George Dutton
1901 - errand boy
1915 - (enlisted) carpenter
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
George was the third son and youngest child of William and Jane Dutton (née Spooner).
His father William was born in Nottingham in 1843. His mother Jane was the daughter of Samuel and Sarah Spooner and was born in Radford in 1848. She was baptised at Nottingham St Mary on 24 September and, according to the information on the baptismal register, her parents were living at the Union Workhouse.
George and Jane were married at Hyson Green St Paul on 7 May 1886 and had five children: William b. 1877, Samuel b. 1879, Elizabeth birth registered 1881 (JFM), Catherine b. 1884 and George b. 1887 who were born in either Radford or Hyson Green.
William, a stove and grate fitter, his wife and their three children, William, Samuel and Elizabeth, together with a lodger, Samuel Spooner, a brewer, were living in Piggins Yard, Lindsay Street, Radford, in 1881.
However, by 1891 William and Jane were steward and stewardess of the Burnaby Club, Selhurst Road, Hyson Green, and living on the premises. Their son William was a 'spool lad'; his siblings were school age.
William snr. died in 1892 aged 49 and in 1901 his widow Jane was living at 24 Saville Street with their five children: William, a billiard marker (own account), Samuel a 'corputo' tender, Elizabeth a machinist, Catherine a lace mender and George an errand boy. Also in the household were two boarders.
The eldest daughter, Elizabeth, married Percy Denton Richmond in 1902. In 1911 she and Percy, a fitters' labourer (employer lace machine builder), were living at 36 Saville Street with their four daughters, Ellen Elizabeth, Lilian, Catherine (Kate), and Elsie May, and also Elizabeth's widowed mother, Jane.
Catherine had married Harry Osborne in 1902 and in 1911 Harry, a plumber (building trade), Catherine, a lace machinist, and their two children, Harry and Ethel, were living at 8 Whittier Road, Sneinton.
George married Kate Alice Woodward on 1 May 1909 at Nottingham Register Office. They had three children, Ethel May b. 12 December 1911, Beatrice Nellie b. 11 November 1913 and George William b. 8 May 1916. The couple have not yet been traced on the 1911 Census, but were living at 24 Hyson Street, Hyson Green, when he enlisted in 1915 and this was his widow's address on the later CWGC record.
William and Samuel have also not been traced on the 1911 Census, but William had emigrated to Australia before the end of the war. Samuel married Elizabeth Barrowcliffe in 1918 and they were living off Alfreton Road, Radford, in 1921.
George's widowed mother Jane was still living with her married daughter Elizabeth and her husband in 1921 although they had moved to 79 Kirkstead Street, Hyson Green. The couple now had eight children, Ellen, Lilian, Catherine, Elsie May, Samuel Percy, Grace, Hilda and William.
Jane Dutton died in August 1921 aged 73 (burial 16 August).
She had completed a form for the army shortly before her death listing her son George's surviving blood relatives:
Widow. Kate Dutton and children May, Beatrice and George, 24 Hyson Street, Hyson Green.
Parents. Mother Jane Dutton, 79 Kirkstead Street, Hyson Green.
Brothers. William (42), Maya? Western Australia; Samuel (40), 35 Ryeland Crescent, Meadows, Nottingham.
Sisters. Elizabeth Richmond (38), 79 Kirkstead Street, Hyson Green; Kate Osbourne (34), Whittier Road, Colwick, Nottingham.
George Dutton enlisted on 18 February 1915 at Nottingham. He gave his age as 27y 11m, occupation carpenter. He named his wife Kate Alice, as his next of kin, address as 24 Hyson Street, Hyson Green. The Army had obtained a reference from his employer, Messrs Dalgleish and Sons, Bobbers Mill, Nottingham, for whom he had worked for about 12 months; he was described as a 'rough carpenter' and although not highly skilled was a satisfactory employee.
He served with the 146th Army Troops Company Royal Engineers and embarked for France on 6 October 1915, disembarking the following day.
George died at No. 41 Casualty Clearing Station on 2 May 1917 from wounds received in action; he had served for 2 years 74 days. George was buried at Duisans British Cemetery, Etrun, France (grave ref. IV.B.16).
He qualified for the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
CWGC history of Duisans British Cemetery (extract): Dusians is about 9k. from Arras. 'The area around Duisans was occupied by Commonwealth forces from March 1916, but it was not until February 1917 that the site of this cemetery was selected for the 8th Casualty Clearing Station. The first burials took place in March and from the beginning of April the cemetery grew very quickly, with burials being made from the 8th Casualty Clearing Station (until April 1918), the 19th (until March 1918), and the 41st (until July 1917). Most of the graves relate to the Battles of Arras in 1917, and the trench warfare that followed. From May to August 1918, the cemetery was used by divisions and smaller fighting units for burials from the front line.' (www.cwgc.org)
CWGC Additional information: Husband of H. Dutton, of 24, Hyson St., Hyson Green, Nottingham.
Army service record: document, 'Copy of telegram despatched to Dutton, 24 Hyson St, Hyson Green, Nottingham. Regret to inform you O/C 41st CCS France reports 67914 Sapper Dutton died from wounds 2nd May.' All George's service records have the same date of death, 2 May, although the family recorded 1 May in the 'In Memoriam' notices.
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 1 May 1918: ‘Dutton. In loving memory of my dear husband, Sapper George Dutton, killed in action May 1st (sic) 1917. From loving wife and children and ma-in-law.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 1 May 1918: ‘Dutton. In loving memroy of my dear son, Sapper George Dutton, Royal Engineers, died of wounds May 1st (sic) 1917. Sleep on, dear one, and take your rest, they miss you most who loved you best. Sorrowing mother, sisters, Lizzie, Kate, brothers Will (in Australia), Sam, Harry [Osbourne], Percy [Richmond] (at sea).’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Registers of Soldiers' Effects: DOW received in action, 41 CCS. Sole legatee, widow Kate A Dutton.
WW1 Pension Ledgers: His widow was awarded a pension of 26 shillings and 3 pence a week for herself and her three children.
Additional research and information Peter Gillings. Additional information/record updated, RF (Jan. 2026)
Photo of George Dutton
Duisans British Cemetery, Etrun, France, courtesy of the cwgc