| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Frank Cecil Luke was born in 1891 in Cottingham where his father John was an engineer working at Springhead Waterworks, the family lived in Dam Cottages. At the time of the 1901 Census Frank and 5 siblings were living in Hull. Whilst one of his elder brothers joined the East Riding Constabulary, Frank aged 18, enlisted with the Royal Field Artillery signing on for 3 years and a further 9 with the Reserves. The 1911 Census shows Frank in barracks at Exeter as a gunner. Once back on the Reserve list in 1913 and after a brief spell as an assistant postman in Hull, Frank became a Police Constable with the East Riding Constabulary and was stationed at Bridlington where he met his wife-to-be, Elsie Franklin.
Franks was recalled to his Regiment in Aug 1914 and was immediately sent to France. His Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) was awarded less than a year later when as Bombadier 55509 serving with 37 Battery, 3rd Battalion Royal Field Artillery and employed as Battery telephonist he carried out difficult and dangerous work repairing telephone wires under fire in front of the trenches. The Hull Daily Mail and Driffield Times reported in Aug 1915 that he had been invalided home with two wounds but at the time of his wedding to Elsie in Oct 1915, he was back in barracks at Norwich. The Chief Constable reporting to the Standing Joint Committee in Jun 1916 tells of Frank's Commission to 2nd Lieutenant.
Frank returned to the police in 1919 where a note in the East Riding Constabulary Appointments Book states RFA Sergeant 59909 Luke's specialist military qualification had been gun and signalling instructor and that he served in India. Frank was regularly commended by the Courts for his police work and was awarded a Merit badge by the Standing Joint Committee for perseverance, zeal and intelligence. By the time Frank's daughter Rita marries in 1943, Frank is living in Hessle with Elsie and their son Norman. Once again his name appears regularly in the Hull Daily Mail, this time in connection with Hessle Rescue and Casualty Services and Hessle First Aid Post South.
Frank died in 1957, aged 65.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |