Burma on 17 September 1943. Age 31. Son of William and Alice
Maud Bonner; husband of Ellen Grace Bonner of Luton. Lived
at 61 Bury Park Road, Luton. He was one of 9 children, 5 of
whom were on active service in WW2. Two of the five brothrs
were killed, Maurice here and Reginald William below. Maurice
was employed as a butcher at the Co-op and died from Beri-beri
and malaria when working on the Burma railway. Buried at Thanbyuzayat
War Cemetery, Myanmar. Ref. B1.E17.
|
| Photographs
Copyright © Janice Rix 2003 |
|
| BONNER
|
Reginald
William |
 |
| Gunner 1747015.
214 Bty. 57 Heavy A.A. Regiment, Royal Artillery. Killed
in action in Italy, 21 January 1944. Age 36. Son of William
and Maud Bonner; husband of Alice Jane Bonner of Luton.
Lived at 7 Willow Way, Luton. He was one of 9 children,
5 of whom were on active service in WW2. Two of the five
brothrs were killed, Maurice above and Reginald William
here. Brother of Maurice above. Buried at Minturno War
Cemetery, Italy. Ref. II.H.16. |
| |
|
|
|
| CARTER
|
George
Henry |
Gunner
948846 512 Bty. 148 (Bedfordshire Yeomanry) Field Regiment, Royal
Artillery. Missing from Japanese Transport after the fall of Singapore,
1942. Died 12 September 1944. Age 25. Son of William and Maud Mary
Bonner of Luton. Lived at 1 Preston Path, Luton. His brother Reginald
Arthur also died on active service. Commemorated: Singapore Memorial,
Singapore. Column 37. |
| DAY
|
R.
|
No
further information available at present. |
| DIXON
|
Eric
Christopher |
Driver
2073161. 251 Park Coy. Royal Engineers. Missing, presumed killed
by enemy bombing, Alexandra Hospital, Singapore, 14 February 1942.
Age 20. Lived at 37 Clifton Road, Luton. Commemorated: Singapore
memorial, Singapore. Column 42. |
| DOBBS
|
George
|
S/Sergeant
83538. 2 Base Workshop, Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers.
Died in the Middle East 17 May 1944. Age 30. Son of George Arthur
and Beatrice Mary Dobbs; Husband of Dora Dobbs of Luton. Lived at
22 Beaumont Road, Luton. Buried at Tel-el-Kebir War Cemetery, Egypt.
Ref. 5.L.9. |
| FRASER
|
Kenneth
|
L/Seaman
P/JX275694. H.M.S. Spartan. Royal Navy. Reported missing at sea,
presumed killed, 5 February 1944. Date of death according to CWGC
29 January 1944. Lived at 14 St. Margaret’s Avenue, Luton. Commemorated:
Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire. Panel 81. Column 2.
Special
note: HMS Spartan was anchored
off Anzio to offer anti-aircraft protection for the Anzio Landings.
Smoke had been ordered in the anchorage but was not fully effective
at the time of an attack from the air. One radio controlled bomb
hit Spartan, causing damage and a fire. About an hour after being
hit, the order was given to abandon ship. 5 officers and 41 ratings
were killed and 42 ratings injured. |
| FROST
|
Leslie
Harold |
Gunner.
927335. 148th (Bedfordshire Yeomanry) Field Regiment,
Royal Artillery. Died as a prisoner of the Japanese, Singapore,
27 November 1943. Age 24. Son of Mr & Mrs Edward Frost of Luton.
Lived at 36 Broad Mead, Luton. Commemorated: Kanchanaburi War Cemetery,
Thailand. Special Memorial 9.M.9. |
| GRAVES
|
Thomas
Allan |
Trooper
14288266. 7th Royal Tank Regiment R.A.C. Died on active
service 25 October 1943. Age 19. Son of Ernest and Bertha D. Graves
of Luton. Lived at 26 Bailey Street, Luton. Buried: Luton Church
Burial Ground. Sec. 10. Row P. Grave 4. |
| GRAY
|
Victor
|
Able
Seaman Gunner. P/JX444995. HMS President III. Royal Navy. Lost in
action at sea, 19 June 1944. Son of John & Rosamund Gray of
Luton. Lived at 191 Runley Road, Luton. Commemorated: Portsmouth
Naval Memorial, Hampshire. Panel 82. Col. 2.
Special
Note: HMS President III was a
Royal Naval Base which trained gunners to man Merchant Ships known
as Defence Equipped Merchant Ships of D.E.M.S. If a gunner was killed
in action, his name would appear under the Royal Navy Base.
|
| HADAWAY
|
Norman
Jack |
Pte.
Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment. Died 30 December 1939.
