Royal Army Medical Corps, 29th May 1918
De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour
Extract from the above publication – NUTTER, WILLIAM: Private, No.75450, 76th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps ; eldest son of Robert Nutter, of 12, Danehouse Road, Burnley, by his wife, Elizabeth, daughter of William Henderson, formerly of Burnley; born Burnley, Lancaster, 16 May, 1897; educated Abel Street County Council School there; was a Tramway Employee; volunteered for active service, and enlisted in the Royal Army Medical Corps 27 October 1915; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 11 August 1916; was present at the operations on the Somme, and in many other engagements, and died, a prisoner of war, at Montigny 29 May, 1918, of wounds received in action two days previously. Buried at Montigny.
Burnley Express dated 13 July 1918
Extract from the above publication :- “Mr Nutter, 12 Daneshouse Road Burnley has heard that his son, Pte. William Nutter (21) R.A.M.C. is wounded. Pte. Nutter is also missing. He joined up in October 1916 and was drafted on active service on August 11th 1916. Formerly he worked at the tram shed.
Corporal Edwards wrote to Mr Nutter as follows on June 3rd. “I don’t know if you heard from your son Willie lately. If not, you will be sorry to hear that he was wounded on May 26th. It happened during the night-time. The Germans started shelling the camp we were in, and a shell landed very close to the hut, a piece caught him in the hip. I’m sorry I have not been able to let you know before, but I had to go up the line the same night, and have only just come down again. I have not heard any more definite news of him since, beyond the fact that one of our fellows saw him again at the C.C.S. (Casualty Clearing Station) we evacuated him to, and he was much more cheerful, so I am hoping that they managed to send him down the line, in which case it is quite possible that you will hear news of him before us, because he is almost sure to get across to ‘Blighty’. However I trust he is getting on well, and should we hear any more news of him I will certainly let you know. Before I left him he promised to let me know how he got on, as having worked with him for the last twelve months or so it feels very strange to be back again with the ambulance to-day and not to have him with us. I trust you will accept the sympathy of all of us,, and also our wishes that he will have a speedy recovery.” Pte. Nutter’s Colonel has written: “He was badly wounded whilst in the performance of his duty, and was evacuated to No. 48 Clearing Station. I regret I have no further news of his movements after the 27th May. Your son was one of the best men under my command. He was a great loss to this unit.”
Burnley Express dated 1 February 1919
Extract from the above publication :- “Mrs. Nutter, 12, Daneshouse Road, Burnley, would be glad if any prisoner of war returning home could give any information about her son, Private William Nutter, 75450, 76th Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C.. He was wounded on the 27th at a French hospital, and was sent to a British hospital. This hospital was captured on the 28th of May, 1918, by the Germans, and he has been missing since that date. His photo appeared in the ‘Express’ on July 13th, 1918.”
Burnley Express dated 1 March 1919
Extract from the above publication :- Mr. and Mrs. Nutter, 12 Daneshouse Road, have had news of their son Private William Nutter, R.A.M.C., 76th Field Ambulance from the Red Cross, through a returned prisoner who says “Your son was wounded on the 27th May, 1918, at a French C.C.S. (Casualty Clearing Station) and was taken to a British C.C.S. on the 28th. We were all taken prisoners, and your son died on the 29th, and was buried at a place called Montigny.” Deceased formerly worked at the Tram-shed, and his name is on the roll of honour at St. Andrew’s Church. His age was 22 years. He had been reported wounded and missing since last May, and his photo appeared in the ‘Express’ on July 13, 1918.
Further Military and Life Research
Further to the entries above William was baptised on the 20 June 1897 at St Peter’s Church, Burnley, his address at that time was given as 55 Spencer Street, Burnley. He enlisted at Burnley, Lancashire on the 27 October 1915, he had been a Fitters Labourer at the local trams.
- 28 October 1915 – Engaged in training at Aldershot.
- 3 November 1915 – Left Aldershot and arrived at Devonport, Plymouth for training.
- 8 April 1916 – Examined and found fit for foreign service, where he was described as :-
- Height – 5’6″
- Weight – 112 lbs
- Chest – 33″ with expansion of 2″
- 15 April 1916 – Departed from Plymouth to a transit camp near Salisbury.
- 7 August 1916 – Embarked at Southampton.
- 8 August 1916 – Disembarked at Rouen, France.
- 14 August 1916 – Posted to 76 Field Ambulance.
- 19 July 1917 – Transferred to 75 Field Ambulance.
- 27 May 1918 – Wounded in Buttock while at 76 Field Ambulance.
- 29 May 1918 – Died at Montigny and buried at Montigny-Sur-Vesle Military Cemetery.
- Circa January 1923 – William was exhumed and his body concentrated at his current location of Marfaux British Cemetery, Marne, France.
A statement of death for William Nutter at some stage was taken from 104151 J. Mason, Royal Army Medical Corps which confirms his death, this was not attached to Williams Service Record.
Family
William Nutter was born on 16 May 1897 at Burnley, Lancashire.
The following family members has been ascertained :-
- Father – Robert Turner Nutter, born c.1867 at Bolton-le-Bolland, Yorkshire.
- Mother – Elizabeth Henderson or Nutter, born c.1868 at Jarrow, Durham.
- Sister – Annie, born c.1894 at Burnley, Lancashire.
- Brother – Arthur, born c.1899 at Burnley, Lancashire.
- Brother – Charlie, born c.1903 at Burnley, Lancashire.
His brother Arthur also fought in the Great War as 57263 in the 52nd Manchester Regiment.
Addresses
The following addresses have been ascertained for William Nutter :-
- 1897 (Baptism Record) – 55 Spencer Street, Burnley.
- 1901 (Census) – 12 Daneshouse Road, Burnley.
- 1911 (Census) – 12 Daneshouse Road, Burnley.
- 1915 (Attestation) – 12 Daneshouse Road, Burnley.
- 1919 (Army Service Record) – 12 Daneshouse Road, Burnley.
Medals
William Nutter was awarded the Victory and the British War Medals for his service in the Great War as he arrived in France / Flanders on the 8 August 1916.
Memorials
Although he is not specifically mentioned, William Nutter is honoured and remembered on the Burnley War Memorial.
There was information that he was remembered on the St Andrews Church Roll of Honour, Burnley, I have not seen this memorial and do not know if it still exists.
Links to Additional Information
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission – William Nutter
- A Street Near You website – William Nutter
- Lives of the First World War – William Nutter
- Find a Grave website – William Nutter
- Imperial War Museum – Burnley War Memorial
References
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
- Medal Index Card.
- Soldiers who Died in the Great War.
- Army Service Record.
- Register of Soldiers Effects.
- Medal Roll – Royal Army Medical Corps – Victory and British War Medals.
- 1901 Census.
- 1911 Census.
- Baptism Record – Burnley 1897.
- Pension Cards.
- Burnley Express Newspaper – Various Dates.
Groups
Contributor:-
- Vincent Stuart
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