Name
Richard Christopher Hutley
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
14/11/1916
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
4427
Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
26th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
VILLERS-BRETONNEUX MEMORIAL
France
UK & Other Memorials
Christ Church Memorial, Watford,
Australasian Imperial Expeditionary Forces Roll of Honour,
Australian War Memorial Canberra
Pre War
Son of Eliza Laura (nee POWELL) and the late Charles HUTLEY.
His parents married 6 March 1880 at St Philip’s, Dalston, London. Charles died 1905 in the Paddington, London, district aged 48; Eliza died 1933 in Watford aged 75, and was buried 2 November in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford.
Richard was born 5 December 1896 in Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex, and attended St John’s Boys’ School, Paddington; then Alexandra School, Watford, from 27 March to 22 December 1905. He emigrated to Australia 1 October 1912 aboard the Indrapura from Tilbury, Essex, to Melbourne, a farm labourer aged 16.
On the 1901 Census, he lived in Stansted, with his parents and four siblings. On the 1911 Census, he is possibly at school, a part-time band boy aged 14, in Southfleet, Kent [name recorded as HOLLEY].
Wartime Service
He enlisted 2 October 1915 in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia: a labourer aged 18, 5’2¾” tall, C of E, of Bathurst, New South Wales.
He embarked 30 March 1916 from Queensland aboard H.M.A.T. Star of Victoria en route to Gallipoli via Alexandria, Egypt. He subsequently embarked 30 May 1916 from Alexandria aboard R.T. Tunisian and arrived 9 June 1916 at the Base Depot, Etaples, France, and joined his unit 31 July 1916.
He was killed in action; his next-of-kin was his mother of Watford and he was entitled to the Victory and British War medals.
Additional Information
His brother James died 29 April 1918 and also features on Watford Borough Roll of Honour.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
