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216390 Sgt. William Luke British Army 9th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (d.20th Jul 1917) William Luke first served in France on the 15th of July 1915. He was born in Jarrow in 1892 and was the son of Mary Ann Patterson (formerly Luke nee Carrahar) and the late John Luke. William Luke, age 18, an Apprentice Rivetter in Ship Building, lived with his Stepfather William Patterson & his mother, Mary Ann Patterson, his Step siblings & his brother at 58, Stephenson Street, Willington Quay in the 1911 Census. He enlisted in Wallsend and died aged 24. William is buried in Point-Du-Jour Military Cemetery Athies. Additional Information: On the 16th July the 9th (Service) Battalion had moved to the front line trench in the Caledonian sector ( Cuthbert trench). Plans had been made for raids on Wart trench on the evening of the 20th July but during the day "our trenches were heavily shelled with 4.2 and trench mortars, as the result of our evening bombardment (of the 19th) . We suffered 3OR killed and 9 wounded " ( SGT William Luke of "C" company was one of these killed along with 2 OR's from The same company.)I believe that my father was involved in the subsequent raid in which he sustained a shrapnel wound close to the spine when caught in no mans land, he was evacuated to Warncliffe War Hospital in Sheffield and returned to the front some 6 weeks later. It is rumoured that prior to this event my father and a SGT that he met on Newcastle railway stn decided to go AWOL to stay with the Sgt'S aunty in London. They were rounded up by military police and sent back to the front , the Sgt was killed on the first day they returned and my father was wounded. For my fathers AWOL he was given No 1 field punishment, he described this to me as being strapped to a gun carriage, on one occasion he was being eaten to death by mosquitos. Some Australian troops passing by were not impressed and caused a rumpus. This is probably why I am now in Australia. I am still looking for this SGT, it could have been William Luke. Anthony Murray Reply Please type your message:      We recommend you copy the text about this item and keep a copy on your own computer before pressing submit. Your Name:             Email Address:       @ **Please put first part of your email, (before the @ sign) in the first box, and the second part in the second box. Do not include @, it is automatic. Do not enter your full email in each box or add an @ sign or random spaces.**