TOPIC:

George Knight McGowan Hutchinson

Private, 23rd Coy. 8th Battalion (Duke of Lancaster’s), Imperial Yeomanry – Anglo Boer War
Captain and Company Commander, 8th East Surrey Regiment
Captain and Company Commander, 7th Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry
Corporal, Special Brigade, Royal Engineers (Gas Companies) – WWI

- Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, C.C, O.F.S., Transvaal, South Africa 1901 to 2644 PTE G.K.M. HUTCHINSON 23RD COY, 8TH IMP. YEO.
- 1914-1915 Star to CAPT. G.K.M. HUTCHINSON.D.OF.CORN.L.I.
- British War Medal to CAPT. G.K.M. HUTCHINSON
- Victory Medal to CAPT. G.K.M. HUTCHINSON.

George Knight McGowan Hutchinson was born in the Parish of St. George’s, Manchester on 24 May 1870 the son of Mary Newall Hutchinson (born Thorburn) and her husband William, a Railway Clerk by occupation. From an early age it became obvious that George, a studious child, was destined for a life in education.

Our first exposure to him comes via the 1871 England census where, at the tender age of 10 months, he was living with his parents at his grandmother’s residence (which doubled as a school) – 59 Park View Ladies School, Manchester – Mary Thorburn was a widowed Schoolmistress who had provided accommodation to her daughter Mary, a Music Teacher, her son-in-law William, a Railway Clerk, and their children – the aforementioned George along with his siblings Antonia (5) and Albertina (9).

Ten years later, at the time of the 1881 England census, William Hutchinson had taken his family to live at 17 Hampden Road in Bolton. His fortunes had changed along with his job - he was now a Waterworks Superintendent. Antonia was an Apprentice Dressmaker (15), George (10) was at school and there had been new additions to the family in the forms of Mary (8), Emma (7), Ethel (5) and Wilfred (4). Of servants there was no sign.



The register of the Bolton Technical School for 1888 shows that Hutchinson, aged 18, was already a Pupil Teacher on their books. Living at 156 Bradford Street, Bolton he had been admitted for the First Term on 3 September and was being paid at the rate of 1/- for each lesson he taught in the disciplines of Mathematics, Theo. Mechanics and Singing (this last was rated higher than the others earning him 2/6 per lesson)

The dawn of 1891 revealed that Hutchinson was now a Student at a Training College. At the time the census enumerator called round the Hutchinson family were living at 4 Marlborough Street, Little Bolton. As further evidence that a love of teaching coursed through the family’s veins, sister Mary was also a Pupil Teacher.

As the end of the 19th century neared George, along with millions of others, could have been forgiven for not sparing a thought to affairs happening in far away South Africa. Tensions in that part of the world had been escalating for some time between Great Britain and the two Boer Republics bordering her colonies of the Cape and Natal. The Transvaal and the Orange Free State, fighting to protect their sovereignty, declared war on 11 October 1899 with their Commandos crossing the borders into British territory the next day.

The British military presence in South Africa at the time was woefully inadequate to stem the Boer tide and was found wanting in many respects. Initially, a series of military reverses took place at the end of December 1899, known as Black Week, where the Boers gained the upper hand. Alarm bells went off in Whitehall and, ere long, a call went out for the creation of an Imperial Yeomanry – an army of non-regular citizen soldiers – to help bolster the numbers and take the fight to the Boers.

In no time at all the Recruiting Offices set up around the country were overflowing with recruits from all walks of life. Filled with patriotic zeal, the initial contingent was made up of altogether a superior stamp of man – those who came from the gentry, the Clubs of London and men who were both educated and sophisticated. It was to this class of volunteer that a 29 year old George Hutchinson belonged. A Chemistry Instructor by occupation when he walked into the Recruiting Office in Manchester on 4 January 1900, he was determined to make a difference and take the fight to “Brother Boer”.

Physically he was described as being 5 feet 6 inches in height, weighing 150 lbs, with a fair complexion, blue eyes, and fair hair. He had a small scar on the right side of his nose and having been found Fit by the Doctor, was assigned no. 2644 and the rank of Trooper with the 23rd (Duke of Lancaster's) Company, 8th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry.

