George Henry Sutton

A Lance Corporal with 6th Battalion, George died on 11th of December 1915 at the age of 27. 

George was born at Gorleston in 1888, a son of George and Harriet Sutton. In 1891 his family lived at 143 South Quay, Great Yarmouth, and by 1901 at 104 Trafalgar Road West, Great Yarmouth. By 1906 they were living at 9 Church Lane, Gorleston. In 1911 his parents lived at 3 Seamen’s Cottages, Oulton Broad. Later his father lived at 2 Infirmary Court, Saint Margaret’s Plain, Lowestoft.  

George was living at Gorleston and working as a fisherman when he enlisted in the Prince of Wales’ Owen Norfolk Royal Garrison Artillery (Militia) at Great Yarmouth on 15 February 1906. 

On 9 May 1906 he enlisted in the regular army, joining the Rifle Brigade. In 1911 he was serving with the 4th Battalion Rifle Brigade at Cairo, Egypt. George was serving with the 4th Battalion in India when the First World War began. He arrived at Le have, France, with his Battalion on 21 December 1914.

George returned to England, reason unknown, and was posted to the 6th (Reserve) Battalion Rifle Brigade.

George was on furlough and visiting his sister, at Gorleston, when he died, as described in the The Downham Market Gazette 18 December 1915, page 7:

LOWESTOFT SOLDIER’S FATAL FURLOUGH

An inquest was held at the Town Hall, Yarmouth, before the Coroner (Mr. J. Tolver Waters), touching the death of Acting Corporal George Henry Sutton (27), of the Rifle Brigade, son of George Kemp Sutton, fisherman, Lowestoft, which occurred at Gorleston on Saturday week. Deceased went to Gorleston for a few days’ furlough on the 8th inst., and stayed with his sister, Mrs. Martin, at 40, Church Road. He was in fairly good health at the time, but on Friday he was taken with violent pains, and Dr. Read was sent for. Seeing that something was seriously the matter with the deceased Dr. Read advised his removal to hospital, but before arrangements could be made to do so he died on Saturday morning.

Richendo Martin, wife of Gunner George Martin, R.N., of 40 Church Road, Gorleston, said deceased, who was her brother, had been to the front and came to her home on Wednesday week for a few days furlough. He was in good health on arrival, and made no complaint of anything until Friday afternoon when he had pains in the body. 

Dr. J. S. Read said he was called to deceased about five o’clock on Friday afternoon. He was then in bed and was suffering from very great pains in the abdomen and was very restless. He tried certain remedies and saw deceased twice later the same night, when the abdominal pains had ceased somewhat. On Saturday morning witness again visited deceased, and then considered it advisable to have him removed to the Great Yarmouth Hospital for an operation. Before this could be done deceased suddenly collapsed, and died about 12.30. Witness had since made a post-mortem examination and found an old standing ulcer of the intestines, and evidence of peritonitis. Death was due to acute peritonitis, following the perforation of an old standing ulcer in the bowel. Witness gathered from deceased that he had had a good deal of gastric trouble. A verdict of “natural causes” was returned.