BILLINGTON, F., Shoeing-Smith, 133rd R.F.A.

When war broke out in August 1914, he was already in the Army, and was stationed in India. Whilst proceeding to the scene of activities in Mesopotamia he contracted dysentry, and was invalided to England in 1915. On his recovery he was sent to the Western Front, and, after taking in part in many important engagements, was taken prisoner at Cambrai in March 1918. After the cessation of hostilities he was released, and in 1920 was still serving, holding the General Service and Victory Medals.

The Common, Aspley Guise, Bedford. - Z1303.

*** NOTE *** There are differences between the above and the entry below - above is possibly more correct.

COOK, C., Private, 1/5th Bedfordshire Regiment.

He volunteered in January 1915, and later in the same year was drafted to France, where he took part in much severe fighting at the Battles of Loos, Albert and on the Somme. He died gloriously on the Field of Battle at Arras on April 24th, 1917, and was entitled to the General Service and Victory Medals.

"The path of duty was the way to glory."

West End, Cranfield, Bedford. - Z1781.

Private 22903, 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Died of wounds Tuesday 7th November 1916 in France & Flanders. Aged 25. Born and resident Cranfield, enlisted Bedford. Son of William George and Annie Elizabeth Evans, of High St., Cranfield. Buried in ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Grave XII. C. 3.

EVANS, P.W., Private, 8th Bedfordshire Regt.

Shortly after joining in 1916, he proceeded to the Western front. where he saw much severe fighting in the Ypres and Arras sectors. Mortally wounded in action on the Somme in September 1916, he unhappily died on November 7th of that year in the Canaadian General Hospital at Etaples. He was entitled to the General Service and Victory Medals.

"A costly sacrifice upon the altar of freedom."

Cranfield, Bedfordshire. - Z2112/A-Z2113/A.

EVANS, J., Private, 2nd Bedfordshire Regiment.

He volunteered in 1915, and in the following year was drafted to the Western Front, where he saw heavy fighting in various sectors. After taking part in the Battles of Albert and the Somme and some other engagements, he was severley wounded in action at the Somme during the Retreat of March 1918, and invalided home. He unhappily died of wounds in hospital at Wolverhampton on February 19th, 1919. He was entitled to the General Service and Victory Medals.

"His memory is chrised with pride."

High Street, Cranfield, Bedfordshire. - Z1830/B.

FORD, G., Sapper, Royal Engineers; and Private Cheshire Regiment.

He volunteered in June 1915, and after completing his training was retained with his unit on important duties until 1917. He then proceeded to France and took an active part in engagements at Neuve Chapelle and Somme sectors, but was unfortunately killed in action on May 14th, 1917. He was entitled to the General Service and Victory Medals.

"He passed out of the sight of men by the path of duty and self-sacrifice."

High Street, Cranfield, Bedfordshire. - Z1830/B.

FOSTER, F., Private, Bedfordshire Regiment.

Volunteering in 1915, he was drafted overseas in the following year. Whilst on the Western Front he took part in the Battles of Ypres and the Somme, and was wounded and taken prisoner. He was held in captivity in Germany, but was eventually released after the Armistice, and returned home. He was demobilised in 1919, and holds the General Service and Victory Medals.

Cranfield, Bedfordshire. - Z2188.

See also Stewartby and Martson Moreteyne

LANCASTER, T., Private,10th Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment).

He joined in March 1916, and on completion of his training, was six months later drafted to the Western Front. During his service there he took part in the Battles of Arras and Ypres, and saw heavy fighting at Cambrai until September 1917, when he was reported missing. Subsequently it was reported that he was killed in action on that date. He was entitled to the General Service and Victory Medals.

"A costly sacrifice on the altar of freedom."

Cranfield, Bedfordshire. - Z3285/A-Z3286/A.

LOVESEY, H., L/Corporal, Royal Engineers..

