Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Ernest Clements Dutton was born on 9 February 1883 at Hackney, London, the eldest son of John Charles and Sarah Ann (known as Annie, née Peatling) Dutton. Ernest was baptised on 11 March 1883 at St Leonard, Shoreditch, Hackney. In 1891 he was a scholar at home in London, with his parents and two younger sisters. In 1911 he was again at home, working as a packer. In 1901, however, Ernest Clement Dutton, born at Hackney, was a soldier at Fleetwood, Lancashire. He had enlisted with the Lincolnshire Regiment in 1900, giving his age as 18.

Ernest Dutton was single and a farm labourer, residing at Seadown, when he enlisted with the New Zealand Forces. He had served twelve years with the 2nd Lincoln Regiment, and had the S.A. Queens Medal 3 Bars. He nominated his mother as next-of-kin – Mrs Dutton, 11 Matlock Street, Stephney, London, England; and he also named a friend, Mr Parker, Seadown, Timaru. He married Elizabeth Harris (a widow) on 11 November 1918 at the St Giles (London) registry office. Thereafter she was his next-of-kin. A packer and 30 years old, Ernest C. Dutton had first attested for one year’s service with the British Army Reserve (Special Reservists). Presumably he came to New Zealand after that.

E. C. Dutton, of Seadown, South Canterbury returned per the ‘Awarua’ which was due at Auckland about 19 November 1919. He had been overseas for 3 years 232 days.

Ernest Clement Smith died suddenly on 18 September 1931 at Auckland, aged 48 years, and was buried in Hillsborough Cemetery. The notification of his death to the Army by the Department of Internal Affairs was in the name of Ernest Clement Smith (enlisted as Ernest Clement Dutton). He was a caretaker/night watchman at Campbell Motors and had been in New Zealand for twenty years. He lived in a room on his employer’s premises and was found dead on his bed. Mrs E. Dutton (wife) was his next-of-kin at death. The Public Trustee administered his estate in New Zealand, which amounted to – cash in hand 10 shillings nine pence, jewellery £5, and cash in bank £71.19s.9d.

In late 1964 Mrs Helen Bridges, of Loughton, Essex, England, wrote to Army Headquarters, New Zealand, enquiring about her father, Ernest Clements Dutton. She had in her possession his Discharge Certificate. She had not known him since she was a small child. Her maiden name was Helen Irene Dutton. The reply to Mrs Bridges advised the date of his death and place of burial. There was also a brief summary of his service with the New Zealand Army, which made reference to the two surnames. [See page 15 of Personnel File.] Mrs Elizabeth Harris [sic], Helen’s mother, was still alive in 19165, residing at the same address given in Ernest’s file, and the address from which Ernest left them. