2nd Lieutenant Arthur Charles FLUKE
116th Battery 26th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery

Date of birth: 9th September 1891
Date of death: 10th January 1915

Killed in action aged 23
Commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial Panel 1
He was born at Nasirabad in India on the 9th of September 1891 the son of Arthur John Fluke, engineer for the Public Works Department, Government of India , and Sarah (nee Rice) of "Aboyne", 8 Nunnery Road Canterbury in Kent. He was christened at St Paul's Church Nasirabad on the 2nd of December 1891.

He was educated at Bishop Cotton’s School at Simla in India from 1899 to 1907. He then attended the King’s School Canterbury from January 1907 to July 1910 where he played as a forward in the Rugby XV in 1908 and 1909 and in the Fives Pair of 1910. The Cantuarian wrote of his 1908/09 rugby season:-

"Uses his height to great advantage out of touch. Must learn to tackle low more consistently."

He played for the Cricket XI from 1908 to 1910 and was Captain in 1910 when he was also awarded his sports colours. At the end of the 1908 season his batting average was 38.7 in 20 innings. The Cantuarian wrote:-

"A good natural cricketer with very free wrists. His defence has improved but he does not make sufficient use of his long reach. Has done extremely well and should do better next year. Good field."

He topped the school batting averages in 1910 with an average of 39.40. He served as a Lance Sergeant in the Officer Training Corps, attending their annual camp in 1910 and was Captain of Games. On leaving King's he was taught by Major Heath of 9 Clifton Gardens, The Leas, Folkestone from August 1910.

On the 31st of August 1910 he applied to take the examination for entry to the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich. He took the examination in 1911 passing 28th and continued to play rugby and cricket while he was there, becoming Captain of Cricket in 1912. He was also elected to the Sports Committee and won the shot put in the annual sports competition the same year. He was appointed as an Under Officer at the Academy and passed out 28th in 1912. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery on the 19th of July 1912 and was posted to the 116th Battery, 26th Brigade, part of 1st Division.

Following the outbreak of war he embarked for France with his Battery on the 18th of August 1914, landing at Boulogne.

On the 10th of January 1915 he was sent forward to the trenches near Cuinchy with a mortar section in support of the 2nd Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps who were to make an attack on the German trenches opposite at 2pm. Arthur Fluke and his NCO kept their mortar in action despite Fluke being wounded four times before their weapon was finally put out of action. Seeing men of the King's Royal Rifle Corps, whose officers were either killed, wounded or retreating he rallied these troops, despite being unarmed, and led them back into the attack. He was hit fatally for the fifth and final time.

His father received the following telegram dated the 13th of January 1915: -

"Deeply regret to inform you that 2nd Lieut. A.C. Fluke RFA was killed in action on 10 January. Lord Kitchener expresses his sympathy."

Major C.A. Graham Charlton, Officer Commanding 116th Battery wrote that Arthur Fluke:-

“.....was killed yesterday evening in rallying some men of the 60th Rifles, who were driven out of their trench after all their officers had been killed or wounded. I have not heard many details yet, but, from what I hear, your son behaved in a very gallant manner, and, had he been spared, I am sure his heroism would have been rewarded. Many artillery officers have been trained in the use of trench mortars, and yesterday afternoon an order came for your son to proceed to the front trenches, occupied by the 60th Rifles, with one of these mortars. He had an artillery non commissioned officer with him. There had been an attack earlier in the day, when this particular trench had been taken from the Germans. After dark the latter counter attacked, and the 60th were driven out of their forward trenches after all their officers had been killed or wounded. Your son, however, with his NCO, stuck to his mortar and continued to it, although he was wounded in four places. The mortar was then out of action, and he then, wounded as he was, rallied some men of the 60th and led them back to the attack. He died, being wounded in five places. I cannot tell you how much all his brother officers feel his loss, and on behalf of them I send you our deepest sympathy. The only consolation I can offer you in your great sorrow is that he died a noble and gallant death, a credit to his Battery and his regt.”

The Officer Commanding 26th Brigade wrote: -

"I regret that I can give no information regarding his burial place as Lieut. Fluke's body was unfortunately never recovered. He was killed while attacking an advanced observation post in front of the infantry trenches. The stretcher bearers were unable to get his body back that night and the observation post was lost the next day. This information was given me by the Adjutant, 2nd Btn. KRR in whose trenches Lt Fluke was on the night he was killed."

Captain Guy B. Oliver wrote:-

“I felt I must write to you a few lines to tell you how very greatly I feel for you in the terrible loss you have sustained. I am the only representative now in the Battery who has been with it since the beginning of the war, and before that at Aldershot, and the loss of your brave son has been a great personal loss to me, and as I know, to all the ranks in the Battery, for his presence has helped to reduce the various trials of this campaign. Much as we deplore his loss, the Battery is proud in the knowledge of the very gallant way your son conducted himself, and it is very sad indeed to think that he has not been spared to enjoy the honour he so richly deserved. Major Charlton has, I know, written to you and given you details. I am so sorry that none of us were with him at the last, but as you know, the particular work he was on took him right away from the battery. From what I can gather, he cannot have suffered much, and his death must have been almost instantaneous.”

He was mentioned in Sir John French’s despatches of the 31st of May 1915.

His father applied for his medals on the 21st of October 1921.

His brother, Lieutenant Walter George Fluke DSO 55 Squadron Royal Flying Corps was shot down on a bombing raid into Germany and taken prisoner on the 24th of March 1918. He was repatriated on the 17th of December 1918
Day Boy

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