After a few days of kit issue and instruction his battalion put to sea and, having arrived in Cape Town, disembarked, and were sent up to the front by rail.

The best way to describe a man’s war is in his own words and Hutchinson happily obliged by writing to his father on a number of occasions about his experiences. In his first letter home, under the heading “Bolton Troopers and Orders For The Front” which appeared in the Bolton Evening News of 22 May 1900, he wrote:

“Picquetberg Road, April 22nd. At last we have received definite orders to proceed to the front. I believe we are first going up to Bloemfontein, which is four or five days railway journey from here. I expect we shall start on Wednesday (25th.) Of course we are all very anxious to get right up, and fairly in it. We are now certain to be in the next big fight, perhaps with one or two skirmishes as an entrée. We have been pretty busy all along, with the object, I suppose, of getting us hardened and fit for anything. Considering the food that we get, the health of the Company is all that can be desired. The water is not very good, its effect being to give both men and horses diarrhoea.

The Bolton Troop forms No. 2 section of the 23rd Imperial Yeomanry. As you know we are Mounted Infantry, a company of which latter is subdivided into sub-sections of four men each. Each sub-section is in charge of a sub-section leader, who is responsible for his men. Our sub-section consists of Johnson (leader), Wilfred (the writer’s brother), Terry and myself. The horses and men of each sub-section are supposed to be kept together always, as far as possible. We get the chance of removing our clothes so you can imagine undressing is becoming quite a novelty.

We have plenty of practice in scouting and patrol work. Our first experience of really wet weather was on Easter Sunday, when it rained incessantly for 24 hours. The cloaks supplied by the Government are absolutely useless for keeping out the rain. They were wet through in five minutes and became so heavy that one was better without a coat at all.

On the Tuesday following we made an attempt at holding sports, when Cyril Crowther surprised everyone by winning the mile race after a very plucky run. We leave for Bloemfontein on Wednesday. It is quite time we are moved as we are all “blue mouldy for want of a bating” as Paddy says. The sweater which we bought away has proved one of our most valuable possessions. We have discarded our slouch hats, and now wear khaki helmets as per “Graphic,” etc. You may expect to hear in a few weeks that we (Bolton Troop) have either distinguished or extinguished ourselves in Bob’s next “gate fight” at Kroonstad.”

His next account of life in the war was entitled “Trooper Hutchinson’s Narrative” which appeared in the Bolton Evening News of July 3rd 1900:

“Faber’s Spruit, 29 May 1900 – We are encamped in the wilds on a large rebel farm which we seized on Saturday. Of course we have no tents, nor have we had for some weeks. We are on very short commons – four biscuits per day, in fact we are half starved and are beginning to look a trifle pinched. When we arise from our downy couch on the ground in a morning, we are simply frozen. I never experienced such cold nights. We made a successful reconnaissance in force yesterday and located the enemy at Campbell. We had no casualties. Sir Charles Warren showed splendid generalship. I expect we shall attack their position tomorrow; I may get hit as I have a white pony. We have sentry duty about every other night and any amount of patrols. We are working north and shall probably be out of the world for months yet.”

“30.5.1900 – Surprised by Boers. Beat them off after heavy fighting. Orrell killed. Poole wounded. 24 killed and 23 wounded.”


A contemporary map showing the location of Faber Putts in the Northern Cape

“Faber’s Putts 2.6.1900 – Since I wrote my last (Sunday) we have been fairly in it, and I personally never felt the pressure of life so keenly as I do at present. Dawn was just appearing on Wednesday morning last when I raised my head and looked round preparatory to throwing off my blanket and getting up. A few seconds afterwards everybody was rudely aroused by the sound of a sentry’s rifle followed instantly by a deafening fusillade from every point around the camp. We were surrounded and surprised! The enemy knew the exact position of our men and horses and were firing at us for all they were worth, within 20 or 30 yards in some places. They had crept in between our outlying picquets and had posted themselves under cover all around us.

