Son of Jonathan & Christianna, of Helmdon, NTH Aged 25 years Died 22nd May 1888 Commemorated at St Giles Church, Village St, Normanton-by-derby, DBY.

Born 1862 at Helmdon, NTH. Luke came to Rushden with his widowed mother, and his siblings probably about 1876, after his older brother came here to work as a Rural Postman. Luke worked as a leather pressman in 1881, when he enlisted, and in 1882 went to Egypt, and to India in 1888.

Memorial: A white marble tablet on a black stone backboard, on the west wall of the South aisle at St Giles Church, Normanton-by-derby, DBY. IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF SERGEANT LUKE SECKINGTON, WHO WAS KILLED IN ACTION, AND OF PTE. - DOLAHAN, -- ASKEW, -- SITDOWN, WHO DIED OF DISEASE IN THE SIKKIM CAMPAIGN OF 1888, THIS TABLET IS ERECTED  BY THEIR COMRADES OF ALL RANKS  IN LETTER G. COMPANY 2ND. BATT. DERBYSHIRE REGIMENT.

Wellingborough News, 2nd June 1888 For Queen and Country—A Local Hero. Friends and acquaintances in Rushden and district will regret to learn that Mr. J. Seckington, the respected postman of the parish, has just received, intelligence of the death of his brother, Sergeant Luke Seckington, of the 2nd Battalion Derbyshire Regiment, now stationed at Dum Dum, Hindustan. The certificate from Headquarters states that he was killed on May 22nd at Sikkim (near the Himalayan Mountains) by receiving a shot through the forehead, during an engagement with Thibetans. Captain Harold Ryley, commander of the battalion, in a very sympathetic letter dated May 22nd writes as follows:— "He was shot dead this morning by the Thibetans in an attack on our camp, and died as a brave soldier, and a credit to his regiment. I very much regret his loss, and deeply sympathise with you in the loss you have sustained. We buried him this afternoon, and propose to place a wooden cross over his grave. Nearly the whole detachment attended his funeral." Col.-Sergt. Tom Collins, of the G Company, same battalion, in confirming the same in a letter dated the 23rd ult. says:— "He with an officer and party of men were sent out to check the advance of a body of Thibetans upon our camp, and he was delivering an order to his men when a chance shot struck him in the head. The poor fellow died instantaneously, very deeply regretted by his Officers and brother Sergeants, and particularly by the men, with whom he was a universal favourite." The deceased entered Her Majesty's service in 1881 previous to which he resided in Rushden, and was in the employ of Messrs. Sharpe and Corbett and Messrs. Cave and Sons, and was much respected by all who knew him.

More about Luke: Luke first appears on Army muster and pay rolls as a private on 13 August 1881 in the 2nd Bttn Derbyshire Regt (previously 95th Foot) 1881-1888 when the battalion was stationed at Aldershot. Towards the end of 1881 the battalion was in Gibraltar and the following year they went to Alexandria, Egypt and India. In November and December 1884 he was Roorkee (Uttarakhand, north India). He was hospitalised on 21-27 August, 27-31 October and 22 November 1885. On 4 April 1886 he was promoted to corporal and to sergeant on 27 September 1887. He was in Sikkim by 1 March 1888 and was reported killed in action there on 22 May 1888. Details extracted from National Archives Ref: WO 16/1762, WO/2848, WO 16/2849, WO 16/2050

Letters home: Lucknow April 7th 1885 Dear Mother, I write you another letter to let you know a little more of East Indian news about the expected war between England and Russia. This Regt. has received orders to hold itself in readiness to be dispatched in 12 hours notice to the frontier of Afghanistan. So now we are now making all preparation necessary for a quick shift, in handing over Barrack stores &c and equipping ourselves with necessaries for the field. I expect this letter will startle you but I am not gone yet, I will let you know when we start, maybe by the next mail. Cheer up Mother, another medal and star for Luke. Great excitement prevails here, especially among the troops who are anxious for the fight. Luke wearing two of his medals I have enclosed you a peahens feather and some Hymalaya ferns, especially the gold ferns, which are very scarce anywhere. I have no more to say this time. I conclude my very best wishes to you and all. I remain your ever Loving Son L. Seckington.    Lucknow. By the time you receive this letter I might be pulling my trigger and firing 150 rounds to 5 minutes at the "Bears". Write by return of post. From L.S.

A letter to his brotherJonathan: Lucknow Oct.12th 1885. From: No. 2659 L. Corpl. L. Seckington "B" Company 2nd Derby Regt. Dear Brother, I just drop you a few more lines to let you know that I am alive and well also to inform you as to what I posted on the 9th inst. viz: one box containing the "Centrepede" preserved in spirits of wine in a bottle and sealed down. I put on outside "Contents Seeds and Flies". And in the square box I have packed for you viz: one pair slippers wool worked "tops", one set of fancy Ladies implements Elephant Bones and some ferns which a chum of mine has brought from Kasuali (a British convalescent station) in the Hymalayah Mountains North of India. The few seeds that is wrapped up in the paper are seeds of a very large specimen of Lime similar to an orange. I hope to hear from you next week and get a smoke with an English pipe. Our Muskerty Course is cancelled as we have to go to the manoeuvres between Delhi and Umballa, start from here on the 27th inst. on foot to Delhi - 390 miles tramp. Direct my letters as usual until I send you a fresh address. So Long Jack, from L.S. N.B. Be very careful in unpacking the two boxes or you might damage the contents. Give my respects to Ann & Harry, hoping all is going well at home. Believe me to remain, Your ever only affectionate Brother, L. Seckington in the tropics. The parcel sent to his brother: Mr Jonathan Seckington remarked that he had the pleasure of delivering the first parcel which came in by parcel post from abroad. Curiously enough, it was from his own brother in India and was addressed to himself. The present included a case of beautiful Indian work of ivory and a centipede preserved in spirit. These Mr. Seckington produced and exhibited with no little pride. Box with the ivory items. Courtesy of Rushden Museum Luke's medals : l-r: Egypt Medal, Khedive Star and the India General Service Medal.

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