Lived at 38 Ryecroft Way, Stopsley, Luton. (Not listed on CWGC).
|
| HALSEY
|
Ronald
William |
Able
Seaman. D/JX171971. HMS Stag. Royal Navy. Luton at War states: Drowned
while on active service, November 1942. CWGC gives date of death
at 24 December 1941. Son of Edward John & Lilian Louisa Halsey
of Luton. Lived at 63 Russell Rise, Luton. Buried: Khayat Beach
War Cemetery, Israel. Ref. B.F.10. |
| HURVID
|
Clifford
William |
Fusilier
5961256. 9th Battalion (City of London Regiment) Royal
Fusiliers. Died of wounds, Salerno, Italy, 9 September 1943. Age
20. Son of William Thomas and Ethel Maud Hurvid of Luton. Lived
at 86 Highbury Road, Luton. Buried: Salerno War Cemetery, Italy.
Ref. IV.A.26. |
| JAGGER
|
Harry
|
Sergt.
751860. W. Op./air Gunner. 21 Squadron Royal Air Force Volunteer
Reserve. Died 2 April 1941. Age 22. Son of Harry and Mary Hannah
Jagger of Dunstable. Buried Dunstable Cemetery. Ref. K. Grave 518.
|
| JANES
|
Frederick
William |
P/Officer
168517. 424 Squadron Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. (att. Royal
Canadian Air Force.) Killed on air operations, believed at Ahrenfelde,
Near Berlin, 14th – 15th February 1944. Lived
at 17 Pondwicks Road, Luton. Buried Berlin 1939 – 1945 War Cemetery,
Berlin. Ref. 7.E.17. |
| LEMMON
|
Douglas
James William |
Pte.
5955634. 5th Battalion Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire
Regiment. Lost at sea as prisoner of the Japanese, 21 September
1944. Age 24. Son of Frederick John William and Violet May Lemmon
of Luton; husband of Elsie Lemmon of Coventry. Lived at 74 Ferndale
Road, Luton. Commemorated: Singapore memorial, Singapore. Column
64. |
| MARSHALL
|
Frederick
Ernest William |
Driver
2159524. Royal Engineers. Killed in action, Italy, 26 October 1943.
Age 20. Son of William George and Amy Elizabeth Marshall. Lived
at 39 Corncastle Road, Luton. Buried: Sangro War Cemetery, Italy.
Ref. XV.A.27. |
| MATTHEWS
|
S.
|
No
further information available at present. |
| PATERSON
|
R.
|
No
further information available at present. |
| PINNEY
|
George
Robert |
Pte.
5833718. Suffolk Regiment. Died as prisoner of the Japanese, Chunkie,
Siam, 13 October 1943. Age 29. Son of Arthur & Beatrice Pinney
of Luton; husband of Dorothy Beatrice Pinney. Lived at 34 St. Lawrence’s
Avenue, Luton. Buried: Chungkai War Cemetery, Thailand. Ref. 9.D.3.
|
| POLLARD
|
Leslie
Arthur |
Gunner
927417. 148th (Bedfordshire Yeomanry) Field Regiment,
Royal Artillery. Died as prisoner of the Japanese, Siam, 5 July
1943. Age 23. Son of Arthur Thomas and Ethel Marion Pollard Pollard
of Luton. Lived at 29 St. Margaret’s Avenue, Luton. Buried: Kanchanaburi
War Cemetery, Thailand. Ref. 4.A.4. |
| RAYMENT
|
Harold
Edward |
Pte.
5952550. 5th Battalion Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire
Regiment. Died as prisoner of the Japanese, Siam, 30 June 1943.
Age 24. Son of Bertram Edward and Eva Rayment of Luton. Lived at
103 St. Margaret’s Avenue, Luton. Buried: Kanchanaburi War Cemetery,
Thailand. Ref. 6.A.75. |
| SAUNDERS
|
Kenneth
Albert |
L/Bdr.
14262427. 75th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery. Died
on active service near Bremen, Germany, 4 June 1945. Age 21. Son
of Albert John & Elsie Saunders of Luton. Lived at 52 Trinity
Road, Luton. Buried: Becklingen War Cemetery, Soltau, Niedersachsen,
Germany. Ref. 8.J.4. |
| SELL
|
Frederick
William |
Cpl.
5952485. 5th Battalion Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire
Regiment. Died 12 September 1944. Commemorated: Singapore Memorial,
Singapore. Column 62. |
| SHELTON
|
H.
|
No
further information available at present. |
| WATKINSON
|
R.
|
No
further information available at present. |
| WELHAM
|
Robert
William Charles |
L/Bdr.
923013. Bty 148 (The Bedfordshire Yeomanry) Field Regiment Royal
Artillery. Lost at sea as prisoner of the Japanese, 12 September
1944. Son of Mr. & Mrs C. Welham of Luton. Lived at 9 Belmont
Road, Luton. Commemorated: Singapore Memorial, Singapore. Column
37. |
| WEST
|
Victor
|
Aircraftman
1st Class. 750452. Royal Air Force. Killed on active
service. 27 October 1940. Age 21. Son of Walter Thomas and Edith
Annie West of Luton. Lived at 34 Marsh Road, Luton. Buried: Biscot
(Holy Trinity) Churchyard. Sec. D. Row 2. Grave 22. |
| WILMOT
|
C.
|
No
further information available at present. |
Last updated
27 May, 2008
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