There was no panic or shouting; each man at once crawled to the rifles and grabbed his bandolier, and in extended order rushed forward a few yards and dropped flat. By this time men were falling fast, and one could see in the grey light, men in the agonies of severe wounds or death. For nearly half an hour we had to be on an exposed piece of ground, subjected to a perfect hail of bullets, from four different points. Then we gradually advanced taking cover where we could and drove the enemy on our flank from their points of vantage. Our horses were all gone, having been stampeded by the Boers at the commencement of the action.

After two hours we made them run and had breathing time to look round. I was most relieved to see Wilfred and most of our troops near at hand alright but was grieved to hear that Percy Orrell was killed and Ted Poole wounded. My worst injury was a graze on the finger and a few scratches from splinters of stones and bullets. While lying on my face I tried to distinguish the sound of the different kinds of bullets. One could hear the whistle of the Mauser, the whizz of the roughened Martini, and the pop of the deadly explosive bullet. The wounds afflicted by the two latter were fearful to look upon. When the enemy began to clear out of the garden we poured volley after volley into them and dropped a good many. As soon as “cease fire” was given we managed to get about 20 horses and a party, of whom I was one, dashed out of camp to warn the post at Steyn’s Farm - 10 miles away. We got there all right and found them on the alert having heard the firing from the first. We returned safely to camp, bringing in two prisoners.

On my return I had the unpleasant task of assisting to bury our dead, to the number of 19 (several have since died). General Warren read the service, and poor man, nearly broke down. We have now got the camp into a state of defence, and each man is on guard two nights out of three. We sleep with our bayonets and bandoliers on, and our rifles by our side. We stand to arms every morning before dawn and line the trenches until full daylight. On sentry in the garden, where we buried the dead, one had the frequent unpleasant experience of tumbling over the Boer dead in the night. We buried their dead yesterday and found that most of them had identification papers signed at Pretoria. Most of those who attacked us had been in the sieges of Kimberley and Mafeking.

The day after the battle I was one of an escort under Lieutenant Hardcastle to an empty convoy returning to Kimberley. We took them to Schmidt’s Drift, 12 miles from here. We were lucky to get through in the daytime, but our return was much more hazardous, as it was dark and the Boers were on the lookout. However our guide cleverly got round them by taking us some miles up a rocky watercourse in Indian file. They had given us up when we got back to camp at 9 p.m. – seven hours late and starving!”

Even allowing for an element of exaggeration “to impress the folks at home,” there can be no doubt that Hutchinson was in the thick of things – a far cry from the creature comforts of the school room and home. After serving a year and 118 days under the blazing African sun, his term of engagement was over and he was repatriated to England on 9 June 1901.

In an eerie twist of fate, the very next number after Hutchinson’s -2645 - belonged to the Percy Orrell referred to above. His papers state that he was Killed in Action at Douglas (Northen Cape) on 30 May 1900.

Returning home, Hutchinson was awarded the Queens Medal with the relevant clasps for his service. He resumed his work in the field of education and tied the marital knot with Lily in London in 1907. By the following year he was the Principal of the Paragon Commercial and Art Centre in New Kent Road, Bermondsey, London – under the auspices of the London City Corporation. He had also, on 19 March that year, joined the Anglo - American Lodge of the Free Masons, aged 36 he was described as a School Master living at 29 Ravensdale Mansions, Crouch End, London.

With the dawn of the 1911 census – Hutchinson, his wife and daughter, were still at the aforementioned address. As they went about their daily lives there would have been no thought given to the potential of another war and yet this what the world woke up to three years later, on 4 August 1914. Britian was at war with Germany. Hutchinson, all of 44 years old, knew where his duty lay. Wasting no time he applied for and was granted a commission in, first, the East Surrey Regiment and then the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry. Embarking for France on 24 July 1915 he was to serve 2 years and 8 months before returning to England.


D.C.L.I. officers in France

But his military career can be said to have been anything but plain sailing. Almost from the time he arrived in France questions were being asked about his fitness for leadership. His personnel file, obtained from The National Archives contain a graphic, almost blow-by-blow account of how he was viewed by his superiors and how he reacted to the unfavourable reports that were generated in his regard.

Fighting a rear guard action whilst doing his best to protect his professional reputation and character, he finally lost the battle and was posted home – having been forced to resign his commission. The problem seems to have started with personal animus between himself and both his Battalion Commander, Lt. Colonel Trefusis, and a fellow officer who is never mentioned by name.

