Charles Henry Lukeman
Sergeant 1st/4th Royal Berkshire Regiment
Division 60
Adjacent to wall with Wokingham Road
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Charles Henry Lukeman is commemorated on a large family headstone along with his brother Private Tom Lukeman. Both men are commemorated on the St. Bartholomew’s Church war memorial. They lived at 152, Chomley Road, Reading.
Charles Lukeman was killed by a sniper on August 16th 1917 aged 30.
The allied forces had on that day attacked along a nine mile front north of the Ypres – Menin Road crossing the Steenbeek River. The ground was torn by the barrage and the low water table made No-Mans Land a morass. All the objectives were captured and the British reached Langemarck and half a mile beyond however, the Germans pressed the British back from the high ground won earlier in the day.
Charles Lukeman enlisted in 1914 and had been in France 29 months. Charles survived a head wound received in September 1916 during the last phase of the Somme battle.
Charles was born in Reading and educated at Newtown School. Before the war he worked in the Continental Dept. Reading Biscuit Factory.
Charles Lukeman has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial – Panels 105,106 and 162.
Tom Lukeman
Private 41247
5th Royal Berkshire Regiment
Tom Lukeman joined the Army in June 1917 and went to France in October 1917. He was reported missing last seen November 30th 1917. He was 32 years.
Whilst the Third Battle of Ypres was still raging an offensive further south was being planned, which was later to be known as the Battle of Cambrai. Taking place on ground so far undisturbed by fighting it would involve the use of tanks in unprecedented numbers the object being the main and support trenches of the Hindenburg line.
The 5th Battalion reached the battle zone in the early hours of 20th November and formed up behind the tanks in a position east of Gonnelieu. The attack began at 6.10am and such was the success that by 8.00am the main Hindenburg line had been taken along a six mile stretch. By the end of the day an advance of three to four miles had been made. There were 4000 casualties and 179 tanks lost.
During the following days consolidation of the line took place and it came as something of a shock when the Germans counterattacked on the 30th November with an opening barrage at 7.00am this and a heavy barrage of trench mortars inflicted heavy casualties. When the front line was breached a withdrawal was ordered. 120 men were missing, among them Tom Lukeman, 120 wounded and 55 killed.
Tom Lukeman is commemorated on the Cambrai memorial to the missing panel 8.
Like his brother Tom was educated at Newtown school and prior to enlisting was employed by Huntley and Palmersin the Sugar Wafer Department. His name appears on that memorial which is held by Reading museum.
