Person

Luke Denham was born in Newfield, Durham on 30 December 1897. His father was George Denham from Soft Hill, County Durham. His mother was Emma Denham, nee Colwell, originally from Oxfordshire. His parents married sometime between the taking of the 1901 and the 1911 census. Luke had two sisters; Mabel and Elsie.

At the time of the 1901 census, the family were living at 2 Bridge Street, Newfield. Luke’s father was working as a miner. At the time of the 1911 census, the family were living at the Wheatsheaf Inn in Wolsingham. Luke’s father was working as a victualler, someone licensed to sell alcohol. Luke was a scholar at this time.

During the war, Luke worked as a driver in the Royal Field Artillery with the service number 165579. He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his service.

Luke was a freemason, a member of the Hudson Lodge in Wolsingham. He was initiated into the society at the age of 23 on 2 November 1921. At that time he was working as a butcher. The photograph of Luke in uniform which attached to this page is included in a collection displayed at the Masonic Lodge in Wolsingham.

At the time of the 1939 register Luke was living in Bishop Auckland with his widowed mother and his younger sister Elsie. He was single and was working as a butcher shop man. Luke died in Durham in 1950.

Civil Parish: Wolsingham

Birth date: 30-Dec-1897

Death date: 1950

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: 2 Bridge Street, Newfield (1901 census)
Wheat sheaf Inn, Wolsingham (1911 census)
11 Front Street, Bishop Auckland (1939 register)

Organisation membership: Freemason – Hudson Lodge, Wolsingham

Employment: Butcher (1921 Freemason record)
Butcher shop man (1939 register)

Family: Parents: George Denham, Emma Denham nee Colwell
Siblings: Mabel Denham, Elsie Denham

Military service:

Royal Field Artillery
Driver
Service Number 165579

Medal(s): Victory Medal
British War Medal

Gender: Male

Contributed by Liz - Durham University Intern | Fiona Johnson