LUTON
CO-OP WAR MEMORIAL
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
|
Horace
[Edward] |
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 in Abbeville Communal
Cemetery Extension, Somme, France. Plot II. Row F. Grave 4. See
also Luton Town Memorial |
| BIRD
|
E
|
Possibly:
Ernest
Reuben Bird. Private 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 in Dunstable Cemetery. Plot/Row/Section
E. Grave 82. |
|
BLAND
|
Frederick
[Leslie] |
Private
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 resident Chiltern
Green. Enlisted Bedford. No known grave. Commemorated on Achiet-le-Grand
Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas-de-Calais, France. Special Memorial
2.
See also Luton Town Memorial |
| BROWN
|
Edward |
Private
24367, 1st Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment. Killed in action
10 December 1916. Born and enlisted Luton, Bedfordshire. Unmarried. Resident
2a, Essex Street. No known grave. Commemorated at THIEPVAL MEMORIAL,
Somme, France. Pier and Face 11 A and 11 D.
See also Luton Town Memorial |
|
BROWN
|
T
|
Two
possible entries.
See Luton Town Memorial |
| BYSOUTH
|
Herbert
|
Private
201034, 1st/5th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action
in Palestine 2nd November 1917. Resident Luton, enlisted Bedford.
Resident 123, Russell Street. Buried in Gaza War Cemetery, Israel.
Plot XXII. Row A. Grave 9. See
also Luton Town Memorial |
|
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 201 and 202 or 236
to 239 and 328. See also Luton Town Memorial |
| EAMES
|
[Augustus]
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.
See also Luton Town Memorial |
|
GOODSON
|
John |
Sergeant
19064, 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action 23
March 1918. Aged 25. Born Gorleston–on-Sea, resident Luton, enlisted
Bedford. Resident Hitchin Road. Husband of Mabel (nee Rhodes) Goodson
of 20, Reginald Street, Luton, married October to Deceber Quarter
1916 in Luton. In the 1911 census he was aged 19, a baker, born
Goelestion, Suffolk, a Baker, nephew of Ernest and Jane Bloomfield,
resident 22, Hitchin Road, Luton. No known grave. Commemorated on
Poziers Memorial, Somme, France. Panel 28 & 29.
See also
Luton Town Memorial |
| JOHNSON
|
William
|
Private
269206, 1st Battalion Hertfordshire Regiment. Killed in action 28
April 1918. Aged 33. Born, resident and enlisted Luton. Married.
Resident 26, May Street. Son of [John] Edward and Emma Johnson of
Luton; husband of Ruth (nee Wray) Johnson of 65, Park Road West,
Luton, married in October to December Quarter 1915 in Luton. In
the 1901 census he was aged 15, born Luton, a Greengrocer's Assistant,
son of John E and Emma Johnson, resident 03, New Town Street, Luton.
In the 1911 census he was aged 25, born Luton, a Baker's Assistant,
unmarried, son of John Edward and Emma Johnson, resident 36, May
Street, Luton. Buried in Wytschaete Military Cemetery, Heuvelland,
West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot IV. Row F. Grave 17. See
also Luton Town Memorial
|
|
MOSS
|
W
|
No
further information available at present. |
| SMITH
|
Joseph |
Writer
3rd Class M/8543, H.M.S. "Natal," Royal Navy. Killed or
died by means other than disease, accident or enemy action 30 December
1915. Aged 20. Born 31 December 1894 in Luton. Unmarried. Son of
Joseph and Elizabeth Smith, of 17, Chobham Street, Luton. In the
1901 census he was aged 6, born Luton, son of Joseph and Elizabeth
Smith, resident 17, Chobham Street, Luton. Admitted to Luton, Modern
School 17 September 1907, left 29 July 1908, previously educated
at Queen's Square Elementary School for 6 years. In the 1911 census
he was aged 16, born Luton, a Junior Clerk, son of Joseph and Elizabeth
Smith, resident 17, Chobham Street, Luton. No known grave. Commemorated
on CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL, Kent. Panel 12.
See also
Luton Town Memorial |
|
SMITH
|
W
|
No
further information available at present.
See also
Luton Town Memorial |
| STEER
|
Henry |
Private
31483. 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in
action 23 April 1917. Born Woking. Lived and enlisted Luton. Resident
114, Baker Street. Married. No known grave. Commemorated on Arras
memorial, Pas-de-Calais, France. Bay 5.
See also
Luton Town Memorial
According
to the National Roll of the Great War - Section V -
Luton:
|
| STEER,
H., Private, Bedfordshire Regiment. |
|
Joining in September 1916, he was sent to the Western Front
in March 1917, and saw heavy fighting in various sectors and
was in action at Arras and Vimy Ridge, where he was killed
in action on April 23rd, of the same year. He was entitled
to the General Service and Victory Medals. |
|
144, Baker Street, Luton. |
4871. |
|
|
STEVENS
|
Frederick |
Private
G/17371 (CD has G/17370). 11 Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment. Killed
in action 26 September 1917. Resident 49, Stuart Road. Unmarried.
