Selected Biography

Cutting, Thomas ‘William’ – Born: Ixworth Thorpe, Suffolk on 29.7.1876.  Parents: William Cutting (Agricultural Labourer) and Isabella [née Newman].  Family Connections: Brother-in-law of Henry James Britton [b1872] of Long Melford, William Britton [b1880], Roland Britton [b1882], Alphonsus Britton [b1886], Edwin Britton [b1887] and Sidney Britton [b1891].  Home: Raingate Court, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk (1881, 1891), 89 Vinery Road, Cambridge [1920], 12-14 Purplett Street, Ipswich, Suffolk (1939), 12 Dillwyn Street, Ipswich [1954].  Occupation: Labourer [1894], Soldier [1894] to (1911), Club Steward (1939).  Married: Ellen Barbara Britton in 1905.  Service Record: William enlisted in 1894 as Pte.3729 with 1^st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, being posted as part of the South African Field Force in 1899.  During the Second Anglo-Boer War Cutting’s unit acted as mounted infantry, seeing action at Paardeberg, Dreifontein, Johannesberg, Diamond Hill and the Relief of Kimberley.  By the date of his marriage in 1905 he had reached the rank of Colour Sergeant.  Between 1908 and 1910 he was posted to Malta, later transferring 1/1^st Battalion, Cambridgeshire Regiment [Territorials] in England.  His career continued as an instructor in the Territorials throughout the First World War, and by his discharge in 1920 was serving with 51^st [Graduated] Battalion, Hampshire Regiment as part of the Army of Occupation on the Rhine.  Died: Ipswich, Suffolk on 12.6.1954.[1]

Notes – [1] Date of birth taken from the 1939 Register.  See also his Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363].  Date of death from the National Probate Calendar.