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Charles William LUFF

Main CPGW Record

Surname: LUFF

Forename(s): Charles William

Place of Birth: Eaton Socon, Bedfordshire

Service No: 11672

Rank: Corporal

Regiment / Corps / Service: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)

Battalion / Unit: 9th (Service) Battalion

Division: 17th (Northern) Division

Age: 22

Date of Death: 1916-04-26

Awards: ---

CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: IX. G. 8.

CWGC Cemetery: CITE BONJEAN MILITARY CEMETERY, ARMENTIERES

CWGC Memorial: ---

Non-CWGC Burial: ---

Local War Memorial: BARNOLDSWICK, YORKSHIRE

Local War Memorial: GARGRAVE, YORKSHIRE

Additional Information:

Charles William Luff was the son of Elizabeth [Lizzie] Luff, daughter of Charles and Emma Luff, née Markham. Elizabeth was born at Eaton Socon, Bedfordshire.

1901 Eaton Socon, Bedfordshire Census: Cottage - Charles Luff, aged 7 years, born Eaton Socon. [Charles was living with his grandfather, Charles Luff and his second wife, Elizabeth.]

1911 Barnoldswick, Yorkshire Census: 9, Turner Street - Charles William Luff, aged 17 years, born Eaton Socon, Bedfordshire, son of Lizzie and [stepson of] John Robert Barker. [Lizzie had married John in 1904.]

Charles was married to Phyllis Maud Jones in 1913. Phyllis later married William Henry Aldersley in 1917. Their son, Private Douglas Horace Aldersley, 4616874, 6th Bn Duke of Wellington’s Regiment (West Riding) was killed in action on 18 June 1944.

The British Army Service Record for Charles William Luff exists but may be incomplete.

British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Cpl Charles W. Luff, 3/11672, W. Rid. R. Theatre of War first served in: (1) France. Date of entry therein: 15.7.15. K. in A. 26.4.16.

British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: Cpl Charles William Luff, 3/11672, 9th W. Rid. R. K. in A. 26.4.16

Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Cpl Charles William Luff, 11672, 9th Bn W. Riding Regt. Date and Place of Death: 26.4.16. In Action. To whom Authorised/Amount Authorised: Widow - Phyllis M. £6 15s. 8d. Son - John Bernard (born 11.6.14.) £13 11s. 3d. [John died in 1986.]

A short biography of Charles is included in: ‘From Mills to Marching and Back Again – A History of Gargrave from 1900 to 1925’ by Sue Lyall and Donavon Slaven with contributions from George Ingle, Ray Jones and Martin Thompson (2019).

Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry

View Entry in CPGW Book

Entry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:

LUFF, Corporal Charles William, aged 22, West Riding Regiment, killed in action in France April 26, 1916.

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Corporal Charles William LUFF

Corporal Charles William LUFF

Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)

Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)

Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 17th (Northern) Division

Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 17th (Northern) Division

Data from Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 - 1919 Records

Soldiers Died Data for Soldier Records

Surname: LUFF

Forename(s): Charles William

Born: Bedford

Residence: Gargrave, Yorks

Enlisted: Skipton, Yorks

Number: 11672

Rank: Cpl

Regiment: Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)

Battalion: 9th Battalion

Decorations:

Died Date: 26/04/16

Died How: Killed in action

Theatre of War: France & Flanders

Notes:

Data from Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records

CWGC Data for Soldier Records

Surname: LUFF

Forename(s): C W

Country of Service: United Kingdom

Service Number: 3/11672

Rank: Corporal

Regiment: Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)

Unit: 9th Bn.

Age: 22

Awards:

Died Date: 28/04/1916

Additional Information: Son of Mrs. Elizabeth Luff; husband of Phyllis Maud Luff, of South St., Gargrave, Leeds. (CWGC Headstone Personal Inscription: EVER REMEMBERED)

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Craven Herald and Wensleydale Standard Logo

12 May 1916

LUFF – Killed in action in France, April 26th 1916, Corporal Charles Wm. Luff, 9th Duke of Wellington’s, aged 22 years, formerly of Barnoldswick, and latterly of Gargrave.