On 4 January 1916 it was stated that the Commander-in-Chief, “reports this officer as unfit for duty with troops in the field and is being sent home. It is requested that he may be removed from the establishment of Unit and that he should not rejoin Forces in the Field until he has shown himself to be fitted in every way to perform the duties of his rank.”

The lead-up to this drastic step included a swathe of correspondence between the hierarchy, all of which failed to include Hutchinson in any of the deliberations about his future until, eventually, and at his insistence, he was shown the report which effectively sounded the death knell to his career.

Among others, a confidential report by Major General Drummond dated Salisbury, 26 May 1916, read as follows:

“I interviewed Capt. Hutchinson, 9/D.C.L.I., at Wareham in the presence of his C.O. Lt. Colonel Hon. H. Trefusis, and of Brigadier General S. Soady, Commanding 10th Reserve Battalion. Infantry Brigade. I ascertained that Brigadier General Soady had, a day or two previously further personally examined Captain Hutchinson on parade with a view to again testing this officers capabilities and efficiency in the matter of commanding and instructing men on various details of drill and field training, and that the result only definitely confirmed his (Brigadier General Soady’s) opinion that Captain Hutchinson was not qualified for his present rank and position, and that the retention of his services as a Regimental Officer were not desirable. This opinion was concurred in by Lt. Colonel the Hon. H Trefusis, in reply to my direct question in the presence of Captain Hutchinson.

I concur in the foregoing opinions, and nothing that Captain Hutchinson represented before me, as to the circumstances which caused his return from the battalion with which he had served with the B.E.F. in France, gave me reason to think that this officers appeal to the Army Council is founded on any justifiable grievance. The circumstances of Captain Hutchinsons return from the B.E.F. in France, and the confidential reports from his Officer Commanding and other superior officers in the field at that date, will be within the knowledge of the War Office.”

The confidential report alluded to contained two elements – the Commanding Officer’s remarks and the remarks of the General Officer Commanding. The C.O. wrote that:

“Appearance on parade at first inclined to be slovenly, He has improved much in this respect. Has been useful in lecturing to officers and has good theoretical knowledge in a variety of subjects. He knows his drill, but has a poor word of command. He had charge of a squad of officers for some weeks, has worked hard with them and taught them a good deal, but has not been able to improve their drill. I have not had many opportunities of seeing him in command of a company in the field. The battalion being a good deal split up. From what I have seen, I have found that he knows his work well but lacks initiative and sometimes also is lacking in common sense. On the whole he has been satisfactory.” (Lt. Col. H. Trefusis) Dated 25.4.1916.

The G.O.C’s comments were as follows:

“This officers present C.O., Lt. Col. Hon. H Trefusis, showed me a letter he had received from the front sometime ago regarding Captain Hutchinson. The main thing in the letter being, as far as I can remember, that the company always deteriorated under this officer. I have not seen much of him, but was not at all favourably impressed. He seemed quite incapable of handling men in the field. He does not take sufficient trouble to ensure the carrying out of orders issued to him. He lacks common sense and I do not consider him altogether trustworthy. On the other hand, Captain Hutchinson at times works hard and is well up in book work. But on the whole, I consider him quite unfit for his present rank.” (Brig. Gen. Soady) 25.4.1916.

Hutchinson, having been shown this report, had the following to say:

“With regard to slovenly appearance, five months in the front line tends to remove parade smartness. The criticisms of word of command, initiative etc., do not appear to be warranted in view of formal reports from previous regiments.”

At the foot of the report, General Drummond wrote, “Forwarded as desired. I do not know this officer personally and cannot therefore express an opinion on his military capabilities, but it appears to me that his C.O.’s report is very qualified praise, whilst that of the Brigade Commander, which I consider may be accepted as a reliable estimate, is quite clear in stating that Captain Hutchinson is not in his opinion, efficient or thoroughly satisfactory in his present rank and position.”

