1914

The
GREAT WAR

1918

[Charles] Percy

Private 60019, 26th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment). Died of wounds 16th December 1916. Aged 33. Enlisted and resident Bedford. Son of Alfred and Susan Ayres, of 21, Palmerston St., Bedford. Formerly 40302, Bedfordshire Regiment. Buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Poperinge, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot X. Row C. Grave 29.

Cecil Charles

Second Lieutenant, 16th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers killed in action on Wednesday, 28th November 1917. Age 34. Son of the late Charles Covington Bell and Eliza Bell, of Bedford; husband of the late Augusta G. Bell. Buried in St.-Julien Dressing Station Cemetery, Langemark-Poelkapelle, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot II. Row E. Grave 6.

Charles

Private 8689, "C" Company, 2nd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment who died of wounds on Sunday, 21st February 1915. Age 25. Born St Peter's, Bedford, enlisted Northampton. Son of Charles and Emma Buck, of 14, Derby Street, Bedford. Buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Plot III. Row C. Grave 58.

Albert Douglas Melvin

Lance Corporal 592879, 2nd/18th Battalion, London Regiment (London Irish Rifles) who died on Sunday, 23rd December 1917. Age 21. Born and enlisted Bedford, resident Deptford. Son of Mrs. W. Chapman, of Bedford, and the late Mr. Chapman. Formerly 82079, R.A.M.C. Buried in Jerusalem War Cemetery, Israel. Plot/Row/Section T. Grave 20.

Alfred Frederick

Lance Corporal G/52054, 24th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers killed in action on Saturday, 14th April 1917. Age 28. Born and enlisted Bedford. Son of Alfred Howard Clare and Ann Clare, of 9, Foster Hill Rd., Bedford. Formerly G/23616, Royal Fusiliers. Buried in Bois-Carre British Cemetery, Thelus, Pas de Calais, France. Plot II. Row C. Grave 8.

Sidney Lawrence

Private G/67707, 6th Battalion, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) killed in action on Thursday, 28th March 1918. Age 19. Born, resident and enlisted Bedford. Son of George Cook, of 120, Castle Rd., Bedford. Formerly 3414, 8th Yeomanry CYE. No known grave. Commemorated on Pozieres Memorial, Somme, France. Panel 14 and 15

William

Possibly Corporal 10496. 6^th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action Monday 23 July 1917. Age 25. Son of Edward & Ann Maria Freeman of Council Houses, The Baulk, Beeston, Sandy, Bedfordshire. Born Beeston, Lived Sandy & Enlisted Bedford. Commemorated on Pond Farm Cemetery, Heuvelland, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Ref. P.2.

According to the National Roll of the Great War: "FREEMAN, W., 6th Bedfordshire Regt. He enlisted at the outbreak of war in August 1914 and in the following year was drafted to the Western Front, where he took part in the Battles of Loos, Vimy Ridge, the Somme, Arras and Messines Ridges and many other engagements. He was killed in action at Ypres on July 22nd, 1917. He was entitled to the 1914-15 Star, and the General Service and Victory Medals. 'He joined the great white company of valiant souls'. The Baulk, Beeston, Bedfordshire."

Also listed on the Bromham Road Methodist memorial

George Andrew

Leading Signalman J/6074 H.M. S/M. "H10.", Royal Navy who died on Saturday, 19th January 1918. Age 23. Son of Thomas and Martha Howell, of Bedford; husband of Ethel Tomling (formerly Howell), of 140, Middlegate Street, Great Yarmouth. No known grave. Commemorated on Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent. Panel 28.

James

possibly J HUMBERSTONE, Second Lieutenant Aerial Fighting School, Royal Air Force who died on Tuesday, 18th June 1918. Buried in Cairo War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt. Plot/Row/Section O. Grave 194.

Arthur Cecil

Sapper 41289, 68th Field Company, Royal Engineers who died of wounds on Tuesday, 9th October 1917. Born and enlisted Bedford, resident Rugby, Warwickshire. Buried in Dozinghem Military Cemetery, Poperinge, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot VIII. Row I. Section 6.

Archibald

Lance Corporal 24396, 1st Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment killed in action on Wednesday, 16th August 1916. Age 19. Born and enlisted Bedford. Son of William Henry and Grace Nutting, of 11, Cauldwell Street, Bedford. Brother of Henry below. No known grave. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Pier and Face 11 A and 11 D.

Henry William

[Listed as William Henry on his medal card] Sapper 1318, 1st (East Anglian) Field Company, Royal Engineers who died on Saturday, 1st May 1920. Age 31. Son of William Henry and Grace Nutting, of 11, Cauldwell Street, Bedford. Brother of Archibald above. Buried in Bedford Cemetery. Grave refernce C/2. 87. See also Bedford Cemetery.

PRO PATRIA MORI

Norman William

Sergeant (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) 638879, 106 Squadron, Royal Air Force who died on Friday, 22nd November 1940. Age 19. Son of Ernest Edward and Evelyn Annie Hull, of Bedford. Burid in Vannes (Boismoreau) Communal Cemetery, Morbihan, France. Division B. Row 1. Collective Grave 15.

Leslie Ernest

Private 5950117, 5th Battalion, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment who died on Saturday, 20th June 1942. Age 22. Son of Samuel and Annie Rainbird, of Bedford. Prisoner of war. Buried in Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore. Plot 9. Row C. Grave 15.