Arthur's Story.
EARLY LIFE
Arthur Sutton was born in Macclesfield in 1899, the son of Hannah J (née Swindells) and Jonathan Sutton, a house painter. In 1901, one-year-old Arthur was living at 29 Princess Street, Hurdsfield, Macclesfield, with his parents and older siblings Percy (8), Jonathan (6) and Eleanor (4). By 1911 the family had moved to 67 Pickford Street, Macclesfield, and included a further four children: Fred (9), William (7), Mary (5) and Sidney (1). In addition, the household also included four boarders, who were possibly relatives of Arthur's mother: Henry Swindells (67), Percy Swindells (21), Lillian Hodkinson (27) and Doris Hodkinson (6).
MILITARY SERVICE
Arthur Sutton enlisted in September 1917, joining first the Welsh Regiment with service number 41681 and later transferring to the Gloucestershire Regiment. He was drafted to France in 1918.
It is not known when or where Private Sutton was wounded by shrapnel in the shoulder, but he died of his wounds at Etaples on 31 October 1918. His death was reported in the Macclesfield Times on 15 November 1918:
PTE ARTHUR SUTTON, Gloucestershire Regt, son of Mr and Mrs J Sutton, 67 Pickford Street, Macclesfield, died in France on October 31st from shrapnel wounds in the shoulder, sustained a few days previously. He was 19 years of age and enlisted in September 1917, being drafted to France six months ago. Prior to joining he was a sergeant in the Sons of Empire. He was educated at Mill Street School and attended Church Street West Sunday School. His brother, Pte Jonathan Sutton, is with the 7th Cheshires in Egypt, and uncle is in India, and four uncles and two cousins in France.
COMMEMORATION
Private Arthur Sutton is buried at Etaples Military Cemetery, in grave ref. LXXI. D. 18. His father asked for the inscription “HE DIED TO SAVE US ALL” to be added to his headstone. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission holds casualty details for Private Arthur Sutton, and he is listed on the Imperial War Museum’s Lives of the First World War website.
In Macclesfield, Private Arthur Sutton is commemorated on the Park Green, Town Hall, St Michael's Church and Mill Street Mission war memorials.
NOTES
Brother of Jonathan Sutton, who served as Private 49973 with the Machine Gun Corps (previously 2095 with the 7th Cheshire Regiment).
SOURCES
GRO (England & Wales) Index: Births
Census (England & Wales): 1901, 1911
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
Macclesfield Times: 15 November 1918
Research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton.
Research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton.