Photo: Barney Rice
Buried elsewhere
in this churchyard
Z/3394 Able Seaman
W. Hutchinson R.N.V.R.
Nelson Battn. R.N.D.
16 September 1916 age 19
William was the son of John Hutchinson, of 14 Station Houses, Birtley. His sister was a Mrs McGarry, Lumsden's Yard, Crossgate, Durham City.
William died in the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle on the 16th September 1916 from Meningitis consequent to a bullet wound to the skull received in action at Gallipoli on 16th June 1915, after Discharge (Invalided, bullet wound skull 6th October 1915).
The Newcastle Daily Chronicle 20/09/1916 reports:
A Birtley Putter’s death.
At Newcastle Infirmary last night, Mr Alfred Appleby, City Coroner, held an inquest on William Hutchinson, 19 a pony putter, of Station Houses, Birtley, who died in the institution on Saturday.
John Pearson Hutchinson, father, stated that in January, 1915, his son joined the Royal Naval Division, and in June the same year while fighting on land in the Dardanelles he was wounded in the head with shrapnel, and in October was discharged. He gradually recovered and went to work at a munition factory. Six or seven months ago the lad returned to work as a putter at the Bewick Pit, Birtley. On September 12, while sitting at the fire, he complained of a pain in the head, telling his father he had ‘bumped’ his head against the coal while passing a tub. During the night and on the following day the lad had several fits. He was attended by the doctor, who ordered his removal to Newcastle Infirmary on September 14.
In answer to George Turner, acting manager, witness said the lad was off work during the third week in August, as the result of falling over his brother’s legs and hitting his head against a cupboard door at home.
Henry Graver, a hewer, said Hutchinson told him he hit his head against a plank which witness removed.
Dr Johnston, of Newcastle Infirmary, stated there were evidences of fracture of the skull and fragments of dead bone were lying loose. There was also a quantity of pus. In his opinion death was due to meningitis consequent upon a bullet wound in the skull received in action.
By the Coroner: The pus was of recent date and the accident at home might or might not have brought the condition about, but the accident in the mine was of too recent a date to have set it up.
The jury returned a verdict to the effect that Hutchinson died from meningitis consequent upon a bullet wound received in action.
William Hutchinson is not remembered at Birtley.
