Alfred Thomas Suthon, Age 22

Private, 200885, 1/4th Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry.

K.S.L.I Regiment Cap Badge.

was the second son of Joseph Suthon of 6 Lightmoor, prior to enlisting he had worked for both the Coalbrookdale company and at the Sinclair Ironworks at Ketley as a moulder, He had also been a member of the Dawley Prava Men’s Bible class.

Alfred enlisted in Shrewsbury, on about 20th October 1914 and originally given a number around 2642; He most likely sailed for Far East in April 1916 and joined the 1/4/K.S.L.I

Private A T Suthon
Photo courtesy of Dave Shaw.

Alred was yet another lad to be killed during the third battle of Ypres (Passchendaele), when on 30th October 1917 two companies (A & D) made an attack in appalling mud from Kronprinz farm and although the attack failed, they managed to fill the gap that had been open between Source and Varlet Farms. Meanwhile ‘B’ company had supported the 5th Cape Mounted Rifles near Source farm and had also suffered heavily. (For full report of this action see Osbert Merton Beard’s section). Alfred fell during one of these actions and his body never recovered, his name being on the Tyne Cot Memorial Panels 112 - 113

Extra info:
There are a number of different spellings for Alfred’s surname, his birth registration as it as Suthon, on the 1901 and 1911 census it is also Suthon (on the 1901 census he is being called Thomas), on his army records they use Suthern and Southern and some use his first name as Thomas, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission use Suthon but also say (Served as T. A. SUTHERN) on the Tyne Cot Memorial it is SUTHERN T A.

Alongside Alfred, Dawley lads Private’s J Holmes E Hyde and R H B Smith were also killed.

WWI Medal Rolls Index Card

Commonwealth War Graves
Commemorated Tyne Cot Memorial

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Victory Medal	British War Medal