Thomas Tutin Charlton
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- Military History
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The family used the surname TUTIN. Thomas was the son of James Tutin Charlton and his wife Hannah (née Ferrin). His father was the son of James Tutin and Bridget Charlton. He was born in Nottingham on 12 January 1854 (birth registered James Tutin Charlton) and baptised at Nottingham St Barnabas (RC) on 22 January the same year. No record has yet been found of his parents' marriage. James Charlton married Hannah Ferrin (b. Nottingham 1854) at Nottingham St Mary on 3 October 1872. They had at least six children four of whose births were registered in the surname Charlton: Arthur Tutin b. 1873, Minnie b. 1875, Harry Tutin b. 1882 and Thomas Tutin b. 30 December 1888 (reg. 1889) bap. St Barnabas 16 April 1896 (surname Tutin, parents James and Hannah Tutin, 58 Coalpit Lane Nottingham). The births of two children were registered as Tutin: Albert b. 1878 and Emily Charlton b. 1880. All the children were born in Nottingham. James and Hannah used the surname Tutin on the 1881 and 1891 Census and their deaths were registered as Tutin. Their children continued to use the surname Tutin when adults. In 1881 James and Hannah were living at 5 Carey's Yard, Nottingham, with their children Arthur, Minnie, Albert and Emily. James died in 1890 and his widow Hannah, a charwoman, was still living at 5 Carey's Yard, in 1891. Five of her six children were in the home on the night of the census: Minnie, a lace hand, Albert, Emily, Henry and Thomas. Thomas' baptismal record of 1896 named both his parents, address 58 Coalpit Lane. Hannah died in May 1899. Thomas (12) was recorded on the 1901 Census as a visitor at 11 Portland Place, Nottingham, the home of Arthur and Ellen Greatorex. However, it is likely that his permanent home was with his older brother Arthur who had married Emma Augusta Chamberlain at Nottingham St Paul in October 1895. In 1901 Arthur and his wife were living at 5 Wollaton Street, Nottingham; he was recorded on the census as a soldier on furlough. Arthur and Emma later had at least eight children, four of whom, including Mabel (b. 1902), died young; their surviving children were Minnie b. 1904, James Arthur b. 1908, Annie Elizabeth b. 1912 and Thomas b. 1914. Arthur and his family had moved to 14 Westminster Terrace, Westminster Street, by the time of the 1911 Census. They were still at the same address in 1917 when Arthur was discharged from the Army (see below). Thomas had already joined the army and was serving with 43rd Bde Royal Field Artillery at Minden Barracks, Farnborough, Hampshire. Arthur joined the Militia at the age of 18 in 1889 (3792 Private, 4th Bn Notts & Derby Regiment), giving his address as 5 Carey's Yard. Another attestation document for the Militia shows that he attested on 5 July 1907 aged 36 years 8 months (2084, Sherwood Foresters) declaring that he had served 13 years with the Notts & Derby Regiment (time expired). He re-engaged in the Special Reserve on 14 June 1908, probably following the creation of the Territorial Force, effective 1 April 1908 under the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907, part of the British Army reforms carried out by the Secretary of State, Richard Burdon Haldane. Arthur completed annual training up to and including 1912 but was then discharged on 13 November to the Army Reserve 'on attaining age for discharge.' However, on 24 April 1914, at the age of 43, Arthur attested in the Army Reserve (Special Reservists) and was mobilised on 24 August. He was posted to the 11th (Service) Battalion Sherwood Foresters (239441) in the rank of corporal and promoted sergeant on 14 November 1914 (rank confirmed 20 January 1915). He was transferred to 360 Company Labour Corps of 23 June 1917 and discharged from the army on 5 December the same year being 'no longer physically fit for war service.' War service record: Home 24 August 1914-26 August 1915. BEF France 27 August 1915-21 September 1915. Home 22 September 1915-7 August 1917.
Thomas Tutin CHARLTON alias Thomas Charlton TUTIN Thomas Tutin Charlton was a regular soldier who served in the Royal Field Artillery (76th Bty). In 1911 he was based at Minden Barracks in Hampshire. 76th Battery was one of three RFA Batteries which made up the 10th Brigade Royal Field Artillery. The Brigade served with the 6th (Poona) Division, Indian Army, from 19 November 1914, troops having been sent to the Ottoman province of Mesopotamia (later Iraq) to protect British oil supplies. The port of Basra was occupied, but when a second Division was committed to the province it was decided to advance the campaign in the region. The 6th (Poona) Indian Division (Major General Charles Townshend) captured Amara on 4 June 1915 and then advanced to Kut El Amara, which it captured on on 28 September. The Division's next objective was Baghdad, 100 miles south of Kut, but was blocked by the Ottoman Turks at Ctesiphone, where it suffered heavy losses. Townshend retreated to Kut which was encircled and besieged by Turks on 7 December 1915. Townshend surrendered on 29 April 1916 and the garrison made prisoner. (National Army Museum, www.nam.ac.uk/explore/mesopotamia-campaign) Conditions for the prisoners were appalling and Thomas died at Tarsus, Turkey, on 5 November 1916. Thomas is buried in Baghdad North Gate Cemetery, Iraq (grave ref. XXI.P.22). The history of the cemetery indicates that his grave was brought in after the Armistice. Thomas qualified for the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Baghdad North Gate Cemetery (extract): 'In 1914, Baghdad was the headquarters of the Turkish Army in Mesopotamia. It was the ultimate objective of the Indian Expeditionary Force 'D' and the goal of the force besieged and captured at Kut in 1916. The city finally fell in March 1917, but the position was not fully consolidated until the end of April. Nevertheless, it had by that time become the Expeditionary Force's advanced base, with two stationary hospitals and three casualty clearing stations. The North Gate Cemetery was begun In April 1917 and has been greatly enlarged since the end of the First World War by graves brought in from other burial grounds in Baghdad and northern Iraq, and from battlefields and cemeteries in Anatolia where Commonwealth prisoners of war were buried by the Turkish forces.' (www.cwgc.org)
Nottingham Evening Post, 22 June 1916: ‘TAKEN PRISONERS AT KUT. Nottingham Man Among 550 Believed Captured. Gunner T. Charlton, of the R.F.A., a Nottingham soldier, is believed to have been taken prisoner at Kut-al-Amara. The official lists have not yet been received from the Turkish Government, but the War Office last night [21st June 1916] issued the names of those believed to have been captured. They consist mainly of men of the R.F.A., R.G.A., and the Norfolk Regiment – including men of the West Surreys, East Surreys, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, Middlesex Regiment, and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, who were attached to the Norfolks – and number nearly 550.’ Above courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Probate: Tutin Thomas Charlton of 14 Westminster-terrace Westminster-street Nottingham gunner in HM Army died 5 November 1916 in Turkey, Administration Nottingham 8 February [1918] to Arthur Tutin lavatory attendant. Effects £51 1s. 6d. Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Thomas Tutin CHARLTON alias Thomas Charlton TUTIN. His brother Arthur TUTIN was his legatee.
