Mckechnie,+Luther

Rank: Fitter "A" Battery. 156th Brigade., Royal Field Artillery. Service No: 88759. Died 5th September 1916 aged 23 years. Son of Mr. and Mrs. James McKechnie, of 4, Garden St., Cross Roads, Keighley, Yorkshire. Buried at DARTMOOR CEMETERY, BECORDEL-BECOURT Plot I. Row A. Grave 34.
 * Luther McKechnie**



Raymond Douglas Tilbrook was married to Luther's sister Sarah.

Family grave inscription in Keighley (Haworth) Cemetery:

Born: 29th April 1893. Baptised at the Parish church of Haworth, St Michael and All Angels on 9th September 1893. Parents: James William and Jane Elizabeth McKechnie. 88759 Fitter Luther McKechnie of "A" Battery, 156 Brigade, Royal Field Artillery Killed in action on 5th September 1916 aged 23 years by an explosion which killed three other comrades, including a father and son serving together. All four are buried in adjoining graves in Dartmoor Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt, France.

Born 29th April 1893 and baptised at St Michael and All Angels Church in Haworth. He was the youngest of eight children of James William McKechnie (Manager at a Worsted Mill) and Jane Elizabeth McKechnie. 1901 census: 4, Garden St, Cross Roads. 1911 census: 4, Garden St, Cross Roads. Occupation: Switchboard Attendant for Keighley Corporation Electricity Works

Raymond Douglas Tilbrook was married to Luther's sister Sarah. (see accompanying picture - family grave/memorial to Luther and Raymond). Raymond was killed in action on 15th September 1915.

He is remembered on the Roll of Honour in the Keighley Trade and Grammar School Magazine: 'The Keighlian', also on the Cross Roads War Memorial and on the family grave at Penistone Hill, Haworth.

He earned the 1915 Star, The British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Mr & Mrs James McKechnie, Garden Street, Cross Roads, have received from Woolwich the announcement that their youngest son, Fitter Luther McKechnie, aged 23, of the RFA, was killed in action on September 5 in France. Joining the RFA in February 1915, Fitter McKechnie was drafted nine months ago to France (13th Dec 1915), his last letter home having been written on the day of his death. He was peculiarly well qualified for the highly skilled work on which he was employed, for after leaving Lees Council School as a boy, he spent three years at Keighley Trade and Grammar School, and then obtained employment with the Shipley Tank Co. at St Dunstan's, subsequently proceeding to the Keighley Corporation's electricity works, and later being selected from 156 candidates by the Barrow Corporation for their electrical power station, Of a most cheerful disposition, he was highly intelligent, observant, and energetic, and a most promising craftsman. During his period of training and active service he had won the esteem of his officers and men. His eldest brother, Private Alec McKechnie, A.S.C., has been on active service in France for some months, and his late brother-in-law, Lance Corporal Raymond Tilbrook, fell in action at Armentieres twelve months ago.
 * Keighley News report dated 30th September 1916:**
 * LEES AND CROSS ROADS**