Private 17774, 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action Friday, 15th September 1916 in France and Flanders. Age 43. Born Blunham, enlisted Bedford, resident Great Barford. Son of Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Atkinson, of 3, Council Cottage, Willington, Beds.; husband of the late Ada Atkinson. Buried in SERRE ROAD CEMETERY No. 2, Somme, France. Grave II. G. 11.

Entry in 'The National Roll of The Great War - Section XII - Bedford & Northampton'.

ATKINSON, J., Private, Bedfordshire Regiment.
He was mobilised on the outbreak of war, and, landing on the Western Front early in 1915, was engaged in severe fighting in the Battles of Hill 60, Ypres and Festubert. He was unhappily killed in action at Loos in September 1915, and was entitled to the 1914-15 Star, and the General Service and Victory Medals.
“A costly sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.”
Chalton, near Sandy.	Z1115/A.

Private 301555, 13th Battalion, Tank Corps. Killed in action Thursday, 25th April 1918 in France and Flanders. Age 27. Born Blunham, enlisted Ampthill. Formerly 25133, Bedfordshire Regiment. Son of Rose Symonds (formerly Abbott), of Queen's Terrace, London Rd., Sandy, Beds, and the late James, Abbott. Buried in WYTSCHAETE MILITARY CEMETERY, Heuvelland, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Grave IV. F. II.

Entry in 'The National Roll of The Great War - Section XII - Bedford & Northampton'.

ABBOTT, J. W. C., Gunner, Tank Corps.
Volunteering in 1915, he was drafted to the Western Front in the following year and was in action in many parts of the line. including the Loos, Albert and Somme sectors. He was killed in action at Kemmel Hill on April 25th, and was buried at Wytschaete. He was entitled to the General Service and Victory Medals.
“A costly sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.”
The Gardens, Great Barford. Bedfordshire.	Z1004/C.

Private 3/6145, 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Died of wounds Sunday, 10th January 1915 in France and Flanders. Born Great Barford, enlisted Bedford, resident St Neots. Brother os Oscar below. Buried in BAILLEUL COMMUNAL CEMETERY (NORD), Nord, France. Grave G. 15.

BOON, A. E., Private, 1st Bedfordshire Regiment.
He was mobilised in August 1914, and quickly proceeded to the Western Front, where he took part in the Retreat from Mons and in the Battles of the Marue and La Bassée. He died gloriously on the Field of Battle at Ypres on January 10th, 1915, and was entitled to the Mons Star, and the General Service and Victory Medals.
“Whilst we remember, the sacrifice is not in vain.”
Willoughby Cottages, Great Barford, Bedford.	Z1347/B.

Private 23181, 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action Tuesday, 30th October 1917 in France and Flanders. Age 20. Born Folksworth, Northants, enlisted and resident Bedford. Son of Arthur and Hannah Boon, of 1, Willoughby Cottage, Great Barford; brother of Edgar above. Commemorated on TYNE COT MEMORIAL, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 48 to 50 and 162A.

BOON, 0. J., Private, 4th Bedfordshire Regiment.
He volunteered in 1915, and, on completing his training in the following year, was drafted to the Western Front. There he was engaged as a runner with his Battalion, and took part in much heavy fighting at Ypres, on the Somme and at Messines. He was unfortunately killed in action at Passchendaele on October 30th, 1917, and was entitled to the General Service and Victory Medals.
“Honour to the immortal dead, who gave their youth that the world might grow old in peace.”
Willoughby Cottages, Great Barford, Bedford.	Z1347/A.

Private 204352, 12th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. Killed in action Thursday, 2nd August 1917 in France and Flanders. Formerly 9270, Bedfordshire Regiment. Commemoarted on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 34

NORMAN, G. A., Private, 12th East Surrey Regt.
He joined in January 1917, and, after his training, was engaged on important agricultural work for four months. He then proceeded to France in July 1917, but after the Battle of Ypres (III.) was reported missing, and is now presumed to have been killed in action, on August 2nd of the same year. He was entitled to the General Service and Victory Medals.
“And doubtless he went in splendid company.”
The Gardens, Great Barford, Beds.	Z3674.

Private 27848, "B" Company, 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action Thursday, 16th November 1916 in France and Flanders. Age 24. Born and resident Great Barford, enlisted Bedford. Son of Charles and Eliza Pitts, of Great Barford. Buried in REGINA TRENCH CEMETERY, GRANDCOURT, Somme, France. Grave I. D. 13. The 7th Batt Orders dated 18th Nove,ber 1916 (the first day after being relieved from Regina Trench) has the following entry on the casualty list. 27848 Pte PITTS W C "B" Company, Missing 16th November 1916, he was obviously found and confirmed as KIA later.

PITTS, W. C., Private, 6th Bedfordshire Regiment.
He volunteered in March 1915, and later in the same year was drafted to the Western Front, but after taking part in heavy fighting at Arras and Ypres was unfortunately killed in action near Albert on November 16th, 1915. He was entitled to the 1914-15 Star, and the General Service and Victory Medals.
“Honour to the immortal dead, who gave their youth that the world might grow old in peace.”
Albert Cottage, Great Barford, Beds.	Z3854.

Private 31522, 160th Company, Infantry Battalion, Machine Gun Corps. Killed in action Tuesday, 30th April 1918 in Palestine. Enlisted Bedford. Formerly 23264, Bedfordshire Regiment. Buried in JERUSALEM WAR CEMETERY, Israel. Grave N. 63.

ROBINSON, T. G., Private, Machine Gun Corps.
He joined in November 1916, and, on completion of a period of training in the following year, proceeded to Egypt, whence he was sent into Palestine, and took part in the Battles of Gaza. He died gloriously on the Field of Battle near the River Jordan on April 30th, 1917. He was entitled to the General Service and Victory Medals.
“Whilst we remember, the sacrifice is not in vain.”
The Gardens, Great Barford, Beds.	Z4006.

[Kenneth Jack on CWGC] Private 14558323 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders who died on Thursday, 10th August 1944. Age 19. Son of Frederick and Fanny Favell, of Great Barford. Buried in RANVILLE WAR CEMETERY, Calvados, France. Grave IX. F. 6.

 

Photograph Copyright © Steve Favell 2004