No.18173, Private, Sydney RUTTERFORD
Aged 27
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Sydney Rutterford was born in 1888 in Lakenheath (Mildenhall Q2-1888 4A:737) , son of Isaac and Elizabeth RUTTERFORD (née STUBBINGS).
1891 census: Aged 3, living at High Street, Lakenheath with his father- Isaac RUTTERFORD [30] farm labourer; mother- Elizabeth[27]; brother- George [9]; brother- Margerson [4]; brother- Matthew [1] and possibly his grandfather -Simon STUBBINGS [61]. All were born in Lakenheath. 1901 census: Aged 13, living at High Street,Lakenheath with his parents, brothers Simon, Margerson and Matthew,plus new siblings, sisters-Martha [9]; , Emma [6], Maud [4] and Hepzibah [7 months} all born in Lakenheath. 1911 census: Aged 23, farm worker, boarding at Mildenhall Road, Littleport with Isaac and Susan Rutherford. His relationship with them is so far unknown, and the surname is given in all cases as Rutherford. His own family were still in Lakenheath. The address of his father after his death is given as 14 Bannister Row, Wisbech. |
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He enlisted in Littleport. On the 3rd July 1916, the third day of the Battle of the Somme, the 7th Suffolks took part in the frontal attack on Orvillers. The battalion attacked in 8 successive waves, the leading ones starting ten minutes before zero hour which was set for 3:15 am. The first four waves penetrated as far as the enemy's third line, some getting into the village but in the darkness they lost touch, which enabled the Germans to surge in and cut them off. At the third line, after very severe fighting, the attack was brought to a standstill. The battalion lost heavily, all of the company commanders were killed, only four officers were not injured, and casualties amounted to 470 of all ranks. Of the 156 killed, 44 are buried at Orvillers, but there are 112 named on the Thiepval Memorial of the Missing of the Somme, amongst them Sydney Rutterford The Bury Free Press of 30th September 1916 published a request from his father, Isaac, for any information as to his missing son
and on the memorial in Lakenheath and originally the Mildenhall memorial click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
