Billy Luke


William Luke was an English professional footballer who played in the Football League for Preston [North End F.C.|Preston North End] as an outside right.

Personal life

On 28 October 1915, over a year after the outbreak of the First World War, Luke enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery and qualified as a class 2 signaller. He was deployed to the Western Front during the Battle of the Somme and participated in the battle's closing action on the Ancre in November 1916. Luke's unit moved to trench lines east of Arras in April 1917 and he was seriously wounded in the leg on 9 April, which led to his discharge from the army in August 1918. In the aftermath of his wounding, Luke was recommended for the Military Medal and the award was gazetted on 18 July 1917. At the time of his death in January 1992, Luke was the oldest-living former professional footballer in Britain.

Honours

Preston North End