Hutchfield W

WILLIAM HUTCHFIELD (c.1888 – 1917)

24370 Private William Hutchfield, 2^nd Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment) was killed in action 12 April 1917. He is buried at Brown’s Copse Cemetery, Roeux [1] and commemorated on the St. Helen’s Colliery Memorial Cottages and the West Auckland War Memorial. He was about 29 years old, married to Violet with 2 children.

Family Details

William Hutchfield was born 1888 [2] at Coundon, near Bishop Auckland, the son of Owen and Mary Hutchfield. There were at least 7 children:

George born c.1882
Jane born c.1885
Ann born c.1887
William born 1888
Margaret born c.1890 [3]
Sarah born c.1894
Liza born c.1896 [4]

All children were born at Coundon except Sarah and Liza who were born at St. Helen Auckland. By 1911, 22 year old William was living with his parents at Front Street, St. Helen’s Auckland. Both his father Owen and William worked as coal miners (hewers).[5] William married Violet Robinson at Auckland Registry Office 28 October 1912 and they had 2 children, James born 12 August 1912 and William born 7 May 1916. [6] They lived at the Barracks, St. Helen’s Auckland.

Service Record

William Hutchfield attested 11 March 1915 aged 27. He was 5ft.5” and weighed 122lbs. [7] He enlisted into the 17^th battalion, Durham Light Infantry, given the regimental number 24514 and was transferred to the 2^nd Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment) 31 October 1916 being given the regimental number 24370. Private W. Hutchfield served a total of 2 years 33 days, 1 year 5 days at home and 1 year 28 days abroad.

Home: 11 March 1915 to 15 March 1916
France: 16 March 1916 to 12 April 1917

Private W. Hutchfield entered France 16 March 16 March 1916 and joined 17/DLI in the field 24 March 1916. He was a “bomb thrower.” He was transferred to 2/West Riding Regiment 31 October 1916 and joined them in the field 2 November 1916. [8]

The 17^th (Reserve) Battalion, Durham Light Infantry was formed in Barnard Castle in October 1914 and came under the orders of 89^th Brigade, 30^th Division. [9]

The 2^nd Battalion, West Riding Regiment was a regular army battalion which at the outbreak of war was in Dublin and landed in Le Havre 16 August 1914. It was transferred to the 12^th Brigade in the 4^th Division 14 January 1916.[10] The following units were part of the 12^th Brigade:

1^st Battalion, the King’s Own (Lancaster)
2^nd Battalion, the Lancashire Fusiliers
2^nd Battalion, the Essex Regiment
2^nd Battalion, the Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)

Private W. Hutchfield served with the 2/West Riding Regiment as part of the 4^th Division, 17^th Corps of the Third Army when the First Battle of the Scarpe, a phase of the Battle of Arras, commenced 9 April. It concluded 14 April 1917.[11] The Battalion War Diary has not been researched.

Between 9 and 16 April, 2/West Riding Regiment lost 1 officer and 52 other ranks, 2 on the day which Private W. Hutchfield was killed, 12 April 1917, the other being 24213 Private Dawson from Darlington. [12]

Burial

Private William Hutchfield is buried at grave reference III.A.27, Brown’s Copse Cemetery, Roeux.

References:

[1] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[2] England & Wales Birth Index

[3] 1891 census

[4] 1901 census

[5] 1911 census

[6] Army Form B.2505 Inside Pages

[7] Army Form B.178

[8] Army Form B.103

[9] http://www.1914-1918.net/dli.htm