He volunteered in October 1915, and completed his training in the following April, was drafted to Egypt, whence he advanced into Palestine. He then saw much fighting at Gaza, on the river Jordan and at the fall of Jerusalem. He made the supreme sacrifice, being killed in action at Jaffa on November 30th, 1917. He was entitled to the General Service and Victory Medals.

"The path of duty was the way to glory."

Mount Pleasant, Aspley Guise, Bedfordshire. - Z3393/A.

PULLOXHILL

Much interest was shown in the military wedding, on Monday, at the Parish Church, the Rev. A. E. Houfe, M.A. officiating, of Miss Nellie H. Vass, fourth daughter of the late Mr. Joseph Vass, of Greenfield, and of Mrs. Vass, and Pte. Charles Parker, Australian Expeditionary Force, who emigrated from Cranfield three years ago and volunteered for the front last March. Given away by her brother-in-law. Mr. Wm. Fountain, the bride was neatly dressed in cream crepe de chine, wore a bridal fall and orange blossom, and carried a bouquet of white lilies and chrysanthemums, the gift of the bridegroom. In attendance were the Misses Annie and Florrie Vass (sisters), both wearing white muslin dresses and black hats. Driver Wm. Parker, R.E., acted as best man to his brother. The presents included a case of silver spoons from Mr. Edward Jekyll, J.P. and case of silver tea knives from Fraulein von Biel, with whom the bride had been in service two years. The Vicarage Room was kindly lent and here nearly thirty guests assembled to celebrate the happy event. A short honeymoon being spent at Chingford, Essex, the bride’s going away costume being of navy blue, with black silk hat trimmed with an ostrich feather, a gift of the bridegroom while in South Africa.

WHITE, E.W., Sapper, Royal Engineers.

He joined in 1916, but owing to his being physically unfit for service in a theatre of war, was retained on special duties in connection with the air-raid service in London. He, nevertheless, rendered valuable service until the cessation of hostilities, and was demobilised in March 1919.

Cranfield, Bedfordshire. - Z2367.

Private 3946, 5th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Died at home Friday 15th January 1915. Aged 29. Resident Cranfield, enlisted Bedford. Son of William Frederick and Mary White, of 1 Sunny Side Cottage, Cranfield. Buried in CRANFIELD (SS. PETER AND PAUL) CHURCHYARD.

In Loving Memory of William Herbert WHITE the Beloved Son of William and Mary WHITE who died January 15th 1915. Aged 29 years.
"For Ever With The Lord"
"Yet We Will Not Forget Thee Nor Forsake Thee".

[From National Roll of the Great War Section XII - Bedford & Northampton]

WHITE, W., Private, Bedfordshire Regiment..

Volunteering in August 1914, he underwent a period of training at Bedford and Bury St Edmunds, but unfortunately contracted an illness, from the effects of which he unhappily died on January 15th, 1915..

"His memory is cherished with pride."

Sunnyside Cottage, West End, Cranfield, Bedfordshire. - Z2365/A.

CAPTAIN JOHN GEORGE HARTER, DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY, BRIGADE MAJOR, eldest son of Charles B. H. Harter, Esq., 5, Onslow Houses, London, S.W., was born in London on the 30th August, 1888. His younger brother, Lieutenant C. J. Harter, 4th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, was killed at Hooge on the 16th June, 1915.

He was educated at Ladycross Bournemouth, and at Beaumont College, Old Windsor, and joined the Durham Light Infantry, as 2nd Lieutenant, from the R.M.C., Sandhurst, in September, 1908, becoming Lieutenant in March, 1912. On the outbreak of the Great War he was appointed to the 10th (Service) Battalion of his regiment as Senior Subaltern, but in October, 1914, joined the 2nd Battalion of his regiment in Flanders. In May, 1915, he was appointed A.D.C. to the General Officer Commanding the VIth Division, and in July, 1915, was appointed Adjutant of the 9th Battalion (Territorial) Durham Light Infantry. In January, 1916, he was appointed Brigade Major of the 151st Brigade, 50th Northumbrian Division. While holding this appointment he was killed at The Bluff, near Ypres, on the 3rd April, 1916, and was buried at Poperinghe.

