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Rank : Lance Corporal

Army Number : 7620

Unit : 2nd Bn & 1st Bn

Biography :

George Henry Sutton was born in Belgrave, Leicester in 1887. Awarded 3rd Class Certificate of Education (as Private) in 1908. Later served in World War One. Killed in action France and Flanders campaign 25.12.1914. He is commemorated on PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL. He served with the 2nd Battalion 1905-1912 whilst serving at Belgaum and Madras in India. He was discharged to the Reserve in 1912 and then recalled in 1914 to serve with the 1st Battalion. He was killed during the 1914 Christmas Truce.

From the 'Everyone Remembered:

George Henry Sutton was born on 5th August 1887 at Belgrave, Leicestershire to George and Matilda Sutton and was the eldest of their 11 children. After leaving school aged 12 he worked first as an errand boy then as a green grocer for 6 ½ years before he lost his job due to a downturn in business in October 1904. He was then employed as a labourer for a few weeks before enlisting in the Leicestershire Regiment on the 16th January 1905 with the regimental number of 7620. After basic training and being stationed in Colchester he was posted to the regiments 2nd Battalion who were stationed in India.

He embarked on the troopship H.M.T. Dongola leaving for India on 21st September 1906, arriving there on the 11th October 1906. He was initially posted to Poonamallee Barracks at Belgaum for 4 years and 4 months and then latterly to Fort George in Madras for 1 year and 9 months.

He departed for England on the 3rd November 1912 on the H.M.T.S.Plassy and left the army when his enlistment ended after 7 years and 11 months service on the 30th November 1912. He was subsequently transferred to the army reserve.

After being discharged from the army he then joined Leicester Corporation Tramways on the 19th March 1913 as a motorman, or driver.

Following the outbreak of war he was swiftly recalled to the army on the 5th August 1914 and joined the 1st Battalion the Leicestershire Regiment as the 2nd Battalion was still stationed in India. After being mobilized the 1st Battalion was briefly sent to Fermoy, Ireland and Cambridge before arriving in St Nazaire, France, on the 10th September 1914, before being deployed south west of Armentieres to the Bois Grenier sector of the front line in late 1914.

On the 25th December 1914, whilst taking part in a truce with Saxon troops opposite them he was killed in No Man’s Land by a Prussian sniper from an adjoining German regiment. He was one of two soldiers killed on Christmas Day from the 1st Battalion, the other being Private James Farrell, 11419.

George Henry Sutton’s body was not recovered. He was 27 and unmarried. He is commemorated on Panel 4 of the Ploegsteert Memorial.

CWGC website:

SUTTON, GEORGE HENRY
Rank: Lance Corporal
Service No:7620
Date of Death: 25/12/1914
Age:27
Regiment/Service: Leicestershire Regiment 1st Bn.
Panel Reference: Panel 4.
Memorial: PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL

The image is of L/Cpl George Henry Sutton when he was serving with the 2nd Battalion, in Madras, India.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Record:
SUTTON, GEORGE HENRY
Additional information:
Son of Mrs. M. F. Sutton, of 3, Mostyn St., Leicester.
Cemetery:
PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL
Cemetery/memorial reference:
Panel 4.
Country:
Belgium

Date of Birth : 5.8.1887

Place of Birth : Leicester

Date of Death : 25.12.1914

Place of Death : near Bois Grenier, France

Civil Occupation : Motorman (1912-1914)

Period of Service : 1905-1912, 1914

Conflicts : WW1

Places Served : India, Ireland, France and Flanders