The ink was hardly dry on what was, effectively, the end of Hutchinson's career but he, nevertheless, felt compelled to respond. Part of this response contained a summary of his service to date:

18th September 1914 – until the present. Captain in New Army. Commanded “A” Company, 8th Surrey Regiment, assisted in formation of 10th East Surreys and Commander of “A” Company until transferred for active service to the 7th D.C.L.I., in which Battalion I commanded “B” Company until I left for England on the 6th of January 1916. From the 5th of September 1915 until the 6th of January 1916, I was with my company in the front line or in support, without going into reserve, and took part in the operations connected to the Battle of Loos.”

The full-length statement by Hutchinson, the one he wanted forwarded to the Army Council, contained more detail. It read as follows:

“With reference to the report on my work recently sent in to you by the Commanding Officer of the 7th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, through the General Officer Commanding the 61st Brigade, I must respectfully beg to submit that there are no facts to justify such a report. I venture to hope that you will give the following statement your earnest consideration.

As early as 1893 I passed as a Captain able to handle a Company efficiently under the old system of battalion drill, but my professional duties prevented me from taking up a commission in the Volunteers at that time. In December 1899 I was under orders to sail for South Africa with the Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry Cavalry and after some weeks training under Active Service conditions, landed at Cape Town at the beginning of February 1900.

I served under General Sir Charles Warren, General Settle, Colonel Parsons, Colonel Henneker and other Commanders until July 1901 when my regiment was relieved by the newly raised Imperial Yeomanry. I held a commission in the London Territorial Force from August 1911 until the outbreak of the present war when I obtained the commission I now have the honour to hold.

I joined the 8th East Surrey’s on September 19th 1914 and commanded “A” Company until I was sent as Senior Officer to commence the formation of the 10th East Surreys from the 3rd (S.R.) Battalion at Dover. I commanded “A” Company of the 10th East Surreys and also performed such duties as required.

Upon the G.O.C. 7th R. (I.B.) asking for the names of those fitted for Active Service command, I was placed first on the list, and a few days later, received a wire from the War Office ordering me to join the 7th D.C.L.I. without delay, which I did on July 13th 1915.

I respectfully beg to point out that, until this moment, I have never had any adverse report of any kind whatever, or any criticism of my ability as an officer fit for command. The report you have received was made without any preliminary intimation and came as a thunderbolt! I venture to suggest that all that the Commanding Officer can possibly judge my Company and myself upon is the work in the trenches which commenced on the 5th of September last.

The fact that my Company has been detailed the worst portion of the line almost every tour, does not appear to point, either to inefficiency on the part of the Company and its officers, or lack of confidence on the part of my superior officers. Reference to the C.O. 181st (Tunnelling Coy.) R.E. or to the F.O.O. of battery D/90 (Lt. Wright now in command of a wagon line) would probably result in a favourable expression with regard to “B” Company and its officers. I may point out that my Company was in the front line from 21-28 September last so that an artillery observation officer would be able to form a reliable opinion as to the Company which his battery covered.

Again, as to any presumed deterioration in “B” Company since I assumed command, I respectfully beg to point out that the former commander served under me as second-in-command, and is now in command of “D” Company. He should be able to judge whether the Company is less efficient than formerly, or not. I refer to Captain J.B. McMillan. Although I have not discussed the matter personally, in understand that the nature of the report is known to the officers of the battalion generally.

I also beg to point out that, until this moment, I have never criticised the opinion of a superior officer, but it appears to be necessary on this occasion. The Commanding Officer himself has done so by directly opposing the opinion of Brig. Gen. C.A. Mills, C.B. and Colonel E Sulivan (10th East Surreys) who recommended me to the authorities at the War Office as fit for Active Service command.

I regret to say that I am of the opinion that the report emanates from the Commanding Officer’s personal dislike to me, inspired in the first place by, and fostered by another officer, and that the attitude of both these officers towards me has been a matter of comment among the officers of the battalion for months past. I need hardly state that I have ignored this animosity, and I have never allowed it to interfere with the proper execution of duty, nor with my loyalty to the Commanding Officer.

In my opinion the report was decided upon when it became apparent that, as Senior Captain, I must soon claim my majority in view of certain possible eventualities. Although I am fighting for my reputation as an officer, I am still more greatly concerned with regard to the injustice imposed upon a thoroughly good Company which, in my humble opinion, does not deserve to be stigmatised as less efficient than the rest of the battalion.