Son of Frederick and Martha Annie Stevens of 49 Stuart Street, Luton.
No known grave. Commemorated on Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, West
Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 86 – 88.
See also
Luton Town Memorial
|
| WILSON
|
Frank |
Private
33808, 1st Battalion, Border Regiment formerly 178396, Royal Field
Artillery. Died of wounds 31 January 1917. Aged 19. Born Stopsley
Common, Beds, enlisted Luton, Beds. Son of James and Eliza Wilson,
of 67, Frederic St., Luton. Unmarried. Resident 67 Frederic Street,
Luton. Buried in GROVE TOWN CEMETERY, MEAULTE, Somme, France. Plot
II. Row N. Grave 10. See
also Luton Town Memorial
|
|
WOODING
|
George
[Leslie] |
Private
20953. 8th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in
action 20 November 1917. Born Bedford. Lived and enlisted Luton.
No known grave. Commemorated on Ribecourt British Cemetery, Nord,
France. Special Memorial Plot/Row/Section A. Grave 28. See
also Luton Town Memorial
|
|
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, Bedfordshire. Worked at
Luton Co-operative Society. Buried in 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. See also Luton
Town Memorial
|
| Photographs
Copyright © Janice Rix 2003 |
|
|
BONNER
|
Reginald
William |
 Gunner
1747015. 214 Battery, 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. See also Luton Town
Memorial |
| |
|
|
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|
CARTER
|
George
Henry |
Gunner
948846 512 Battery, 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. No known grave. Commemorated on Singapore Memorial,
Singapore. Column 37. |
|
DAY
|
R.
|
No
further information available at present. |
|
DIXON
|
Eric
Christopher |
Driver
2073161, 251 Park Company, Royal Engineers. Missing, presumed killed
by enemy bombing, Alexandra Hospital, Singapore, 14 February 1942.
Age 20. Lived at 37 Clifton Road, Luton. No known grave. Commemorated
on Singapore memorial, Singapore. Column 42.
See also Luton Town Memorial |
|
DOBBS
|
George
|
Staff
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.
See also Luton Town Memorial |
|
FRASER
|
Kenneth
|
Leading
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.
No known grave. Commemorated on Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire.
Panel 81. Column 2.
See also Luton Town Memorial
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. No known grave. Commemorated on Kanchanaburi
War Cemetery, Thailand. Special Memorial 9.M.9. See
also Luton Town Memorial
|
|
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 in Luton Church
Burial Ground. Sec. 10. Row P. Grave 4. See
also Luton Town Memorial
|
|
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. No known grave. Commemorated
on Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire. Panel 82. Col. 2. See
also Luton Town Memorial
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 |
Private
Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment. Died 30 December 1939.
Lived at 38 Ryecroft Way, Stopsley, Luton. (Not listed on CWGC).
See
also Luton Town Memorial
|
|
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 in Khayat Beach
War Cemetery, Israel. Ref. B.F.10. See
also Luton Town Memorial
|
|
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 in Salerno War Cemetery, Italy.
Ref. IV.A.26. See
also Luton Town Memorial
|
|
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. See
also Luton Town Memorial
|
|
LEMMON
|
Douglas
James William |
Private
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. No known grave. Commemorated on Singapore memorial,
Singapore. Column 64.Leslie
Arthur al
|
|
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 in Sangro War Cemetery, Italy.
Ref. XV.A.27. See
also Luton Town Memorial
|
|
MATTHEWS
|
S.
|
No
further information available at present. |
|
PATERSON
|
R.
|
No
further information available at present. |
|
PINNEY
|
George
Robert |
Private
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 in Chungkai War Cemetery, Thailand. Ref. 9.D.3.
See
also Luton Town Memorial
|
|
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 in Kanchanaburi
War Cemetery, Thailand. Ref. 4.A.4. See
also Luton Town Memorial
|
|
RAYMENT
|
Harold
Edward |
Private
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 in Kanchanaburi War Cemetery,
Thailand. Ref. 6.A.75. See
also Luton Town Memorial
|
|
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 in Becklingen War Cemetery, Soltau, Niedersachsen,
Germany. Ref. 8.J.4. See
also Luton Town Memorial
|
|
SELL
|
Frederick
William |
Cpl.
5952485. 5th Battalion Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire
Regiment. Died 12 September 1944. No known grave. Commemorated on 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. No known grave. Commemorated on Singapore Memorial,
Singapore. Column 37. See
also Luton Town Memorial
|
|
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 in Biscot
(Holy Trinity) Churchyard. Sec. D. Row 2. Grave 22. See
also Luton Town Memorial
|
|
WILMOT
|
C.
|
No
further information available at present. |
Last updated
8 December, 2020
|
