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Henry Daines Hutt
20131, Lance Corporal, 14th Royal Welsh Fusiliers
Killed in action, 26 August 1918, aged 24
Buried at Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval, France
CWGC registered (Son of Percy John and Agnes Hutt, of Clarence Villa, Llandrindod-Wells. Born at Llandudno)
GOD MUST THINK IT FOR THE BEST AND WE MUST TRUST IN HIM
Henry Daines Hutt was born in Llandudno on 8 February 1894. His father, Percy John Hutt was a grocer who had set up business in Mostyn Street, Llandudno and his mother was Agnes Hutt, daughter of a prominent Llandudno businessman (draper and auctioneer), Benjamin Robert Daines. Henry was the fourth of five sons: Edward (b 1888), Benson (b 1891), Percy (b 1892), Henry, and Norman (b 1898). All the boys were born in Llandudno and the family lived at “Hayley House”, Church Walks. In 1899, Percy Hutt sold up and the family moved to Llandridnod Wells. The Census of 1901 records the family living at “Penarth House”, Llandridnod Wells, Percy Hutt being described as an agent in wines and spirits. A daughter Anne had been born the previous year. From February 1905 to July 1908, Henry Hutt attended St. George’s National School in Llandudno – the register records him living with his grandmother, Mrs [Martha] Daines, at 136 Mostyn Street. Though the school register states that Henry left the area, he was recorded on the Census of 1911 as still living with his grandmother employed as a grocer’s apprentice.
Henry Hutt probably remained employed in Llandudno because he enlisted at the town into the Royal Welsh Fusiliers around November 1914. His regimental number was 20131 and he joined the 14th (Service) Battalion that was forming at the time at Llandudno. The 14th RWF was one of several battalions raised at Llandudno for the so-called “Welsh Army”, later known as the 38th (Welsh) Division. The battalion moved to Winchester in August 1915 and disembarked in France in December 1915. Henry was taken ill with tonsillitis on 25 June 1917 and attended No 12 Casualty Clearing Station. He was admitted on 3 July to No 18 General Hospital at Camiers (which at the time had just been taken over by the US Army) and was treated for eight days. He was discharged to his base depot on 6 August and posted back to the 14th RWF.
Henry Hutt was killed in action on 26 August 1918 aged 24 when the 14th RWF was involved in an offensive now known as the Battle of the Scarpe, a phase of the Battle of Arras 1918. The battalion had been ordered to advance towards Bazentin-le-Grand through Mametz Wood, where the 38th Division had received heavy casualties two years earlier during the Battle of the Somme. Henry Hutt was buried at what became known as Caterpillar Valley Cemetery which was initially a small cemetery containing just 25 graves, mainly of men of the 38th Division.
All five of the Hutt brothers fought in the Great War. Henry’s eldest brother, Edward Daines Hutt, was killed in action on 31 August 1917 in Palestine.
Known memorials:
- Llandudno Roll of Honour
- Llandudno War Memorial
- Memorial Chapel, Holy Trinity Church, Llandudno
- Llandridrod Wells War Memorial
I am the granddaughter of Henry’s elder brother Percy who fortunately survived the war. Percy married Hilda Davies and together they had two sons, Brian and Derick, eventually settling in Bridgnorth Shropshire.Derick is my father. My brothers and I were able to visit Henry’s grave in the Caterpillar Valley cemetery at Longueval, France last year, the first members of the family to do so, it was a very emotional experience.
We visited again last week to lay poppies on his 100th anniversary, whilst there I left two photographs of both Henry and Edward in their soldiers uniforms inside the book of remembrance at the cemetery. I have been tracing my family tree for some time now and have visited Llandudno on several occasions to try and piece together odd bits of information so I was over the moon to come across this article as it contains several things I did not know. It is so very sad to think of Henry and Edward lying in graves so far away but they will never be forgotten and always remembered with love and pride by myself and my brothers and sisters.
Of the five brothers who served in WW1, Percy and Benson survived and the youngest brother Norman, lost a leg in the battle of Cambrai aged just 18, he died in Llandrindod Wells on 25th August 1984 aged 86 followed by his sister Annie In 1987, neither of whom ever married.