Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War 1918 ‘Piave Front’ M.C. group of six awarded to Major C. Sutton, Wiltshire Regiment, attached Devonshire Regiment, late Army Pay Corps, who was wounded before subsequently serving in North Russia, the Anglo-Irish War and throughout the Second War

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (2381 Pte. C. Sutton. A.P.C.); British War and Victory Medals (2-Lieut. C. Sutton.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45, good very fine (6) £1,000-£1,400

M.C. London Gazette 16 September 1918:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in reconnoitring for and taking part in a daylight raid in full view of the enemy trenches, assisting in securing a prisoner, and holding off an enemy party, thus enabling his own party to get clear. This operation was carried out in full view of our lines, and furnished a splendid example to the men of daring and skill.’

Charles Sutton was born in 1893 at Middleburg, South Africa and was educated at George Watson’s College, Edinburgh and Lincoln College, Oxford. He attested for the Army Service Corps on 8 August 1914 and transferred to the Army pay Corps on 8 September 1914, serving with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 2 December 1915 to 28 January 1917. On 26 June 1917 he was discharged on being appointed to a temporary commission as a Second Lieutenant in the 3rd Wiltshire Regiment, attached to the Devonshire Regiment. He joined the 9th (Service) Battalion, Devonshire Regiment in Italy on 21 December 1917 and was awarded the Military Cross for his actions on 21 May 1918 while serving with them on the Piave Front. The War Diary of the 9th Devonshire Regiment provides the following information:
’20 May 1918 – Battalion in left sub sector Asiago plateau. At 08.30 a daylight patrol of two officers and one NCO crossed the Gelphac and reconnoitred the enemy sap running from Border Trench. A post of six enemy was located near the junction of the sap and the main trench.
21 May 1918 – Battalion in left sub sector Asiago Plateau. 2/Lt T H Haine, 2/Lt C Sutton and Sgt J N Williams took one prisoner. Officers awarded MC. Sergeant awarded DCM.’

The following Patrol Report written by Major D. N. Brunicardi, Commanding 9th Devonshires, was submitted to accompany the War Diary of May 1918:
‘At 08.30am on the morning of the 21st instant a patrol consisting of 2 Officers (2/Lt. Haine 9th Devon Regt. And 2/Lt. Sutton 2nd Wilts att. 9th Devon Regt.) 1 N.C.O. and 4 men crossed the Ghelpac at H. 19.43 with the object of capturing a prisoner in the Sap running out from Border Trench which they had reconnoitred the previous morning. They reached the sap without incident and proceeding up it came upon a sentry sitting on the fire step. He was at once secured in spite of violent resistance and taken away. A party whom his cries summoned were dealt with by well placed bombs and a second party who looked over the parapet of Border Trench were instantly struck by a burst of Lewis Gun fire from our covering guns in our line.
The prisoner proved to be of the 6th Dragoon Regiment.’

The 9th Devonshires returned to France in September 1918, joining the 7th Brigade, 25th Division for the Final Advance in Picardy. The Official History of the 25th Division gives a statement of officer casualties which lists Second Lieutenant C. Sutton among the wounded of the 9th Devons. He was demobilised on 26 April 1919 and relinquished his commission but re-attested for Short Service with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps on 1 May 1919 and embarked for service with the North Russia Relief Force on 18 May 1919. His time in Russia was brought to a conclusion after a court martial found him guilty, on 25 August 1919, of drunkenness and disobeying an order. He forfeited 28 days of pay and returned to the United Kingdom on 29 September 1919.

Anglo-Irish War
On 20 August 1920, Sutton joined the Royal Irish Constabulary Auxiliary Division, serving as Section Leader H Company at a time of escalating violence during the Anglo-Irish War. On 23 December 1920, Sutton shot and killed Andrew Moynihan, a prisoner in transit who was attempting to escape. A Military Court of Enquiry was held at Tralee on 24 December 1920. Moynihan was a 43 year old married farmer who had been arrested by Auxiliaries in Kerry after incriminating documents had been found in his house. Sutton told the enquiry:
‘at the prisoners request I took him a bit up the road to relieve nature. The deceased made a dash so as to escape. I called on him twice as he was trying to get over a wall and the night was dark. I ran after him and fired two shots in rapid succession with my revolver.’

The medical report on the body confirmed two bullets fired, one wound on the chest and two on the face due to the same bullet. T/Cadet J H Jennings who was one of the guards present confirmed Sutton’s account. Less than four months later, Sutton’s Company Commander, John Allister Mackinnon M.C., D.C.M., M.M., was murdered by the Provisional I.R.A. while playing golf in Tralee. Sutton was on the course at the time. The Auxiliaries went on a spree of reprisal killings and arson, which in turn led to further I.R.A. killings.

Sutton worked for a shipping agency from 1927 to 1939. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Royal Army Pay Corps on 1 September 1941, remaining with them until his retirement with the rank of Honorary Major in February 1955.

Sold with copied research.