Robert Hutton was one of 3 Hutton family members who died in WW2, covering 2 generations, an uncle and 2 cousins. David Hutton and Robert Johnson.   Please click on the links to read their stories.

Robert’s father Richard, 21 and a Mariner, born Wepre, is seen on the 1881 census, living at Ferry Road, West Side, Township of Wepre, Connah’s Quay, Northop, Flintshire, with his widowed mother Mary, 60, a Charwoman, born in Manchester, also born there was Richard’s sister Margaret, 26 and also a Charwoman.   There are 2 Grandsons there as well, Thomas John, 5 and Robert, 4, both born in Wepre.

Robert Hutton was the son of Richard & Sarah Elizabeth Hutton,(nee Marrow) who had married on the 17^th June 1889 at St. Mark’s Church, Connah’s Quay (I have a copy of the marriage in my notes).

Robert himself was born 20^th April 1903 and baptised at St. Mark’s Church on the 10^th May 1903, Richard’s occupation was “Master Mariner,” and the address was Church Road.

The 1911 census was the first time Robert is seen on a census.   The address was 12, Church Road, Connah’s Quay and Sarah Elizabeth, 41, tells us that she had been married 21 years and 9 children had been born to her, but sadly 2 had died.    Richard, 52, her husband, was not in the household, he was Master aboard the “J & M GARRATT,” which was at The Buoys, Teignmouth Harbour on the night of the census, Sunday April 2^nd 1911.   Also with him was Richard’s brother David John Hutton*, Mate of the vessel.   At home on that night was Richard’s family, Sarah Elizabeth JONES**, their daughter, Mary, 12***, William, 9, Robert, 7, Doris, 6 and James 4 years old.

*David John Hutton’s son David is also on the WW2 War Memorial, please click on the link to read his story.

**Sadly Sarah Elizabeth JONES (nee HUTTON), who had married only 4 months earlier in St. Mark’s Church, Connah’s Quay, lost her new husband Frank JONES, when he drowned whilst the Master of the vessel “Fanny Fothergill.”    Also lost with him was Evan Thomas JONES, Mate of the vessel, both were feared drowned when their vessel went missing on the 10^th January 1911.   Both men were born and resided in Connah’s Quay, so were they brothers?

*** Mary Hutton was to marry Robert Johnson in St Mark’s Church, Connah’s Quay, on the 25th December 1918 and their son Robert Johnson was another member of the Hutton Family to die in WW2, please click on the click to read his story.

Indeed the family were still living at 12, Church Road on the 1921 census, Richard now age 61 years and 7 months, he was a Ship Chandler employed by T. Coppack & Co., Ship Agent & Chandler, Connah’s Quay and was a Shop Assistant. Sarah Elizabeth, his wife, was now 51 years and 6 months. Their son William Hutton*, was now 20 years 2 months old, single and a Mariner with T. Coppack & Co., his sister Doris Hutton was 17 years 2 months old, single and an Apprentice with Miss Richards, Costumier, James Hutton was still at school and now aged 14 years 8 months old. Their daughter Mary Johnson, was married now and 22 years 5 months old, her son Robert Johnson, was 1 year 7 months old and had been born in Connah’s Quay.

* William Hutton, was to made a Captain in 1923, he married in 1931 to Hilda Dodd and became another family member who was to die in the war years, He is seen on the 1939 National Register, which was taken on the 29th September 1939, living with his wife Hilda and then his Probate shows he died in Chester Royal Infirmary, as I am unable to find out how or why he died, I am presuming he died of natural causes and not in the field of battle, but his passing shows how much grief they all had to bear.  Any information would be gratefully recieved.

Chester Chronicle 15^th February 1941 Capt. William HUTTON, King George Street, Shotton, (39)( See below for the Obit)   (William was to die the same year as Robert, his brother, who was killed on the 12^th November 1941.  Robert was at William’s Funeral in the February of 1941.    Also their brother David John Hutton’s son, David, was to died in 1943, and he and his wife were at William’s Funeral.   The following year in 1944, their sister, Mary Johnson, and her husband Robert, were to lose their son Robert JOHNSON.)

As you see this family were to suffer multiple bereavements from 1911 to 1943.

I know that Robert was the son of a Mariner and most likely had grown up on boats and the River Dee, but I have no documentation /information on his years between the 1911 census and to the 1921 census, then nothing up to WW2, except a photo taken when he was a young boy, and man on a Merchant Navy  Identity card and  when he is seen, sadly as a casualty, on his death certificate, the Connah’s Quay WW2 War Memorial and later on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission database.

The 1939 National Register, which is a source for birth dates, shows that Robert wasn’t home at 9, Pennant Street, Connah’s Quay when that was compiled, Bessie Hutton, Robert’s wife had been born on the 14th of February 1903 and was doing “Unpaid Domestic Duties,” William Hutton had been born on the 13th of March 1927, Robert Hutton, on the 2nd of June 1930, Grace M. Hutton on the 6th of October 1931, and they were “At Scvhool.”  Baby Peter Hutton had been born on the 29th September 1938, exactly 1 year, to the day, before this National Register was taken.

So, I am assuming that as the War had been declared on the 3rd September 1939 and the Register was compiled on the 29th September, Robert was on a ship somewhere.    Any information on where he was then would be gratefully received.