John Thomas Cuthbert (1884-)
From Sacriston, served with 1st/8th Battalion DLI, gassed in 1915
In 1911, Sacriston-born John Cuthbert was working underground as a coal miner and living with his wife, Annie, and son, George, at 4 Queen Street, Sacriston.
John Cuthbert enlisted on 16 September 1914 in the 1st/8th Battalion Durham Light Infantry (DLI), his local Territorial Force battalion with headquarters in Durham City. Private Cuthbert went with his battalion to France on 20 April 1915 and fought in the Second Battle of Ypres. During this battle, he was injured in a German poison gas attack and this injury was reported in the Chester le Street Chronicle of 28 May 1915.
John Cuthbert did not fully recover from being gassed and was discharged from the Army on 31 October 1916. He was then serving with the 26th Provisional Battalion DLI in Britain.
On 6 July 1918, John Cuthbert was awarded a Silver War Badge in recognition of his service in the First World War.
Civil Parish: Witton Gilbert
Birth date: 1884
Armed force/civilian: Army
Residence: 4 Queen Street, Sacriston, County Durham (Chester le Street Chronicle & 1911 Census)
Employment: Coal miner
Family: Wife, Annie (born Burnhope 1885), and son, George (born Sacriston 1910).
Military service:
8/2772 Private, 1st/8th Battalion Durham Light Infantry
350497 Private, 26th Provisional Battalion Durham Light Infantry
Medal(s): 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Silver War Badge (No:424314)
Gender: Male
Contributed by Sacriston Heritage Group | Durham County Record Office. Jack Mulligan, Lewis Cooper and Daniel Hyatt
