4th Territorial Battalion

Old soldiers never die they say, and for resident of Newburn that seemed to be just about right about ex-Sergeant Major Luke Stuart, aged 91, who died last week.

Sergeant Major Stuart was the last remaining member of the Northumberland Fusiliers who took part in the battle of Omdurman in 1898 and had served in many campaigns. He left behind a glass-topped case full of war medals and souvenirs. They are to be presented to the War Museum at Fenham Barracks.
It is at present in the keeping of his sister, Mrs Maria McIver, aged 77, of 14 Rogerson Terrace, Westerhope.
The box contains the Khartoum medal, the South African medal with 4 bars, the Victory medals for the South African wars and the Great War, the General Service medal for 1914-18, the Territorial Force Efficiency medal, with bar.

Also in the box are the last poppy he wore the red and white rose he always wore on St Georges Day and two tin boxes, one bearing the portrait of Queen Victoria, which once contained chocolates sent to soldiers in South Africa, and the other the portrait of Princess Mary from the 1st World War.

Old Soldier fades away, but medals will go to Museum

SUNDERLAND FAN

One of a family of 14, Luke Stuart was born at Sugley Field, Lemington and died at the Thomas Taylor Homes at Stannington. Until last year he lived in the Newburn Almshouses and before that with his sister Nancy, in Victoria Terrace, Newburn.

Twice severely wounded in battle, he was still a fit man when the second World War came and trained the Home Guard soldiers at Newburn in the art of throwing bombs and firing a rifle.

"He was a great reader and liked a glass of beer down at the drill hall and at the Comrades Club in Newburn", said Mrs McIver yesterday.
"But he never smoked, except when Sunderland football team won. Then he had a glass of whisky and a cigar. If they lost he went to bed and put a lighted candle on his chest for a bedside lamp".