John Richard Suthon, Age 21

Private, 33003, 10th Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry.

K.S.L.I Regiment Cap Badge.

John was the only son of the late George Frederick and Emily Suthon of Chapel Street, Dawley.

He was serving with the 10th battalion KSLI, which had been formed by the amalgamation of the Shropshire and Cheshire Yeomanry to form a dismounted infantry battalion. The battalion was serving in Palestine when John was killed in action on the 30th November 1917, during the operations to take Jerusalem.

On the 301th November, Number 2 and 4 companies in Et Tireh, the rest of the Battalion being in the outpost line on the Beit Dukku-Khan Juena Ridge, Palestine: -

The village of Et Tireh lies in a hollow, and is commanded by one hill to the north, another to the north-east called Sheikh Hassan and a ridge to the south, the latter is strongly held by Turkish troops, but the other two were not strongly held. At dawn Major Glazebrook, lead number 2 and 4 companies advanced and took Sheikh Hassan, while the 25/R.W.F. took the hill to the north.

John Richard Southon.

At midday the Turks began a counter-attack, Major Kynaston, 10/K.S.L.l. lead the reserve company forward to reinforce Major Glazebrook, but the Turks proved too strong and forced the British troops off the two hills and back to Et Tireh.

The Turks started the too heavily shell the village to which the British guns made no reply. The positions in Et Tireh became untenable and troops holding the village were ordered to retire back to the outpost line.

The Battalion's casualties were according to the Regimental History were three officers killed and three wounded, 19 other ranks killed and 74 wounded. C.W.G.C. & S.D. record 23 men from the 10/K.S.L.I. killed on the 30th November 1917.

John’s body lays at rest in the Jerusalem, war cemetery in grave E52.

Extra info:
John’s birth registration was in the 2nd quarter of 1896 which would make his age 21, his surname was spelt Southon when he was registered, in the 1901 census he was 4 years old, he’s father was George Frederick Southon and his father’s occupation was a Nail Castor, John’s mother was Emily maiden name Lewis, they were living at New Town, Dawley, in the 1911 census John was now 14 and also working as a Nail Castor, he had four sisters Ellen 11, Ethel 8, Muriel 5, and Ida 2, his mother in this census is being called Emma, the address is 10 New Town, Dawley, Salop, John’s father died in the first quarter of 1917 but the death registration had his name as George Sutton age 52? John’s war pension in 1917 was being paid to his mother Emily she was living at 8 Chapel Street, Dawley, this was the Summer House Inn with Benjamin Williams “maltster” living there in 1917 so she may have lost the house after her husband’s death and lodged there? Emily moved to 24 Heath Hill and lived there an till her death on the 30th September 1939.

Photo courtesy of The War Graves Photographic Project

WWI Medal Rolls Index Card

Commonwealth War Graves
Buried Jerusalem War Cemetery

***

Victory Medal	British War Medal