The General Officer Commanding the brigade gave the following account of the circumstances to Captain Harter's mother: “There was sonic very heavy shelling yesterday, and while he and I were walking front one headquarters to another a shell came and practically severed his left I gave him some morphia and sent him to a dressing station. We then got him down to the road, put him into an ambulance, and had him taken to the hospital. His leg was amputated and he died at 6 6 a.m.. this morning. When lie was hit his first thought was for others, and he said to me, ' I order you to go away out of danger. Don't stop with me.' He was so brave and plucky, and when I said good-night to him he was just like himself. The whole brigade talks of him with deep admiration and respect. I do so sincerely sympathise with you in your great sorrow. Everyone loved John, and to one he was more like a son than a Staff officer, and I loved him very dearly. We buried hint at 2.15 p.m. to-clay, having got the priest to read the Service."

A Special Brigade Order of the Day was published announcing the Brigade Major's death. Rather fuller details were given by the Staff Captain of the brigade, who wrote: "It was a glorious end. and what better and nobler than this can I say, that his end was a glorious example to us all ? Our brigade had been, as you will probably know, holding a very important and difficult part of the line. Well, on the day before his death the enemy shelled our headquarters very heavily and knocked in all the dug-outs except two. About ten of our servants, clerks, and signallers were also knocked out at the same time. John had just come out of the office with the General when a small shell, known as a whiz-bang,' hit him in the left thigh and seriously wounded him. As he lay on the ground he said to the General, Go away, General, to safety. I order you to go away.' In a very short time ho was carried into the signallers' dug-out, and, as he lay on the ground, he said to the men round about, Well, boys, I am going to die, and I am quite ready. That's how you all should. be.'“ Captain Harter had made a name for himself in India as a fine horseman, having won the Subalterns' Cup and Rose Cup two years in succession. He was also particularly successful in the training of polo ponies.

Captain, 3rd Battalion attached 4th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. Killed in action 16 June 1915. Aged 26. Son of Charles B. Hatfield Harter and Violet Harter, of 5, Onslow Houses, South Kensington, London. His brother John George also fell (see above). No known grave. Commemorated at YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 6 and 8.

Extract from The Bond of Sacrifice: Officers Died in the Great War 1914-1916, Volume II, page 206:

LIEUTENANT CLEMENT JESSE HARTER, 4th BATTN. THE ROYAL FUSILIERS (CITY OF LONDON REGT.), third son of Charles B. H. Harter, 5, Onslow Houses, London, S.W., was born in London on the 4th December, 1889. His elder brother, Captain J. G. Harter, Brigade Major, was killed near Ypres on the 3rd April, 1916. He was educated at Ladycross, Bournemouth, and Beaumont College, Old Windsor, and originally was in the Royal Navy. In August, 1911, he was gazetted to the Royal Fusiliers from the Special Reserve, and joined the 3rd Battalion in India. In the Great War the 4th Battalion formed part of the IIIrd Division, and having gone to France in March, 1915, Lieutenant Harter, who had been pro¬moted Lieutenant in April, 1914, was killed on the 16th June, 1915, while leading his platoon at Hooge. In August, 1915, it was officially notified that Lieutenant C. J. Harter, who had been previously reported "killed" was now "reported wounded and missing." The report of his death was, however, afterwards confirmed. Lieutenant Harter was a member of the Bath Club.

GARNER, H., Private, Bedfordshire Regiment.

He joined the Army in 1917, but after only five weeks training at Tring his health broke down, and he was sent to hospital. Later in the year he was discharged as medically unfit for further military service, and in August 1917 unhappily died..

"His memory is cherished with pride."

High Street, Cranfield, Bedfordshire. - Z2560/C.

For further details of the air crews listed here see Colin Mackenzies AIRCREW CASUALTY INFORMATION which details the events concerning the death of these aircrew.