Walter was born in 1895. He was 1 of 10 children born to Frederick and Ann Lawrence.

In 1911 Walter is 17 & working as a greengrocer at the family home of 27 Cowper Street, alongside older brother Bertie, 26. There are six other family members living in this six-roomed house, their widowed mother Ann, 54, Minnie 36, a Milliner, Sidney 28, a straw hat blocker, Louise 24 & Carrie 22 are both working as straw hat machinists & 15 year old Charlie is an errand boy.

L-Cpl* Harry Whinnett, 9289, 1st Rifle Brigade, was killed in action on April 26th, 1915. Prior to the war he was a police constable in Grimsby whose mother lived at 103 Frederic Street, Luton.

His wife Annie and three children, who lived at 61 Fraser Street, Grimsby, learned of his death in an official War Office notification.

Harry Whinnett was the first Grimsby policeman to lose his life at the front. He had joined the police in May 1906 and was one of the few reservists in the Grimsby force. He was called up at the outbreak of hostilities.

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The promotion of Major Edgar William Brighten, of the 5th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel was announced in The London Gazette on Saturday night (May 15th, 1915).

Pte Alfred Joshua Brown, 3/7316, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action near Festubert on May 14th, 1915. He was aged 20.

Parents Archer and Elizabeth Brown, of 27 Cobden Street, Luton, were told in a letter from Cpl A. W. Joyce, C Company, 2nd Bedfordshires, that on the afternoon of May 14th they had been under heavy shell fire.

Sgt Walter Henry (Harry) Ford, 9047, Rifle Brigade, was killed in action at Hill 60 on May 3rd, 1915. He lived at 11 May Street, Luton, and left a widow (Minnie Clara) and three children (Doris Emily, Beatrice Maud and Harry). The couple had married at St Paul's Church, Luton, early in 1907

Edwin Benjamin Eales was born in 1892 in Hammersmith, London.

In the 1911 census it tells us that he is living at 19 South Road, Luton with his widowed mother Kate 42, & sister Edith Florence 14, both are working as straw hat machinist. His elder brother Horace William 22, is a boiler maker in the iron foundry, whilst 6 year old Cyril Thomas is at school.

Horace William Eales was born in 1888 in Hammersmith, London. 

In 1911 Horace is 22 years old & working as a boiler maker in the iron foundry. He is living at 19 South Road, Luton with his widowed mother Kate 42, & sister Edith Florence 14, both are working as straw hat machinist. His brother Edwin Benjamin 19, is a straw hat blocker, whilst 6 year old Cyril Thomas is at school.

Pte Harry Hurst, 10449, 1st Battalion Beds Regiment, was killed in action on May 5th, 1915, during the German counter-attack on Hill 60 in which poison gas was used. He was born and lived in Luton.

Cpl Charles Smith, 7655, 1st Battalion Beds Regt, died at Base Clearing Hospital on May 8th, 1915, from the effects of poison gas inhaled while fighting at Hill 60.

The 31-year-old had been in the Bedfordshire Regiment for nine years, principally serving in Aden. He then spent three years in the reserve, during which time he worked at J. W. Green's brewery in Luton. But for the war he would have been out of the Army the previous Christmas.

Pte Thomas James Holliman, 18236, 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on May 6th, 1915 (CWGC record, but chums at the time said May 5th). He lived at 404 Hitchin Road, Luton, and was aged 28.

An old Volunteer, he joined the 3rd Battalion Beds Regt just before Christmas 1914 and was quickly transferred to the 1st Bedfords before being sent to France.

[Image: Lusitania graves - Wikimedia/Imperial War Museum collection, Q18816]

Luton-born Thomas Edward George Bodell, his wife Florence and toddler son Thomas were lost with the sinking of the liner RMS Lusitania by German submarine U20 on May 7th, 1915.

Mr Bodell, aged 33, was the son of Thomas Bodell Snr, of 59 Clarendon Road, Luton. He was returning to England for the first time since sailing to Canada ten years previously. His father told The Luton News that his son was intending to enlist here.

Harold William Charles Brightman was born in Luton in 1900. He came from a large family and was the eldest son of 7 children to William J & Emma.

William Dickman was born in Houghton Regis in January 1901.

In the 1911 census he is aged 10 & living with his family in the High Street, Leagrave, Luton. His father James is 50 years old & working as a carpenter & joiner, his mother Elizabeth Martha 40, is at home looking after him & Ivy, 14. His older brother Jim is 16 & working as a stonemason's labourer & Daisy 19, is working as an ironer in a laundry.

Pte Harry Stimson, G/6107, 3rd Battalion Middlesex Regiment, killed in action on April 16th, 1915.

He was aged 32 and the second son of Mr and Mrs James Stimson, of 23 Crawley Green Road, Luton. He enlisted on November 16th, 1914, and crossed to France on February 17th.

He had worked at Balmforth's boiler works for 12 years before enlisting.