World War 1
Search the known records to date of those lost from the wider Alnwick area in World War 1
Generally showing where they are commemorated, when they died and some basic facts about each person. There are gaps, however, so if you can fill in any missing details do please contact us.
Herbert Luke
Forename(s):
Herbert
Surname:
Luke
Initial(s):
H
Service Number:
22/739
Rank:
Private
Regiment:
Northumberland Fusiliers, 22nd (Service) Battalion (3rd Tyneside Scottish)
Died:
01/07/1916
Aged:
26
Buried:
Thiepval Memorial
Service History:
Enlisted at Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, probably in October or November 1914.
Underwent training at Alnwick until August 1915 when the battalion moved to Salisbury Plain. On completion of training the N.F. 22nd (Service) Battalion (3rd Tyneside Scottish) was sent to France in January 1916, to serve in the 102nd Infantry Brigade in the 34th Division.
At the end of June 1916, the battalion found itself near Albert, in the Somme region, lying in front of the village of La Boisselle. This is where the 1916 Battle of the Somme commenced at 07:28 on 1 July, & where the Tyneside Scottish & Irish Brigades were decimated on that day.
Battalion casualties for that first day of the Somme Offensive included 160 officers & men killed in action.
(Source: 'The Fallen of Embleton 1914-1919'; Written & researched by Terry Howells, Mary Kibble, & Monica Cornall; pp. 16-18)
Background:
Born in July 1890, at Embleton, Northumberland, the son of Elizabeth Luke (b. about 1870; Preston, Northumberland; at the time of her son's birth, a single woman living with her parents), of Front Street, Embleton, Northumberland.
The 1911 Census shows Luke's grandmother, also Elizabeth, is widowed, & she, her daughter Elizabeth, & 3 grandsons - Herbert; John; & Arthur - were living in 2 room in Christon Bank.
First cousin to Corporal John Luke (Regimental service #9214; Royal Fusiliers [City of London Regiment], 22nd [Service] Battalion [Kensington]; Died 5 November 1916).
Luke's mother was the younger sister of John Luke Snr., born in 1865 & father of Corporal John Luke.
Educated at Vincent Edwards Church School, Embleton where his disciplinary record was not good!
On leaving school Luke worked in the Whinstone Quarry at Embleton.
(Source: 'The Fallen of Embleton 1914-1919'; Written & researched by Terry Howells, Mary Kibble, & Monica Cornall; pp. 16-18)
Local Memorial:
Embleton, Memorial Obelisk in Spitalford Cemetery
Embleton, Church of England School Memorial Plaque