Ben Hutchinson

Ben Hutchinson was the son of John Hutchinson and his first wife Mary (née Burton). His father John Hutchinson was born in about 1849 at Belton, Leicestershire, and his mother Mary Burton was born in Chesterfield in 1855. They were married at Nottingham All Saints in October 1873 and had eight children who were born in Nottingham: Ethel b. 1874 (reg. J/F/M 1875), Gertrude b. 1876 (reg. J/F/M 1877), John b. 1879, Ben b. 7 May 1881, Thomas b. 1883, Annie b. 1889, Henry Burton b. 1895 and Mildred b. 1897. Baptismal records have been traced for all but the youngest child, Mildred; Ben was baptised at Nottingham St Ann on 8 June 1881 when his parents were living at 43 Marple Street. According to the baptismal records, the family was living on Paddock Street in January 1875, Windmill Lane in September 1880, 43 Marple Street in 1881, Kemps Cottages in November 1884 and 12 Sherwin Street in 1889. The family was still living at 12 Sherwin Street when the 1891 Census was compiled. John and Mary had moved to 29a Woodborough Road, Nottingham, by 1901. John, whose occupation had been given as bricklayer on the two previous census, was now a builder (employer). All eight children were in the home on the night of the census. The three eldest sons, John, Ben and Thomas, were employed as bricklayers. Ethel had no waged occupation but Gertrude was a hosiery mender, Annie and Henry were school age and Mildred was three years old. Mary Hutchinson died in October 1909. John snr. married Florence Dobney in 1912. She was living with John at 29a Woodborough Road at the time of the 1911 Census and he described her status as 'wife'. They had a son, Clifford, whose birth was registered in 1910 as Clifford D [Dobney] Hutchinson and had a second son Stanley in 1913. Only three of John's children were in the home on the night of the census: John, who was a widower (marriage not yet traced) and Harry [Henry] who were both journeymen builders and the youngest daughter, Mildred. Also in the household was a domestic servant, Madge Dobney (25), who was probably Florence's relative. Thomas, a bricklayer, had married Annie Mason at Sneinton parish church in May 1907, and they and their two daughters were living on Dowson Street, Nottingham. They had a son, Thomas Arthur, two years later in 1913. Ethel was a nurse at the London Hospital, Whitechapel, while Gertrude a hosiery mender and Annie a student were living at 71 Plantagenet Street, Nottingham. Ben has not yet been traced on the 1911 Census, but when his brother Henry attested in 1914 he named Ben, 72 Plantagenet Street, as one of his next of kin. John snr. died in May 1918; he was still living at 29a Woodborough Road. Probate was awarded to HB Halford and BO Halford, estate agents. Two of Ben's brothers also served in the Royal Artillery and their sister Ethel served in QAIMNSR [Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service (Reserve)]. Thomas attested in January 1915 aged 30y 8m. He and his family were living on 1st Avenue, Carlton Hill, Nottingham. Thomas had previously served in the Robin Hood Rifles (Volunteers). Served 85169 Gunner: Home 26 January 1915-17 October 1915. BEF France 18 October 1915-5 March 1918. Furlough 6 March 1918-20 March 1918. BEF France 21 March 1918-19 July 1918. Furlough 20 July 1918-3 August 1918. BEF France 4 August 1918-17 April 1919. Home 18 April 1919. He was demobilised at Woolwich on 16 May 1919 to 30 Randall Street, Nottingham. Henry Burton attested on 20 October 1914 (47464 Gunner Royal Garrison Artillery) aged 19y 272d, occupation bricklayer. He named his father and brother John, 29a Woodborough Road, and brothers Thomas of Carlton Road and Benjamin of 72 Plantaganet Street as his next of kin. He joined at Newhaven on 21 October and embarked Southampton on 1 November 1915 for France disembarking Boulogne 3 November joining 39th Siege Battery. He was awarded leave to the UK from 25 January 1917-4 February 1917. Henry's name appears on a Casualty List of 1 July 1918 when he was admitted to No.11 Stationary Hospital Rouen (NOK information 9 July). He was attached to the French Army from 30 August 1917 (noted on his service document reference ration allowance) and was admitted to hospital (illness) at Le Treport on 3 October 1917 and probably discharged the following month. Henry was awarded leave to the UK in January 1918 and again from 25 May-7 June 1918 (14 days). He was admitted to hospital (reason illegible) on 27 June 1918, discharged to base on 17 August. He was posted to Clipstone Camp, Nottinghamshire, on 30 January 1919 for release and was transferred to Class 'Z' Army Reserve on demobilization, 2 March 1919. He was discharged to Hawthorne Terrace, Meadows, Nottingham. Both Thomas and Henry qualified for the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. Sister E Hutchinson, QAIMNSR [Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service (Reserve)], was issued with 'emblems' and (?) medals on 4 December 1922. Both Ethel, a nurse (Urban District Council) and her widowed sister Gertrude Wallis (m. St Barnabus 1915 Frederick Wallis, d. 1926) were living together in Old Church Warsop, Nottinghamshire, when the England & Wales Register was compiled in 1939. Both were probably undertaking voluntary medical service with a local authority. The sisters died in November 1959 within a week of each other.