19344 PTE. C. NUTTER. K.L.R.

 

Charlie Nutter was born at Browsholme Hall, near Clitheroe, on 10 August 1894.  His father was George Edward Nutter, a domestic gardener, born in 1873 in Bolton by Bowland.  His mother was Amelia Leslie, b. 1873 also in Bolton by Bowland.  George and Amelia were married in 1892 in Clitheroe and had 7 children: William James (b. 1893), Charlie, Florence (b. 1896), Amelia (b. 1898), Annie (b. 1901), Elizabeth (b. 1903) and George Edward (b. 1906).  The family moved to Lostock Hall in about 1897, where the youngest four children were born.  They lived at 7 South View, Lostock Hall.

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Charlie was working in a spinning shed when he enlisted with the King’s (Liverpool Regiment) at the outset of the War and was posted to 14 Battalion.  He embarked with 14Bn for France, arriving on 4 September 1915.  This Battalion formed part of the 65th Brigade in the 22nd Division.  Soon after their arrival in France, however, the Division was moved to Salonika (modern-day Thessaloniki) in northern Greece.

 

In October 1915 a combined Franco-British force of two large brigades was landed at Salonika at the request of the Greek Prime Minister. The objective was to help the Serbs in their fight against Bulgarian aggression, but the expedition arrived too late, the Serbs having been beaten before they landed. Nevertheless, it was decided to keep the force in place for future operations, even against Greek opposition (some elements of the Greek government supported the Germans).  The troops spent the early months of 1916 reinforcing the defences along the border with miles and miles of barbed wire.  The Salonika Force dug-in until the summer of 1916, by which time the international force had been reinforced and joined by Serbian, Russian and Italian units. A Bulgarian attempted invasion of Greece in July was repulsed near Lake Doiran. (The map shows the front in 1916.)

 

According to his military records, Charlie died of malaria on 16 October 1916.  He was 22 years old.  He is buried at Salonika, Lembet Road Anglo-French Cemetery.  His effects totalling £10 2s 11d and War Gratuity of £9 were forwarded to his mother Amelia.

 

Rank:  Private

Service No:  19344

Date of Death: 16/10/1916

Age:  22

Regiment/Service:  The King's (Liverpool Regiment), 14th Bn.

Grave Reference:  600.

Cemetery:  SALONIKA (LEMBET ROAD) MILITARY CEMETERY

Additional Information:  Son of Amelia Nutter, of 1 Seymour Street,

 Chorley, Lancs.

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