William Kirby and Brenda McMahon have submitted the following:-
John was born to his parents Willian and Lucy (nee Hind) in 1892. The couple had married in 1879 and went on to have several children.
John Duke was born in 1892 at New Herrington, he had 5 brothers and 2 sisters. His father was a waggonwright. John went to North Skelton Colliery School until he was 14 in 1906 he was admitted to the Durham Johnston School. He was on the school football team.
John was a pupil teacher at age 18, then studied at Bede College and became a school teacher at Dubmire County School, Fence Houses.
John Duke enlisted with the 18th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, Regimental number 2510. He trained at Cocken Hall, became a machine gunner and was promoted to sergeant. He went with the 18th Battalion to Egypt in December 1915 where the battalion were engaged in much construction work.
As a machine gunner John was transferred to 93rd Coy., Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) Regimental number 22764. He died on July 1st 1916, aged 24 on the first day of the First Battle of the Somme. He has no known grave and is named on the Thiepval Memorial.
The Sunderland Echo 15/08/1916 reports:-
DUKE. Killed action July 1st 1916 Sergeant John Duke. D.L.I. aged 23 years dearly-loved son of William and Lucy Duke New Herrington
Eddie Castling & Andrew O’Sullivan have submitted the following:
DUKE, John
Born in 30/08/1892.
In 1906 lived in 7 Fenton Street, Fencehouses, New Herrington, had 5 brothers and 2 sisters. Father, William was a waggonwright then a miner. His mother was Lucy.
After WW1 his parents lived at Heatherycleugh, Cornriggs, Wearhead, Co Durham.
He was admitted to the Durham Johnston School in 17/09/1906 at the age of 14 having previously attended North Skelton Colliery School.
He was a pupil teacher at age 18, then studied at Bede College. He became a school teacher at Dubmire County School, Houghton-le-Spring.
Serjeant, in 18th Bn DLI (Regtl No 250, then 22764). The 18th Bn was raised in Co Durham, did coastal defence at Hartlepool, Cleveland, then trained in UK until Dec 1915. Following enlistment he first went out with 18th Bn to Eqypt in Dec 1915. Whilst in Egypt, the battalion did lots of construction work. He was sent from Egypt to France in March 1916 and took part in fighting around Ypres area.
He was a machine gunner, being transferred to 93rd Coy, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) Regtl No 22764.
He died 01/07/1916, aged 24 on first day of the First Battle of the Somme (same day as William Smurthwaite). He has no known grave, but is named on Thiepval Memorial (Pier and Face 5C and 12C), which bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men who died in the Somme sector and have no known grave.
Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
John Duke is remembered on Teachers’ Roll of Honour in Burnmoor on B154.06, in Durham on D47.017, D47.025, D47.052, D47.126, D47.127 and D47.141 and at Herrington on H137.06
