Annie Laura Gore was born in Liverpool in 1886. She was baptised on 4th July at Liverpool St Luke’s Church. Her parents were Authur (born in Ireland), a vicar, and Ellen Ann. Together they had eight children, two boys and four girls. Annie was the second oldest. In 1881 the family were recorded as living at the Vicarage, Bowden, Cheshire.
In 1891 Annie married William Maurice Bonner Lutener. William, also a vicar, was born in Harthill, Lancashire. Together they had three children – Richard Arthur (b. 1896 in Altrincham), Barbara Mary (b. 1900 in Altrincham) and Christine Margaret (b. 1907 in Knighton, Radnor). In 1901 the family were recorded as living at St George’s Vicarage, Townfield, Altrincham.
By 1911 the family had moved to Oswestry and were living at The Vicarage, 40 Church Street. William’s widowed sister, Maud Mary Bowman was living with them with three servants: Martha Butler Davies (47, born in Oswestry), cook Mary Elizabeth Hughes (born Herefordshire) and housemaid and domestic nurse Annie Hughes (20, born in Oswestry).
Annie’s parents were still alive and living in Bowden in 1911. Her father was aged 81 and her mother 73. They had been married for 50 years.
During the War, Annie was heavily involved in supporting the local community by fundraising and organising entertainment for soldiers on leave. Maurice, still working as a vicar in the town, conducted many of the funerals and memorial services for fallen soldiers from Oswestry. Annie was also a member of the Oswestry War Guild, sending knitted items and comforts to men serving on the front.
Their son Richard Lutener also played a part of the Great War. Richard was a highly regarded Lieutenant in the 6 Battalion King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. He was killed in action in April 1916 and is listed on the Oswestry WW1 Memorial Gates. A notice was put in the Personal Column of the Advertiser on 14 April 1916 – “Much regret was felt in Oswestry on Monday morning when it was learned that Lt. RAM Lutener and Flight Lt. William Norman Thomas had been killed in action, the first named on Thursday and the latter on Saturday, the sad intelligence being officially conveyed to the bereaved parents from the war Office early that morning”.
Annie died 21 October 1938, leaving £2546 14s 10d to her unmarried daughters.