Family :

Service Life:

Campaigns:

• The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.

The Battle of the Somme 1st July - 18th November 1916 is inevitably characterised by the appalling casualties (60,000) on the first day, July 1st 1916. Having failed to break through the German lines in force, and also failed to maximise opportunities where success was achieved, the battle became a series of attritional assaults on well defended defence in depth. The battle continued officially until 18th November 1916 costing almost 500,000 British casualties. German casualties were about the same, and French about 200,000. The Somme could not be counted a success in terms of ground gained or the cost, but it had a strategic impact as it marked the start of the decline of the German Army. Never again would it be as effective whilst the British Army, learning from its experience eventually grew stronger to become a war winning army. The German High Command recognised that it could never again fight another Somme, a view that advanced the decision to invoke unrestricted submarine warfare in an attempt to starve Britain of food and material, and in doing so accelerated the United States declaration of war thus guaranteeing the eventual outcome. 287 Brethren were killed on the Somme in 1916.

Detail :

De Ruvignys "RUTHERFORD, JOHN ALLEN, Capt, 7th Machine Coy., Machine Gun Corps, only s. of John Adam Rutherford, of Turndytch, Holcolmbe Brook, near Manchester, Colliery Agent, by his wife, Agnes Jane, dau. of the Rev. Richard Allen, Vicar of Kirkburn, co. York; b. Bootle, co. Lancaster, 6 Nov. 1888; educ. Liverpool University where he became Master of Engineering; went to Burma in June, 1910, and settled in Rangoon as an Electrical Engineer; joined the Rangoon Volunteer Rifles as a Trooper 19 Sept. 1910; was promoted Sergt. in the Machine Gun Section 7 Dec. 1913; volunteered for Imperial Service on the outbreak of the European War in Aug. 1914, and came to England with the first Burma Contingent in Jan. 1915; obtained a commission as 2nd Lieut. 10th Cheshire Regt. 13 Feb. 1915, being promoted Lietu. 2 April following; passed through the Gunnery Schools at Hayling Island and Hythe with First Class Distinction, and was appointed Machine Gun Officer to the regiment March, 1915; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from Sept. 1915; was promoted Brigade Machine Gun Officer Dec. 1915, and Capt. Jan. 1916. On the formation of the Machine Gun Coy, as a distinct regiment, he transferred from the Cheshire Regt., formed and trained and subsequently commanded the 7th Machine Gun Coy., and was killed in action near Thiepval 24 Aug 1916. Buried there; unm."

Probate RUTHERFORD John Allen of Turndytch Holcolmbe Brook Ramsbottom Lancashire a captain in the Machine Gun Corps of His Majesty's Forces died 24 August 1916 either in France or in Belgium while on actual military service Administration Manchester 2 January to John Adam Rutherford colliery agent. Effects £371 9s. 1d.

He is commemorated in the Electrical Engineer WW1 Roll of Honour book (Pg 247-250), which holds an extensive biography and the portrait image (above). An extract of the book is available via "Ancestry", but an extract is copied on the WW1 IEE Archives.

Masonic :

John was initiated into Skelmersdale Lodge, aged 21, in 1910 when he was listed as an Engineer resident in Rangoon. His residence abroad was possibly a reason why he was not progressed through further degrees in Skelmersdale. A comment is noted that a 1st Degree Certificate was issued in December 1910; he continued his membership up to the time of his death, recorded in the contribution ledger as "Killed in Action 1916."

Source :

The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:

• The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• The (UK) National Archives
• Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
• ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry

Additional Source:

• Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
• Researcher : Bruce Littley