I have always endeavoured to do my duty to the utmost – and well, and I cannot fail to feel that the report is a stain on my reputation, both as an officer and as an individual.

In conclusion, I must respectfully desire to add that I have no wish to remain in a battalion where I have been made to suffer owing to the animosity of two of its officers. I therefore earnestly beg that you will have the kindness to recommend me for the command of one of the new training battalions at home, or for some staff appointment in this country.

In the meantime, while my statement and this application are being considered, I beg that you will send me to Wisques to take a course of instruction in the machine-gun as it appears to me to be inadvisable, under the circumstances, to remain with the battalion longer than is absolutely necessary.

George K.M. Hutchinson, O.C. “B” Coy. 7th D.C.L.I.”

But what action did Hutchinson see? He was confirmed to have been in the front line, both by himself and his superiors. The Official History of the D.C.L.I. reported that:

“The 7th (Service) Battalion of the D.C.L.I. had landed at Boulogne on 25th of July 1915. Lieut.-Colonel H. Ross-Johnson commanded the Battalion on arrival in France but, owing to ill health, had to hand over command on the 27th to Lieut.-Colonel G. N. Colville, 2nd Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. On the 10th of August the 7th D.C.L.I. were attached to the 82nd Brigade, 27th Division, near Armentières, for instruction in trench warfare. The Battalion was billeted in the area round La Bolanderie. The tour in the trenches ended on the 16th, during which one officer and four men were wounded the first casualties suffered in France or Flanders.

On coming out of the trenches the Battalion marched to Steentje, remaining there until 22nd August. It was not until the 5th of September that the Battalion as a whole took over for the first time a section of the front-line trenches. The 61st Brigade had taken over trenches near Fleurbaix, the Cornwalls being along the Bois du Bois in the neighbourhood of Petillon.

The part played by the 7th D.C.L.I. in the Battle of Loos on 25th September is thus related in the Battalion Diary:

"25th. The Battalion took part in a demonstration along its front, keeping up a brisk fire and generally behaving as if going to assault. Smoke bombs were to have been used, but weather did not permit. A and B Companies (Hutchinson was O.C of B Coy.) of 7th D.C.L.I. were detailed to hold the portion of trench at the head of Rue Delvas, south of the village of Le Trou. In reply to our demonstration enemy heavily shelled front line. Casualties: 2 killed and 11 wounded."

For the next few days there is little to record and on the 30th of the month the Battalion was out of the line resting at and about Rouge de Bout, near Laventie.”



Having been asked to resign his commission and having been branded as incompetent and untrustworthy, Hutchinson could have been forgiven if he had gone off, tail between his legs, to sit at home to wait out the end of the war. He was, however, made of sterner stuff! Quite how it came about is unknown but, it must be remembered that as far back as the Boer War, he was a qualified and trained Lecturer in Chemistry, and his skills were now about to be put to good use as a member of one of the recently formed Special Brigades/Battalions and Companies of the Royal Engineers.

The British organisational response to German offensive use of gas in late April 1915 had been rapid. Having been initiated, 21 graduate chemists who were already serving in the army were found and approved by Sir Alfred Keogh, Director of Medical Services. They landed at Le Havre from the ship “Normania” on 15 May 1915.

In late May 1915, an effort began to find men with training in chemistry for service overseas with the Corps of Royal Engineers. They would be recruited under terms of general service for the duration of war; be aged between 19 and 45; could fall outside the normal height and weight limits as long as they were otherwise fit. They would be enlisted into the corps and immediately given the rank of Corporal. The men would be paid two shillings and sixpence per day plus sixpence corps pay, and would qualify for separation allowance for dependents. Men, like Hutchinson, who were already serving under regular army terms could be transferred, but those who were in the Territorial Force or Special Reserve would technically have to be discharged and then re-enlisted for this service.



