Name
John Hutcheson
31 January 1897
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
08/09/1915
18
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
10th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HOOGE CRATER CEMETERY
V. H. 9.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Berkhamsted Town Memorial, St Peter's Church Memorial, Berkhamsted, Berkhamsted Collegiate School, Berkhamsted, Family Grave, Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted
Pre War
John (also known as Jack) Hutcheson was born in Highbury, London on 31 January 1897, the eldest son of Robert and Jane Hutcheson (nee Symington-Downes).
On the 1901 Census the family were living at 32 Sotheby Road, Islington where his father was working as a sugar merchant.
His mother died in 1910 in Berkhamsted and on the 1911 Census the family were living at Braehead, Boxwell Road, Berkhamsted. His father was a market clerk and canvasser. John and his brother Andrew were at school and 2 year old William was cared for by two servants.
He was educated at Berkhamsted School from 1906 to 1914 and, whilst there, was a member of the Officers Training Corps. Upon leaving school he worked for Clerical, Medical and General Life Assurance Society, but left at the beginning of October to join the Inns of Court OTC.
His father remarried on 31 July 1915 at St Mary's Church, Stoke d-Abernon, Surrey to Emma Edith Wayman. John's home address on enlistment was given as Annandale, Cross Oak Road, Berkhamsted.
Wartime Service
He gained a commission and joined the 10th Battalion Sherwood Foresters on 10 October 1914 as 2nd Lieutenant, serving in France from July 1915.
He was killed in action on 8 September 1915, aged 18, when he was hit by a sniper while surveying his fire trenches. He was initially buried in Sanctuary Wood, near Ypres.
Letters from his superior and brother officers testified to the regard and affection in which he was held. His Colonel wrote "He was a keen and energetic officer of considerable promise and popular with all ranks." His Orderly wrote "I write this short letter out of respect to my esteemed officer, your son. It is a very sincere blow to me to lose him, for he was the very best friend that I ever had out here, and although I was only a Tommy he showed every consideration for me as well as the other men in the platoon, he was very much esteemed. He was buried with full honours and his grave is in a wood with others. There is a cross at the head and I shall do all I can to keep his grave clean". The doctor wrote "A more unselfish boy one could not find, always thinking of the well being of others.....I chose his resting place. A plain wood cross has been erected 'In loving memory of 2nd Lieut. J Hutcheson, killed in action', and the motto 'To live in hearts we leave behind, is not to die'."
At the end of the war his body was exhumed from map ref. I.24.d.4.1 where body was identified by a wooden cross although badly damaged it indicated the burial was Lieut. J H ---- 10th Sherwood. He was re-interred at Hooge Crater Cemetery, Belgium.
Additional Information
Chartered accountant Francis Alexander Downes (uncle and executor) obtained probate of his estate in London on 2 December 1915 with effects of £94 9s 5d. He also received the pay owing of £40 3s 2d.
N.B. some military records give date of death as 9th September.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild
