Horace Josiah Sutton

Horace Josiah Sutton was born in 1897 at Ilkeston and was the son of Josiah Sutton a merchant tailor and Lucy Sutton née Moss of 61/63 Bath-street, Ilkeston. His father Josiah was born in 1857 at Leicester and his mother Lucy Moss was born in 1865 at Ilkeston, they were married on 21st February 1882 at St Mary's church, Ilkeston, they went on to have 5 children, sadly two died in infancy or early childhood, their surviving children were, Edith Mary b1883 Clay Cross, Lucy b1886 Clay Cross and Horace Josiah b1897 Ilkeston. In the 1911 census the family are living at 61/63 Bath Street, Ilkeston and are shown as Josiah 54 yrs a merchant tailor, he is living with his wife Lucy 46 yrs and their children, Lucy 25 yrs a music teacher and Horace Josiah 14 yrs a scholar.

Attended Mundella School, Meadows, Nottingham. Worked for Boots Company (London Road Factory). Member University College Nottingham OTC.

Second Lieutenant Horace Josiah Sutton, enlisted at Nottingham and served with the 13th, attached 9th Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment, he died on the hospital ship 'Soudan' on 24th November 1915 from wounds received six days previously in Gallipoli. Buried at sea, he is commemorated on the Helles Memorial.

Article published 23rd November 1915 in the Derby Daily Telegraph :- “ILKESTON OFFICER WOUNDED. “Second-lieutenant Horace J. Sutton, whose name appears amongst the wounded in the casualty lists published on Tuesday morning, is the son of Mr. Josiah Sutton, of Bath-street, Ilkeston. He belonged to the Nottingham University Officers' Training Corps for nearly two years and acted as sergeant for five months prior to receiving his commission in the 13th Battalion Sherwood Foresters in February last, and was subsequently attached to the 9th. ”Obituary published in the Nottingham Evening Post dated 1st December 1915: - “SUTTON. - On November 24th, on board H.M. Hospital Ship Soudan, from gunshot wounds received in action November 18th, and was buried at sea, Horace Josiah, Sec.-Lieut., 13th Sherwood Foresters (attached to the 9th Sherwoods), in his 19th year, the dear and only son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Sutton, Bath-street, Ilkeston.” Above article and obituary are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 Boots 'Comrades in Khaki', April 1915: 'Lieutenant Sutton of the London Road Factory, who also graduated at the same OTC [Nottingham University College OTC, reference to 2nd Lt WJ Wright who was also KIA], is now undergoing a course of Drill Revision at Cambridge, and expects that his battalion, the 14th Sherwood Foresters, will soon receive orders for the front.' Boots ‘Comrades in Khaki’, January 1916, 'Dead on the Field of Honour' (photograph): 'Second Lieut HJ Sutton. The toll of life among young officers is a very sad feature of the country’s present campaigns, and a few more promising subalterns have made the last sacrifice of all than HJ Sutton, Second Lieut, in the 9th Sherwoods. In the last issue of ‘Comrades in Khaki; reference was made to his despatch to the Gallipoli; a few days later he was dead. No details have yet been received but it is clear that he must have received fatal injuries almost immediately on commencing active service. He was the only son of his parent, Mr and Mrs J Sutton of Ilkeston, for whom the greatest sympathy is felt by the many friends his merits had won him among his former colleagues. Since the above was written the following message has been received; ‘Deeply regret to iinform you that Second Lieut HJ Sutton, suffering with gunshot wound, right thigh, died on board HMS Soudan, November 24th and was buried at sea. The Secretary of State expresses his sympathy. Secretary, War Office.’’ (Nottinghamshire Archives, ref. RB.38)