PRIVATE ERNEST LUCKEY
COLDSTREAM GUARDS
21ST AUGUST 1918 AGE 34
BURIED: BAC-DU-SUD BRITISH CEMETERY, BAILLEUL, FRANCE
Ernest Luckey married Rhoda Jane Thorne on 18 August 1908. In 1911 he was living in London, married with one child, and working as a butler. He joined up in November 1915 and served with the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards. On 21 August 1918 he was killed in action when the 1st Battalion took part in the opening of the Battle of Bapaume.
The 'Essex Newsman', in reporting his death, noted that he had been the butler to Dr R Russell of Wimpole Street and that he was the third son of Mr William Luckey to die in the war. Their 18 March 1916 edition had reported on the death of Private Arthur Luckey who had been killed by a sniper on 3 February 1916. The second brother to die was Gunner Harry Luckey of the Australian Field Artillery who died in Guy's Hospital, London, on 5 January 1918 of diabetes "contacted whilst serving in Egypt". Ernest was killed seven months later. A fourth brother, Thomas, had been severely wounded and discharged from the army.