On 17 January 1916 the War Office sanctioned reorganisation of the existing gas organisation into a new Special Brigade. The original numbered companies were subsumed into the new organisation and sorted into four battalions which left Hatfield by train for Southampton on 24 June 1916 - a total of 254 all ranks of which 38 were attached infantry and 14 were attached from the Army Service Corps. They landed next day at Le Havre and were posted to the Somme sector, where a major build-up of force was in progress in anticipation of a forthcoming offensive, the Special Sections split up into a number of detachments. In the 18th (Eastern) Division’s area, the detachments erected and fired (on 1 July 1916) two large static flamethrowers, while three detachments attempted to take smaller equipment into action with the infantry brigades of the division.

During February 1916, decisions were taken to develop a site at Les Attaques near Calais for use as a materials depot for the Special Brigade.

It is not clear to which Gas Company in which battalion Hutchinson was posted to but he entered the theatre as a Corporal with no. 196081. An analysis of those numbers sequenced before and after his own show that these men were mostly qualified Chemists attached to various Gas Companies making it safe to assume that Hutchinson found his natural fit in their ranks. This sturdy body of men did excellent, mostly secretive, work on the front line and he would have felt, away from the pressures of command and the need to prove his worth, that he had found his niche.

In total Hutchinson spent 2 years 8 months in France – 9 of which with the DCLI, and the balance with the Royal Engineers. For his efforts he was awarded the 1914 Star and clasp, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal – all to the rank of Captain.

Putting the war and the past behind him, Hutchinson went back to his teaching career and was, according to the 1921 census, a Schoolmaster with the L.C.C., at the Southwark Commercial Institute, New Kent Road, S.E.1. His wife, Lilly, was also an Educator with the L.C.C. The couple had one daughter, 13 year old Adeline, and a Housekeeper to cater for their needs.

Eighteen years later, according to the 1939 Register, Hutchinson was a Retired Schoolmaster living at 142 Chesterton Road, Cambridge. He passed away at that address on 13 January 1948 at the age of 77 and was survived by his daughter Adeline who was also the beneficiary of the £313 in his estate.

The headmaster had retired for the last time.

Acknowledgements:
- Newspaper articles credited in the above work
- WWI file from TNA per Kevin Asplin
- UCT Library for map of Faber Putts
- Regimental History for excerpts
- FMP & Ancestry for census data. medal rolls etc.

Rory – Hutchinson made the following claim: “…..until transferred for active service to the 7th D.C.L.I., in which Battalion I commanded “B” Company until I left for England on the 6th of January 1916. From the 5th of September 1915 until the 6th of January 1916, I was with my company in the front line or in support, without going into reserve, and took part in the operations connected to the Battle of Loos.”

Based on my family studies of my grandfathers’ and great uncles’ contribution to the Great War I found his claim hard to believe. It was one lesson the Generals quickly learnt that you could not leave men in the front line for more than a few days without them becoming of little use. Thus a “system” was developed of about 5 days in the front line, about 5 days in support followed by about 10 days in reserve/billets. The battalion war diaries I studied more or less conformed to this and the major exceptions were more than about 10 days in billets.

So, I downloaded the 7th DCLI war dairies foc from the TNA and this is what I found:

6th – 29th September 1915 in front line
30th September – 4th October 1915 in billets at Rouge Debout
5th October – 11th October 1915 in front line
12th October – 16th October 1915 in billets
17th October – 22nd October 1915 in front line
23rd October – 28th October 1915 in billets
29th October – 3rd November 1915 in front line (very wet and enemy “quiescent”)
4th November – 9th November 1915 in “rest billets” at Rouge Debout
10th November – 15th November in front line (still wet and little enemy activity)
16th November – 23rd November in billets at Rouge Debout
24th November – 30th November in front line
1st December – 13th December in billets
14th December – 17th December in front line
18th December – 21st December in billets
22nd December – 2nd January 1916 in front line
3rd January – 6th January in billets at Fleurbaix
7th January returned to front line

They are slightly outside my previous experience as there is apparently no time in support and it could be that Hutchinson considered their time recorded as in billets was in practice in support, there is one instance of whilst in billets of working parties being sent to the front line. However, the billets are referred more than once as “rest billets” and whilst in them there were days noted when the Divisional Baths were available for their use. I assume the Divisional Baths would have been at Divisional HQ and some way back from the front line.

The cherry on the cake is this note lodged in amongst the monthly report forms: