Private 19076 James Henry Nutting

Killed in Action on Monday, 9th August 1915, age 22.
Buried in Grave I. B. 3. at Spoilbank Cemetery, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

2nd Bn., Suffolk Regiment. 8th Brigade of 3rd Division.
Formerly 22885 Corps of Hussars.

Son of Edward and Mary Ann Nutting, of 3, Adventure Place, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent.
Born: Tipton, Enlisted: Stoke-on-Trent, Resident: Stoke-on-Trent.

First landed France & Flanders, 6th July 1915.
Medal entitlement: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives did not survive.

Not commemorated on any Tipton memorial, but commemorated on the Hanley War Memorial.
Commemorated here because identified as Tipton on 'Soldiers Died in the Great War'.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/488052/

Genealogical Data

1901 Census
65 Coppice Street, Tipton, Staffs.
Edward Nutting (30, Blast Furnace Man, born Netherton), his wife Mary (30, born Great Bridge), and their 5 children: Charles E. (10, born Great Bridge), Florence R. (9, born Tipton), James H. (6, born Tipton), Elsie E. (3, born Tipton), and John W. (10 months, born Tipton).

No trace of James Henry Nutting on 1911 Census, not living with parents.

1911 Census
59 Leonard Street, Burslem, Staffs.
Edward Nutting (40, Labourer at Furnace, born Dudley), his wife Mary (40, born Great Bridge), and 8 of their 10 surviving children of 11: Charles E.(20, Taker-off in Pit, born Tipton), Mrs Florence Ruth Harrison (18, born Tipton), Elsie (13, born Tipton), John William (11, born Tipton), Albert Edward (8, born Tipton), James Thomas (5, born Tipton), George (3, born Smallthorne), and Florence (1, born Burslem).
Also their son-in-law Joseph Harrison (22, Colliery Loader, born Scotland), and their grandson Joseph Edward Harrison (5 months, born Burslem).
Also Edwin Oakley (68, Visitor, Widower, Retired Fishmonger, born Great Bridge), and William Oakley (30, Visitor, Ironworks Forge Labourer, born Great Bridge). Edwin and William Oakley were Mary Nuting's father and brother.

Personal Data

James Henry and Charles Edwin Nutting were brothers. They were born in Tipton, but the family had moved to the Burslem area around 1907. They were both previously in the Corps of Hussars, but both transferred to the 2nd Suffolks, having similar numbers, and both landed in France on the 6th July 1915.

At the time of the 1911 Census Mrs Mary Nutting's father and brother, Edwin and William Oakley, were also living with the Nutting family in Leonard Street, Burslem. WIlliam Oakley was also to lose his life during WW1 serving with the Royal Garrison Artillery, on 3rd September 1918.

James Henry and Charles Edwin Nutting and WIlliam Oakley (their uncle) are all commemorated on the Hanley War Memorial which stands opposite Hanley Town Hall. Additionally there is a plaque inside the entrance to Hanley Town Hall containing the names of fallen soldiers.

After James's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances represented a debit balance of £1/9/0d (1 pound and 9 shillings) - that is James owed the army money; there is no evidence of any attempt to recover this. His War Gratuity was £3/0/0d (3 pounds exactly), this was paid to his father, Edward, and mother, Mary A,. in September 1919. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that James had enlisted within the previous 12 months, believed to be in August 1914.

Action resulting in his death

On 9th August 1915, the 2nd Suffolks were in the Hill 60 area to the south west of Ypres. On that day James Nutting was killed in action; he was the only man from the 2nd Suffolks killed that day, and none were killed on the day before or the day after. A seemingly random event. He is buried in Spoilbank Cemetery, adjacent to the Ypres-Comines Canal.

Newspaper Cuttings

Staffordshire Sentinel 27 March 1916
PTE. C. E. NUTTING, HANLEY.
Mr and Mrs Nutting, of 72 Portland Street, Hanley, have received official news that their son, Pte. Charles Edward Nutting, 19134, 2nd Suffolk Regiment, was killed in action on 22nd January. He was 24 years of age, and prior to his enlistment in August 1914, worked at the Deep Pit, Hanley. His brother, Pte. J.H. Nutting, 19076, 2nd Suffolk Regiment, was killed in action on August 23rd 1915. He enlisted in August 1914, and was formerly employed at the Deep Pit, Hanley. He as 22 years of age.

Staffordshire Sentinel 22 January 1917
In Memoriam
NUTTING. In loving memory of Pte. James Henry Nutting who was killed in action August 10th 1915, aged 22 years; also of his brother, Pte. Charles Edwin Nutting, who was killed in action January 22nd 1916 (both Suffolk Regiment). Beloved sons of Edward and Mary Ann Nutting, of 34 Charles Street, Hanley.
”Only two British soldiers,
Only two parents pride,
They answered the call of honour,
Doing their duty they died.
They have served their King and Country,
We know they have done their best;
Now they sleep in the arms of Jesus,
Two British soldiers at rest.”
Fondly remembered by their Father, Mother, Brothers and Sisters; also Aunts, Uncles and Cousins.