John's Story.
Born in 1896 John was the son of John and Annie Rutter of Little Leigh, the 1911 census shows John age 15 working as a farm servant, his father worked as a bridge attendant on the river weaver, living at Bridge house, Acton Bridge. By the time war was delcared John was working at the Weaver Refining Company. He was quick to enlist joining the Cheshire Regiment in Northwich on 1st September 1914, his service papers showing his declared age of 19 years 5 months. John would be in the UK training for just over a year, he arrived in France with the 10th Cheshire Regiment on the 26th September 1915, the battalion were engaged in numerous visits to the front line prior to July 1916. They were not involved in the opening first couple days on the Somme, the battalion took up positions in AUTHUILLE WOOD at 8:30pm on the 3rd and by the 15th July the battalion and completed two visits to the front line trenches.The war dairy for the 15th states : The battalion was relieved during the afternoon by the 2nd Royal Rifles and we rested just outside ALBERT, Everyone was very tired and felt the strain of the last few days, during this period the battalion suffered the following causalities.
Officers killed 3. Wounded and Missing 4. Wounded 7.
On the evening of the 23rd July they battalion returned to frontline duties, John was killed in action on the 28th
The war diary for the 28th reads: 28.7 Quiet. During the night an attempt was made to cover the battalion front with wire, two subsequent attempts were made but owing to the enemy putting up a heavy trench mortar barrage we were not able to connect up properley. 2nd Lt LONGSTER being killed.
Casualties for the period 23rd to the 28th were: 1 Officer killed, 3 wounded. Other Ranks 11 killed, 24 Wounded.
The Northwich Guardian reported on the 8th August 1916
Information was recieved at Acton Bridge on Saturday morning that Private John Rutter of the Cheshire Regiment, whose father Mr. John Rutter resides at Bridge House, Acton Bridge had been killed in action on the 28th July. The sad news was conveyed by a comrade. The deceased who was 20 years of age was an employee of the Weaver Refining Company and had enlisted at the beginning of the war going out to France ten months ago.
Lieutenant Simmons writing to Mrs Rutter says " I am very sorry to have to inform you of the death of your son, Private John Rutter, who was killed by a shell, death being instantaneous. His death is a great loss to the battalion as your son was a splendid soldier and had been doing excellent work as a scout for many months. Private J Rutter had been in my platoon since the formation of the battalion and I have no hesitation in saying he was one of the best soldiers in the battalion being invariably cheerful and willing."
The Church of England Chaplin Rev. G M. Evans writes; " It is with the deepest regret and sympathy that I have give you the sad news of the death of your son Private John Rutter which took place on July 28th. Your son was working in the first trench when he and several others were killed by the explosion of a trench mortar. His death was instantaneous and he can have suffered no pain. I buried him the next day in a little cemetery just behind the firing line. The commanding officer, his company officers and comrades all send their sincerest sympathy."
John is buried in Knightsbridge Cemetery, Mesnil-Martinstart Grave Ref: E.39
Picture kindly taken by Terry Whenham.