Name
Bertram Albert Rutland
22 March 1898
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/08/1918
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
31768
Bedfordshire Regiment
4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
A.I.F. BURIAL GROUND, FLERS
X. E. 3.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin
Pre War
Bertram Albert Rutland was born on 22 March 1898 in Gravenhurst, Bedfordshire, but he was born Bertram Albert Dalby and was recorded in the workhouse and poor law records of the Ampthill Union vaccination records as the illegitimate child of Edith Dalby (a laundress), and vaccinated on 4 April 1898. However, he was recorded as Rutland in the 1901 census, Dalby in 1911, but as Rutland in the military records found so far.
Edith married Albert J Rutland around 1899
In 1901 the family were living at 4 Murray Road, Hendon, Middlesex. Present were Albert John (30 – although in 1911 he is recorded as 36) and Edith (22), with Albert and working as a plaster’s labourer. Their children were recorded as Albert B Rutland (3) and Robert John (1).
By 1911 the family were living at 2 Parcell's Yard, Hitchin. Albert and Edith were both present, Albert now working as Hitchin Urban District Council as a roadman. The census recorded they had been married for 12 years with 6 children, all living. The children listed were now Bertram Albert – now using the Dally, Robert, Albert Edward (9), Daisy (6), William (3) and Ernest Charles (1).
Before joining up he was employed as an assistant to Mr Sullivan with the BP Oil Company's travelling van and later by Mr G. Day the basket maker of Hitchin.
Officially he was recorded as born in born in Gravenhurst, Beds. and living and enlisting in Hitchin, Herts.
Wartime Service
He joined the army in November 1916 and was posted to France in May 1917. He had been born in Gravenhurst but he enlisted and was resident in Hitchin. He was given Regimental Number 31768 and posted to the 4th Battalion. He was killed in action in France.
He had been home on leave in March 1917.
The Battalion objective that day was to attack Thiloy and Ligny Thiloy in the area of the River Ancre. A creeping barrage commenced at 11.00am advancing 100 yards every three minutes. The Battalion encountered heavy machine-gun fire and the attack was held up, but after another barrage the attack continued at 6.00pm. They eventually returned to their starting point after sustaining very heavy casualties.
He was buried in Plot X, Row E, Grave 3 in the A.I.F. Burial Ground in the Somme sector of France.
Additional Information
His pension cards record his mother, Edith Rutland, as his dependant, living at 1 Piersons Yard, Park Street, Hitchin. She was awarded a pension of 9s 6d a week from 11 March 1919.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
