Died
21 July 1916
Born
1893
Sources
Ancestry
Barrow News
Cumbria BMD
Kitchener’s Men John Hutton (Pen & Sword 2008)
Keith Johnson's research
Place
Walks
Themes
Second Lieutenant Norman Edwin Rutherford
King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment
The Barrow News 29 July 1916 reported:
The Late Sec.-Lieut RUTHERFORD
The sad news has been received by his parents in Barrow of the death in France of Second-Lieutenant Norman Edwin Rutherford, of the 7th King’s Own Regiment. The deceased officer was the youngest son of 11, Cheltenham-street, and was only 22 years of age. He was educated at the Secondary School, and afterwards proceeded to Nottingham University. He adopted the scholastic profession, and when war broke out was engaged as a teacher at Barrow Island School. He volunteered at the commencement of hostilities, but did not receive his commission until the following October. The deceased was a young man of much promise. He was well-known locally and highly respected. He took an active part in athletics, and at one time played for the Barrow Island F.C., while he also carried off the first swimming medal in connection with the Secondary School competition. Mr. and Mrs. Rutherford had a letter from their boy on Tuesday of last week which was quite cheerful in tone, and spoke of him going into the firing-line. The next they heard of him was a sympathetic note from the War Office as follows:-“Deeply regret to inform you report from base states Sec.-Lieut. N.E. Rutherford died July 21st. Army Council expresses their deepest sympathy.” It will be observed that the fateful announcement states that the young officer died, whether of wounds or not is not stated, but apparently he was well enough four days before his death. Much sympathy will go out to the bereaved parents and family on their sad loss. Mr. Rutherford, the father, is a well-known Corporation official at Barrow, where he has been employed for many years in the collecting department.
From Keith Johnson’s research into former Municipal/Grammar School Boys (from which the picture of Rutherford comes):
Norman Rutherford, of the 7th Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regt., was the son of Andrew and Agnes Rutherford, of 11, Cheltenham Street, Barrow. The school magazine noted that Norman was a handy footballer and swimmer during his time at school. Before going up to University College, Nottingham, where he joined the Officer Training Corps, Norman had a short spell teaching at Barrow Island School. (It was by no means unusual back then to employ unqualified teachers). Norman was killed in the early phases of the Battle of the Somme on 21st July 1916. He is buried at Heilly Station Cemetery. He was 21 yrs old. His father chose a line from an Alexander Pope poem to be inscribed on his headstone: “In action faithful, In honour clear”
SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
AGNES
BELOVED WIFE OF
ANDREW RUTHERFORD
WHO DIED MARCH 24TH 1924
AGED 69 YEARS
ALSO OF THE ABOVE
ANDREW RUTHERFORD
WHO DIED MAY 30TH 1929
AGED 80 YEARS
AND OF THEIR CHILDREN
AGNES ANN
WHO DIED SEPT. 16TH 1887
AGED 8 WEEKS
WILLIAM JOSEPH
WHO DIED APRIL 12TH 1907
AGED 24 YEARS
MARION EDITH
WHO DIED SEPTEMBER 7TH 1907
AGED 16 YEARS
NORMAN EDWIN
2ND Lieut. 7th K.O.R.LANC. REGIMENT
WHO WAS KILLED IN ACTION IN FRANCE
JULY 21ST 1916 AGED 22 YEARS
ETHEL
WHO DIED AUGUST 31ST 1918
AGED 40 YEARS
NELLIE
WHO DIED OCTOBER 3RD 1955 AGED 71 YEARS
DORIS AGNES RUTHERFORD
1899 – 1970
CONSTANCE ELIZABETH RUTHERFORD
1890 - 1972
Norman’s name appears on the University College, Nottingham, Officer Training Corps War Memorial, along with another Barrovian, Robert Meres Stainton, who died on 1st July 1916 and is commemorated on the family grave in Barrow.
Read More. At the time, University College was part of the University of London, so both appear on the University of London war list 1914-1918, though Stainton’s date of death is mistakenly given as July 1917. (Ancestry)
John Hutton’s Kitchener’s Men (Pen & Sword 2008) makes two references to 2nd- Lieutenant Rutherford:
P98 “In the morning of 2nd July (1916), the 19th Division, having replaced the 34th Division, began preparing for another attack on La Boisselle …. During the day, patrols of the 7th King’s Own established contact with elements of the 21st Division on their right around Contalmaison. Second Lieutenants Mercer and Rutherford did particularly good work.
P102 “On the night of 20th July the 7th King’s Own began to dig an advanced trench and new jumping off positions, north of Bazentin le Petit. …….. On 21st July, whilst supervising this work (the digging of a trench) Second Lieutenant Rutherford, who had shown exceptional bravery and leadership qualities at La Boiselle, was killed by shellfire. He was only 22 years old. Prior to the war, he had been a teacher at Barrow Island School and had played soccer for Barrow Island F.C. His father worked in the Collections Department of Barrow Corporation.
National Probate Calendar
From Ancestry the National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1917 tells us that Norman’s will was granted probate on 1 February 1917, and his effects amounted to £289 13s 8d.
1911 Census
In the 1911 Census the family was living at 11 Cheltenham Street, Barrow, and the household included: Andrew Rutherford (60), rate collector, born Gairs, Cumberland, and wife Agnes (55), born Dalton. She had given birth to 12 children, 3 of whom had died. Those still living at home included Ethel (32), a typist in the shipyard; Nellie (27), a telephone operator in the shipyard; Walter A. (25), a commercial clerk in the shipyard; Gertrude L. (22) – no occupation recorded; Constance E. (21) – no occupation recorded; Norman E. (17), scholar; Doris (12), scholar. All the children had been born in Barrow.
1901 Census
In the 1901 Census, again living at 11 Cheltenham St, were Andrew Rutherford (50), rate collector, born Hayton, Cumberland; Agnes (45), born Dalton. Mary H. (23), dressmaker on own account at home; Ethel (23), stenographer; James H. (21), municipal clerk; William J. (18), apprentice marine engineer; Nellie (17), a telephone operator; Walter A. (15), electricity clerk; Gertrude L. (12) – no occupation recorded; Constance E. (11) – no occupation recorded; Marion E. (9), no occupation recorded; Norman E. (7), scholar; Doris A. (2), scholar.
Cumbria BMD
Cumbria BMD tells us that Mrs. Rutherford’s maiden name was Eccleston; Mary Hannah was born 1877; Ethel 1878; James Henry 1879; William Joseph 1882; Nellie 1884; Walter Andrew 1885; Agnes Ann 1887; Gertrude L. 1888; Constance Elizabeth 1890; Marion Edith 1891; Norman E. 1893; Doris Agnes 1899.
