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    © Imperial War Museums 2026

    Memorial

    Luton WW1 Book of Remembrance

    Luton Borough WW1 Book of Remembrance, front cover

    Source: Copyright The Culture Trust Luton (CC BY-NC 4.0)

    1/1

    Current Location

    Wardown House Museum and Gallery, Old Bedford Road, Luton, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU2 7HA, England

    OS Grid Reference

    TL 08933 22970

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    Names listed on this memorial

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    © WMR-99722

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    Type of Memorial
    Roll of honour or book of remembrance
    WMR Reference Number
    99722
    Description
    A tooled-leather-bound volume, containing the printed Roll of Honour of the officers and men of the Borough of Luton who died in World War 1. N.B. This is the official town's copy of the Book of Remembrance. During the construction of the memorial that stands in Luton Town Square (our reference of which is WMR 7563), a copy of this book was deposited within it by the Mayor of Luton; a further ceremonial copy of the Book was presented to Lady Ludlow during the unveiling of that memorial.
    Inscription
    Cover: Presented to/ The MAYOR of LUTON/ COUNCILLOR MURRY BARFORD/ on the unveiling by Baroness Ludlow/ of the Borough War Memorial/ on/ 10th December, 1922. Flyleaf: A copy of this book enclosed by a sealed/ leaden tube is deposited in an internal/ chamber of the Great War Memorial unveiled/ in 1922. It was placed there by myself/ during the construction of the pedestal with/ the object of preserving the names now/ inscribed upon it should these be obliterated/ at any time by decay or otherwise./ Murry Barford/ Dec. 8th 1928. Foreword (page 1): Borough of Luton/ MURRY BARFORD, Mayor./ THE GREAT WAR/ ROLL OF HONOUR/ recording the names of the/ OFFICERS and MEN/ connected with the Borough, who gave lives for. their country. / "Their name liveth for evermore"/ W. SMITH/ Town Clerk/ May, 1922. Foreword (page 2): THEY GAVE THE MOST THAT MAN/ CAN GIVE LIFE ITSELF/ FOR GOD/ FOR KING AND COUNTRY/ FOR LOVED ONES HOME AND EMPIRE/ FOR THE SACRED CAUSE OF JUSTICE AND/ THE FREEDOM OF THE WORLD. Foreword (page 3): PREFACE/ 1) This Roll of Honour contains the names of all men who/ were connected with the Borough who fell in the/ Great War, or who have died since as a result of/ war service. It has been carefully compiled, on behalf/ of the Luton Town Council, from information derived/ from every available source, including: -/ (a) Relatives and friends;/ (b) The Official Lists published by the War Office;/ (c) The "Book of Life" enshrined in St Mary's/ Church;/ (d) Other local War Memorials./ 2) The letter "M" or "S" denotes that the man is married/ or single. / 3) The names only will be recorded on the Borough War/ Memorial, which will be unveiled during/ 1922./ W. SMITH/ TOWN CLERK./ 2, UPPER GEORGE STREET, LUTON/ MAY, 1922. Each of the subsequent 22 pages: No. SURNAME CHRISTIAN NAMES ADDRESS M or S SERVICE RANK and NO. (if any)/ (names) Final page: REGIMENTS, &c, in which the foregoing men served/ (alphabetical list of British/Allied military units, and the number of those listed in this Book of Remembrance who died serving in each of them)
    War
    First World War (1914-1918)
    Number Commemorated
    1284
    Died
    1284
    Information shown
    Surname, decorations, forenames, address, marital status, military unit, rank and service number (if any).
    Order of names
    Listed alphabetically by surname
    Maker(s)
    • Luton Borough Council, Creator

    Sponsor Type
    public

    Ceremonies

    Presented

    May 1922

    This master copy of the Book was presented to the Mayor in May 1922. (One copy of it is in the Luton War Memorial in Town Square; a further ceremonial copy was presented to Lady Ludlow in 1922).

    Custodian
    Wardown House Museum and Gallery

    Components

    Book

    Made from: Leather


    Condition: Good


    • https://www.worldwar1luton.com/object/luton-roll-honour
    • A scanned copy of this Book of Remembrance can be found at https://www.worldwar1luton.com/sites/default/files/objects/Luton Roll of Honour WW1.pdf
    • Beds and Herts Pictorial Tuesday 12/12/1922 reported the unveiling of the memorial in the Town Square, including the following mention of the copy of this Book of Remembrance that was handed to Lady Ludlow: '...Kipling's hymn, "God of our fathers, known of old," with its haunting "Lest we forget—lest we forget!" sung to the heart-stirring tune, "Melita," followed, and then the Mayor of Luton, turning to Lady Ludlow, handed her ladyship a bound, copy of the Roll of Honour, containing 1,284 names of the men of Luton who made the great sacrifice...' https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002881/19221212/009/0002