Peterborough & The Great War

Biography

Alfred James Luck was born on 22 March 1895 in Wollaston, Northants.  He was the eldest child of Alfred William and Sarah (nee Dickins).  In 1911, Alfred James (16) was living at Irchester Road, Wollaston with his parents and siblings Arthur John (13), Mabel Mary (11) and Alice Maud (4). Alfred William was a bootmaker and both Alfred James and Arthur were also working at a boot factory.

Alfred attested at Bedford on 8 November 1915 and joined the Bedfordshire Yeomanry.  He was slightly built, being just under 5’5” with a 34” chest.

Alfred passed through Peterborough East Station around 24 August 1916.  He was with the 2/1^st Bedfordshire Yeomanry attached to the 114^th Company of the Royal Defence Corps and was stationed at Elveden Camp near Thetford, Norfolk. In June 1917, the Bedford Yeomanry was absorbed into the 1^st Reserve Cavalry Regiment which was formed early in 1917 at Curragh in Ireland.  In September 1917, he transferred to the 7^th Territorial Reserve Battalion Kings Liverpool Regiment, was posted to France at the end of October 1917 and assigned to the 12^th Battalion of the Kings Liverpool Regiment. He was reported missing on 30 November 1917, when captured during the Cambrai Operations and taken as a prisoner of war and interred at Mezeburg, Germany.  Alfred was repatriated on 4 January 1919, and demobilised on 3 April 1919.  He was awarded the British War and Allied Victory Medals.

Boot manufacturer, J L Austin, of Wollaston, Northamptonshire wrote to the Army in February 1919, stating that he had employed Alfred James before 4 August 1914, and was prepared to offer him immediate employment on his return to civilian life.

Alfred married Edith Louisa Spencer (nee Cooper) in early 1930 in Wellingborough.  They had two children, June (born 1930) and Arthur Keith (born 1932) and a stepson Derek from Edith’s first marriage.  The 1939 Register states Alfred and Edith were living at 38 Irchester Road, Wellingborough and he was working as a boot operative finisher. Also living at this address were his father Alfred William, who is widowed, his son Arthur (7) and two other people who could possibly be his daughter June and step-son Derek.

Alfred died in Wellingborough in September 1979, aged 84.

Alfred’s brother, Arthur John Luck (born 1898) was killed in action in France on 25 October 1918.  He is buried at Ingoyghem Military Cemetery, France.  He was serving with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, and formerly with the Northamptonshire Regiment.

Please get in touch if you can tell us more about Alfred and his family.