Arthur James Duke
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Arthur James Duke was born in 1896 and was the son of George William a labourer and Mary Duke née Cragg of 1 Smith's Row, Newark. His father George William was born in 1867 at Newark, his mother Mary Cragg was born in 1872 also at Newark, they were married in Newark in 1892 and went on to have the following children, Elizabeth b1892 , George William b1893, Arthur James b1896 and Thomas Cupit b1904, all were born in Newark. In the 1911 census the family are living at 1 Smiths Row, Newark and are shown as George William 44 yrs a labourer, he is living with his wife Mary 39 yrs and their children, George William 18 yrs a labourer, Arthur James 14 yrs a labourer and Thomas Cupit 7 yrs a scholar. .
Private Arthur James Duke enlisted on 25th May 1915 at Newark, he was 19 yrs and 16 days old, he was a labourer and lived at 1 Smiths Row, Newark, his next of kin was his father George William of the same address , his religion was that of Church of England. Posted to the 2/8th battalion Sherwood Foresters he served on the home front until 11th July 1916 when he landed at Boulogne , he was transferred to the 1/8th battalion Sherwood Foresters on 11th July 1916 . He was returned to England on 7th March 1918 Depot suffering trench foot and TB , appearing before a medical board on 10th May 1918 he was deemed no longer physically fit for war service. He was discharged on 31st May 1918, he had served for 3yrs and 7 days. He entered a sanatorium on 22nd October 1918 and died on 14th December 1918. He is buried at Newark-upon-Trent Cemetery, Nottinghamshire
His brother George William Duke also served during the Great War he enlisted on 22nd January 1916 at Newark, he was 22 yrs and 360 days old, he was an agricultural labourer and lived at 11 George Street, Water Lane, Newark. He was posted to the reserves the following day. He was mobilised on 9th January 1917 and posted to the Royal Army Medical Corps. He landed in France on 20th April 1917 and discharged on 15th March 1920, his discharge address was 56 Northgate Newark.
