Thiepval Memorial
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Lowes Noble Rutter was born in 1890 whilst his parents were living at 69, Silver Street, East Murton, County Durham. One of 8 children, of whom only 6 survived, 3 boys and 3 girls, born to George Rutter, a coal miner native of Coxhoe born 1857 and his second wife Ann (Annie) Alice S. Noble, born 1864 at Shotton, County Durham, whom he married in the district of Easington in December 1881. By 1911 the family had moved to 55, Albion Street, Murton, his father was still employed at the colliery as was Lowes, now 20 years old, working at the electric lamp cabin, above ground, maintaining and distributing safety lamps to the men working underground.
Lowes enlisted March 13th 1915 at Sunderland and was assigned as Private 722 to the 19th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. As part of the first Durham Bantams they assembled in West Hartlepool before moving to Cocken Hall in May, after the 18th Battalion D. L. I. had moved out, headed for France. A month later they moved again to Marsham in North Yorkshire as part of the 106th Brigade, 35th Division. Training was completed at Salisbury Plain before the 19th Battalion sailed from Southampton, January 31st 1916 and entered the trenches in France at Neuve Chapelle. July 1st 1916 the Division, including the 19th Battalion was moved south to the Somme near Longueval but did little fighting, instead digging trenches, however, the heavy shell fire did cause many casualties.
Private 722 Lowes Noble Rutter was killed in action July 19th 1916 but has no known grave. His name is one of the 72,246 inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval, France, pier and face 14A and 15C, which commemorates servicemen from the British Empire who died in the sector between 1915 and 1918. Private Rutter was 26 years old and single.
His father George Rutter as sole beneficiary received all monies due to him along with his awards of the British War medal and Victory Medal. Private Rutter’s uncle Private William Straughair Noble, his mother’s brother, also perished during the Great War (Every Name a Story)
The C.W.G.C., Soldiers Died and the D.L.I. Book of Remembrance all have the date of death for Private Rutter as July 19th 1916, however, his Service Record states quite clearly the date of death as 17.9.1916. It would appear the numbers have been inverted on the Service Record as the days served 171 are correct for July 19th death.
Sunderland Echo 21/07/1919 reads:
In loving memory of our dear son Lowes Noble Rutter 19th D.L.I. who was killed in action July 19th 1916.
Just when his hopes were brightened
Just when his thoughts were best
He was taken from this world
To his home of eternal rest
Never forgotten by his loving father, mother, brothers and sisters and by his brothers in law (Murton Colliery)
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Lowes Noble Rutter is remembered at Dalton le Dale on D39.01, and in Murton as Lowes W. Rutter on M47.01 and M47.06 and as L.N. Rutter in M47.12
He is also remembered in the DLI Book of Remembrance page 187 and in the 19th DLI Book of Remembrance page 16
