Hugh Maxwell Hutchison died of wounds on this day in 1917
Hugh Hutchison was born on 10 May 1894 in Stockton-on -Tees, County Durham, the son of James and Eliza Hutchison. His father was a Board of Trade Surveyor. Hugh had three brothers and two sisters - in 1901, the family was living in Trent Street, Stockton-on-Tees. Hugh attended Howard Street Mixed School and Tynemouth High School.
By 1911 the family had moved to Preston Avenue in North Shields. Hugh was now working as a Law clerk in a solicitor's office of Smith's Dock and Co,the shipbuilders and repairers, in the Bull Ring, Newcastle-upon-Tyne on the Tyne quayside.
He enlisted with the Newcastle Commercials (16th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers) in August 1914 but later was transferred to the 9th Bn. where they were known s 'B' (Quayside) Company.
After training he went to France with the 9th Battalion on 15 July 1915. He was out there 21 months without leave, only coming home in early 1917. At the time of his return home, he was an acting sergeant-major, and had been twice recommended for the D.C.M. He was recommended for a commission by the C.O. of the battalion and discharged 31st July 1917.
He returned to France in September 1917 as 2nd Lieut. in the 26th Northumberland Fusiliers, Tyneside Irish. Hugh was wounded by a shell on 24 November 1917 when the Battalion was taking over trenches in the Hindenburg Support Line. The wound to his head was so severe that his case was apparently hopeless from the first, but in addition to the head wound he was badly wounded in the right arm, side and leg. Hugh did not progress beyond the Casualty Clearing Station and died there on 29 November 1917.
He is buried in Bucquoy Road British Cemetery, south-west of Arras.
At the time of his enlistment, Hugh was living with his family in Linskill Terrace, North Shields. As part of the centenary commemorations, a blue plaque was erected at his former home by the Tynemouth World War One Commemoration Project.
2nd Lieut. Hugh Maxwell Hutchinson, 26th Northumberland Fusiliers