Luther V. Burgoyne Johnson
Lanchester Churchyard
Ian Murray has submitted the following:-
Luther was born in Middlemoor near Richmond, Yorkshire on 5th September 1890 and baptised on the 1st October. In 1891 he was living with his parents John and Matilda Johnson at Moor House, Quebec. By 1901, Luther’s father was a Colliery and Brewery Owner. Luther was educated at Aysgarth School, Charterhouse and King’s College, Cambridge where he studied Law.
In 1911, Luther his parents and siblings were living at Greencroft Park, Lanchester.
He joined the Hamsteels Company of the 8th Durham Light Infantry being gazetted 2nd Lieutenant on 8th April 1910, Lieutenant on 12th May 1912 and Captain on 12th September 1914. At the outbreak of war, he was serving his articles as a Solicitor with Messrs. Cochrane and Belk, Middlesbrough. Luther was well known in Cricket and Rugby Football circles in the Saltburn area.
He went to the Front in April 1915 and was killed in action a few days later on the 26th April at the Grafenstaffel Ridge, North East of Ypres. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial. His father John also served in the DLI and died in 1920. Three of Luther’s brothers also served but survived.
A headstone in Lanchester Parish Churchyard reads:-
In Loving Memory of
Captain John Burgoyne Johnson
Durham Light Infantry
Who departed this life on January 9th 1920
Aged 51 years
The Memory of the Just is Blessed
In Loving Memory of
Captain Luther Vincent Burgoyne Johnson
Durham Light Infantry
Who fell on the Battlefield
At the 2nd battle of Ypres April 25th 1915
aged 24 years
Luther Vincent Burgoyne Johnson is remembered at Lanchester on L62.01 at Quebec on Q2.03 and Q2.05 and at Gosforth on G9.31
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 98
