William Sutton 1895 - 1967
Images of a Bottesford life
By Sue and David Middleton
Born in 1895, William (Bill) Sutton was the son of Philip and Eliza Sutton. The eldest son in a family of 9 children (two of whom died in infancy) he and his brother Bob Sutton survived active service in the 1st World War. Returning home to Bottesford he worked, married and contributed to rebuilding post war community life. Photographs of his activities provide a fascinating glimpse into Bottesford in the first half of the 20th Century.
We are most grateful for the recollections and photographs provided by Mr Bill Sutton (William's son) and Mrs Barbara Sutton.
Early Life
While at school, William was a choir boy and a keen footballer.
William Sutton (middle) and Bob Sutton (right) taken in c1909 with their younger brother Frank, who died in 1919 during the influenza epidemic.
From the collection of Mr Philip (Chip) Sutton
Taken around 1906/8 we see the generation of boys who were to serve in WW1. Football still thrives in Bottesford. Bob Sutton (standing 4th from the left on the back row) and Bill Sutton (sitting on the right hand end of the front row)
From the Collection of Mr & Mrs Bill Sutton
He would have left school at 12 years of age. His first employer was Mr. William Robinson who owned The Vineries in Belvoir Road.
Perhaps Bill's first day working at the Vineries nursery on Belvoir Road. This would date the photograph as 1907 given that the school leaving age before WW1 was 12. The green houses (left) and the water tower (right) can be seen in the background.
From the Collection of Mr & Mrs Bill Sutton
War service
He became a gardener but when war broke out 'he answered Lord Kitchener's call' volunteering to join the 2nd Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment. He saw service in both France and the Middle East as part of the Indian Expeditionary Force. Regimental records show that the '2nd Battalion landed at Marseilles for service in France. Moved to 28th Indian Brigade in Egypt, 7 November 1915. Early December 1915 moved to Basra in Mesopotamia, rejoining 7th (Meerut) Division. Landed at Suez on 22 January 1918 and took part in Palestine campaign.' The photographs of Bill Sutton's military service reflect his service in these different theatres of action.
A classic studio image of the type taken of so many who volunteered for action. This shows Bill as a private in the Leicestershire Regiment.
From the Collection of Mr & Mrs Bill Sutton
Bill in the company of fellow soldiers - perhaps members of the Serjeant's Mess given their stripes. These men do not appear to be from Bottesford and it seems to be during some period of leave given the relaxed pose (cigarettes in mouth and the 'dress' of the hats) outside a Restaurant and Bar. They are all wearing long trousers - maybe they were in a colder European climate at that time.
From the Collection of Mr & Mrs Bill Sutton
After Bill's promotion to Corporal. His demobilisation paper shown below give his rank as Lance Serjeant. This rank was given to a corporal who undertook the duties of a serjeant. His uniform looks one for use in the Middle East given the shorts.
From the Collection of Mr & Mrs Bill Sutton
He was promoted to the rank of Lance Serjeant in the 2nd Leicestershire Regiment which was then recorded as part of the British Army Egyptian Expeditionary Force.
A clipping from a daily newspaper in 1917 found in Bill Sutton's memorabilia from WW1
From the Collection of Mr & Mrs Bill Sutton
The 1st World War engagements, between 1915 to 1918, with Turkish forces were along the Euphrates and Tigris Valleys between Basra and Baghdad.
Campaign Map detailing the Lower Mesopotamia region.
From the Collection of Mr & Mrs Bill Sutton
Details of the early WW1 Mesopotamia engagements 1914-1915. The campaign against the Turkish forces was led by the I.E.F (The Indian Expeditionary Force). By the end of the War there were over 400,000 troops in what is now modern day Iraq
From the Collection of Mr & Mrs Bill Sutton
Operations were prolonged and not without set backs as can be seen from the documents that William retained after his demobilisation on the 17th March 1919, some four months after the war ended in November 1918.
Bill Sutton's demobilisation papers
From the Collection of Mr & Mrs Bill Sutton
Those must have been difficult times for soldiers eager to return home. Some idea of that can be gathered from the a copy of a 'Special order of the Day' to the Egyptian Expeditionary Force issued by General Allenby, their Commander in Chief, in January 1919 concerning the expected standards of conduct of soldiers no longer engaged in active combat.
Special Orders concerning the conduct of forces in 'peace time'
From the Collection of Mr & Mrs Bill Sutton
William Sutton retained this war-time memorabilia after his return to civilian life in Bottesford. His war time experience must have been in stark contrast to the rural childhood and early pre-war working life.
Civilian life
He returned to Bottesford to take up employment as a gardener for the Reverend Walford and married Millie Kennewell in June 1926. They started married life in Butcher Row on the High Street (now demolished). Both their sons, William and Robin, were born there in 1928 and 1931 respectively. The family then moved to No 11 High Street (the cottage opposite Queen Street). He became an active member of a range of community activities, including the Bottesford Amateur Operatic Society, the Church Choir, the Long Alley Skittles Team, the Bowls Club and Cricket Club, the Oddfellows. He was also elected as a Parish Councillor. He took pride in the flowers and vegetables that he produced both for the Rectory and prize winning entries for local horticultural shows.
When WW11 started his family recalls that he was told "that he should have a more responsible job". He became a "lengthman on the railway" and continued working for the railways until his retirement in 1960
Wiliam Sutton outside his grandfather house (John Sutton's) at the site of what is now 13 High Street - where a bungalow now stands.
From the Collection of Mr & Mrs Bill Sutton
Football Team member in the 1920s - 1st on the left front row
From the Collection of Mr and Mrs Bill Sutton
Long Alley Skittles Team at the British Legion on Albert Street beween the Wars
From the Collection of Mr & Mrs Bill Sutton
Playing 'Private Willis of the Grenadier Guards' in Iolanthe in 1925
From the Collection of Mr & Mrs Bill Sutton
1925 Iolanthe Cast List
From the Collection of Mr and Mrs Bill Sutton
Bill Sutton (3rd man left) in the St Mary's Church Choir - mid 1920s
From the Collection of Mr & Mrs Bill Sutton
Marriage to Mildred Kennewell 26th June 1926
From the Collection of Mr and Mrs Bill Sutton
In the 1920/30s Bill Sutton marking out for bowls on the Rectory Lawn with Tommy Robinson (the Church Sexton) rolling the grass
From the Collection of Mr & Mrs Bill Sutton
Returning for Sunday lunch from the Oddfellows in the mid 1930s
From the Collection of Mr & Mrs Bill Sutton
The Sutton Family in 1949 in the garden of No 11 High Street with Standley's Cottages in the background - Bill Jnr; Millie and Bill Snr with Eliza and Philip Sutton
From the Collection of Mr and Mrs Bill Sutton
Football Club Committee Members 1950's - Harry Lane; William Sutton; Charlie Cramm; Amos Tinkler; Alec Bagnall and Jim Glover
From the Collection of Mr and Mrs Bill Sutton
Playing bowls at the Bowls Club on Belvoir Road
From the Collection of Mr & Mrs Bill Sutton
Winning the Everards Horticultural Cup in the 1960s
From the Collection of Mr & Mrs Bill Sutton