Peterborough & The Great War

Biography

Louis Jacob Rutherford was born on 28 January 1888, but unfortunately nothing is known of his family or background.  He passed through Peterborough East Station on 27 September 1916, whilst an Officer Cadet undergoing training in Cambridge.  He was serving as a Lance Corporal based at Osterley Park in Middlesex, with the Army Service Corps, Mechanical Transport before starting his Officer Training.

His final report on completion of Officer Training include the comment ‘About the average class.  Has done a satisfactory course.  Has slight mechanical knowledge.  Is a fair driver. Recommended for Roads Officer with any MT Unit.’

To learn more about Officer Training in WW1, visit  http://bit.ly/2tQju1k

The Supplement To The London Gazette, 9 March 1918, cites Louis Jacob Rutherford’s temporary promotion to 2^nd Lieutenant from 18 February 1918, before being posted to France on 8 March 1918, where he remained until August 1919.

In 1917, Louis married Kate Thornton, a telephone operator, in Leeds.

In the Absent Voter’s Lists 1918-1921, Louis’ residence is listed as: 13 Leicester Place, Leeds. Corporal Arthur Roland Thornton, also of the Army Service Corps, Mechanical Transport, is listed as an absent voter at the same address. Corporal Thornton was a younger brother of Kate Thornton, Louis’ wife.

The Kelly’s Directory for Manchester and Salford, 1929, shows that Louis had moved to a house called ‘Wharfedale’ in Beechwood Road, Cheetham Hill, Manchester. A later Directory from 1933, lists Louis’ occupation as a ‘manager’.

The 1939 Register has Louis’ occupation as a chartered secretary and Arthur (at the same address with his wife Constance) was employed as a newspaper editor.  At this time Louis also served as a licensing magistrate for Blackpool and the surrounding area.

He became a widower when Kate passed away in Worthing, Sussex, on 6 June 1962, at Tree Tops, 7 Rothesay Close, Worthing, Sussex.  Louis later remarried in 1964 to Mary L Taylor. He passed away shortly before his 88^th birthday, on 3 January 1976. At the time of his death, Louis was residing at Tree Tops, 7 Rothesay Close, Worthing, Sussex.

Was Louis a member of your family?  Please get in touch if you can tell us more about him.