Name
David Hutchinson
Conflict
Second World War
Date of Death / Age
20/08/1944
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
14591854
Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
RANVILLE WAR CEMETERY
IX. C. 6.
France
Headstone Inscription
HE BELIEVED IN ENGLAND AND HE LOVED HER FAITHFULLY
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, Hitchin Roll of Honour 1939 – 1945 (Book) St Mary’s Church, Hitchin, Hitchin Boys’ Grammar School Memorial (WW2)
Biography
He was born in York but he attended the Hitchin Grammar School from 1939- 1942 and was Vice- Captain of Radcliffe House, played in the 1st XI football team and received his house colours. He left the school to take up agriculture at Oaklands.
Whilst still being resident in Hertfordshire he joined the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment with the Service Number 14591854 and later transferred to a Commando unit and went abroad soon after D-Day. The 4th Commandos were part of l Special Service Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division of I Corps and were used in the assault phase as a leading formation in the Normandy landings on Sword Beach along with the 8th Infantry Brigade.
His Commanding Officer wrote of his charm, his reliability and his willingness to volunteer for any hazardous task and added "I can truthfully say that he was fearless, sincere and extremely popular with his fellow men"- He was probably killed in the vicinity of Pont Audemer in France.
He is buried in Ranville War Cemetery which is one of the major Normandy War Cemeteries in France in Plot 9, Row C, Grave 6. His headstone bears the private inscription "He believed in England and he loved her faithfully".
His parents were Wilfred Robert and Nellie Hutchinson who lived at 34, West Hill, Hitchin and they gave a Communion Table to his memory for use in the Brand Street Methodist Church, Hitchin.
Acknowledgments
David C Baines – ‘Hitchin’s Century of Sacrifice’, Hitchin Grammar School Chronicle, Mr Norman Hyde - former acquaintance, Paul Johnson - local historian, ‘Orders of Battle’ by H.F. Joslen, ‘Victory in the West’ by L.F. Ellis