12 May 1916

GARGRAVE MAN KILLED IN ACTION

Last weekend news reached Gargrave that Corporal Charles William Luff, aged 22, whose photo we give above, had been killed in action on the evening of April 26th. Corporal Luff was a native of Kempston, near Bedford, and had latterly lived at Barnoldswick and Gargrave, enlisting from the latter place at Skipton in the 9th Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment on September 1st, 1914. He had been at the Front since July last and was at Gargrave on a six days’ leave of absence last Christmas.

He was married at Gill Church, Barnoldswick in 1913, and leaves a widow and one child.

Extracts from letters received from his superior officers say:– “He was killed doing his duty in a willing and cheerful manner under most trying conditions, he having always proved himself to be a good soldier and an energetic and capable N.C.O. He died as he lived, doing his duty, and leaves a good name and a fine example behind him. All the men speak well of your husband and the platoon that was with him. In drill at Borrington he was smart, and it was only because he was, if anything, too quiet that he did not get his promotion more rapidly.”

27 April 1917

LUFF – In loving memory of Corporal Charles William Luff, 9th Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, who was killed in action April 26th 1916.

O for the touch of a vanished hand,
And the sound of a voice that is still.

From his wife and child, Gargrave April 26th 1916.

View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles

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West Yorkshire Pioneer Logo

12 May 1916

LUFF – In France, Corpl. C.W. Luff, of the 9th Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, formerly of Gargrave, aged 22.

12 May 1916

TWO BARNOLDSWICK SOLDIERS KILLED IN FRANCE

Mr. Wm. H. Thornton, 11, Essex Street, on Sunday received news from France of the death of his youngest son, Rifleman Henry Thornton, 1st King’s Royal Rifles, which took place on April 30th. Two days previously a nursing sister at the hospital of the 68th Field Ambulance wrote stating that he had been badly wounded in the abdomen and legs, and though very ill, was going on as well as could be expected. In the second letter the Sister said he passed away quite peacefully, but was not conscious enough to leave any message.

Rifleman Thornton, who was only 20 years of age, joined the Army a year ago and was wounded at Loos in September last. After recuperating at a Manchester Hospital he returned to France a few days before Christmas. Before enlisting he was a weaver at Messrs. Edmondson and Co.’s, Calf Hall Shed.

Corporal Charles Luff, 9th Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, who has been officially reported killed in action in France, formerly resided in Turner Street, Barnoldswick. He was 22 years of age, married and leaves a wife and one child now residing in Gargrave. Before enlistment he was connected with the Independent Methodist Church, and was employed as a weaver at Messrs. J. Windle and Sons, Wellhouse Mill.

12 May 1916

GARGRAVE MAN KILLED IN ACTION

Last weekend news reached Gargrave that Corporal Charles William Luff, aged 22, whose photo we give herewith, had been killed in action on the evening of April 26th. Corp. Luff was a native of Kempston, near Bedford, and had latterly lived at Barnoldswick and Gargrave, enlisting from the latter place at Skipton in the 9th Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment on September 1st, 1914. He had been at the Front since July last and was at Gargrave on a six days’ leave of absence last Christmas. He was married at Gill Church, Barnoldswick in 1913, and leaves a widow and one child. Extracts from letters received from his superior officers say:– “He was killed doing his duty in a willing and cheerful manner under most trying conditions, he having always proved himself to be a good soldier and an energetic and capable N.C.O. He died as he lived, doing his duty, and leaves a good name and a fine example behind him. All the men speak well of your husband and the platoon that was with him. In drill at Barrington he was smart, and it was only because he was, if anything, too quiet that he did not get his promotion more rapidly.”

Corpl. Luff formerly resided in Turner Street, Barnoldswick, before enlistment was connected with the Independent Methodist Church in that town. He was employed as a weaver at Messrs. J. Windle and Sons, Wellhouse Mill.

27 April 1917

In loving memory of Corporal Charles William Luff, 9th Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, who was killed in action April 26th 1916.

O for the touch of a vanished hand,
And the sound of a voice that is still!

From his Wife and Child, Gargrave, April 26th 1917.

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