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301000 Sgt. John Duke British Army 18th Btn. Durham Light Infantry from:New Herrington (d.1st Jul 1916) John Duke was born in 1892 in New Herrington, he had 5 brothers and 2 sisters. His father was a Waggonwright. John went to Northern Skelton Colliery School until he was 14 in 1906 he was admitted to the Durham Johnston School. He was on the school football team. He was a pupil teacher at age 18, then studied at Bede College and became a school teacher at Dubmire County School, Houghton-le-Spring. John Duke enlisted with the 18th Battalion DLI, Regimental Number No 2510 He trained at Cocken Hall, became a machine gunner and was promoted to Sergeant. He went with the 18th Battalion to Eqypt in Dec 1915 where the Battalion were engaged in much construction work. As a machine gunner, John was transferred to 93rd Coy, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) Regtl No (22764). He died on the 1st July 1916, aged 24 - on first day of the First Battle of the Somme. He has no known grave, and is named on Thiepval Memorial and remembered on the Durham Johnston School War Memorial. Please type your message:      We recommend you copy the text about this item and keep a copy on your own computer before pressing submit. Your Name:             Email Address:       @ **Please put first part of your email, (before the @ sign) in the first box, and the second part in the second box. Do not include @, it is automatic. Do not enter your full email in each box or add an @ sign or random spaces.**