Ypres Reservoir Cemetery
Ypres Reservoir Cemetery
Ypres Reservoir Cemetery
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Hutchinson was born in 1878 at Crook, County Durham the son of widow Ann Emmerson born 1845 at Nenthead, Cumberland, who in 1881 was living at Wheatbotton, Crook and Billy Row, County Durham. She had taken into her home as a boarder, coal miner, John Hutchinson, born at Middleton, County Durham in 1842. John and Ann were married in the district of Auckland in 1882 just prior to the birth of their daughter Mary Ellen, September 3rd 1882. They remained at Wheatbottom, however, had moved to Commercial Street by 1901, William now 22 years of age is listed as being a soldier and would have most likely served during the Boer War in South Africa.
Ann Hutchinson-Emmerson died between 1901 and 1910, in 1911 widower John was a boarder at Wheatbottom, Crook, in the home of widow Annie McGuiness and her 3 children, who had also taken in her widowed mother, her brother Hugh and 23-year-old builder's labourer John Crabtree, John Hutchinson is not listed as being employed. Mary Ellen Johnson was married in 1912 to Morris Dale Hunter, born October 30th 1881, with whom she had 2 daughters, Irene born October 8th 1913 and Winifred in 1916.
In 1914, when war was declared with Germany, William Hutchinson enlisted at Durham assigned initially as Private 24775 Durham Light Infantry, he joined his regiment at their barracks at Newcastle-upon-Tyne and went on to Bullswater Camp in Surrey. The first recruits had arrived there in September 1914 and been divided into the 12th and 13th D.L.I and the 10th and 11th Northumberland Fusiliers, he was posted to the 13th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. They began training wearing their own clothes and did not received khaki uniforms and leather equipment until February 1915. Final training took place at Bramshott, Hampshire, and the 13th Battalion departed attached to the 68th Brigade, 23rd Division, August 28th 1915, bound for France and within days were in the front-line trenches. They were in reserve during the Battle of Loos and spared the losses inflicted on other regiments, spending the rest of 1915 and early 1916 in and out of the trenches at Armentieres and Souchez. Whilst serving as a Private he was awarded the Military Medal, exact date unknown, for bravery in battle on land.
In June 1916 the 23rd Division moved to the Somme in preparation for the offensive due to commence June 29th but which was delayed by bad weather until July 1st. The 13th Battalion entered the fighting July 7th at La Boisselle and later were involved during August in actions around Munster Alley, east of Pozieres, where they suffered 100 casualties. They spent the rest of August in reserve at Armentieres until the attack at Le Sars where it bombed its way into the already destroyed village taking over 150 Germans prisoner. Battle concluded they were withdrawn and sent north to the Ypres salient in Belgium.
June 1917 the division attacked at Messines Ridge after which the 13th Battalion moved into the trenches at Klein Zillebeke and were again in action during September 1917 at the Third Battle of Ypres in the fighting on the Menin Road, September 20th-26th 1917.
Having risen through the ranks the now Corporal 24775 William Hutchinson was killed, September 20th 1917. During the clearing of the battlefields his remain were found, June 6th 1921, at map reference J. 19. b. 80. 20, identified only by his disc, he was brought into Ypres Reservoir Cemetery for reburial with all reverence and honour by an Army chaplain. He is at rest grave IX. B. 23, at the time of his demise in 1917 he was 39 years of age and single.
All monies owed to him, his awards of the Military Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, were, as per his request, assigned to Sarah Ann Whitfield, relationship to the deceased unknown, although his direct next of kin was his sister Mary Ellen Hunter of 81, Front Street, New Washington, County Durham, his father John having passed away.
Morris Dale Hunter, a grocery and provisions salesman, Mary Ellen, housewife and daughter Irene, grocery and provisions assistant, were living at 45, Speculation Place, Washington, County Durham, in 1939. Morris Dale Hunter of 45, Front Street, New Washington died November 17th 1944 aged 63 years, leaving effects in the sum of 548 pounds, 10 shillings 4 pence to his widow. Details as regards the demise of Mary Ellen Hunter nee Hutchinson, unknown.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William Hutchinson is possibly remembered at Crook on C121.03, C121.04, C121.14, C121.15 and C121.19
He is also remembered in the The DLI Book of Remembrance page 255 as Private W. Hutchinson
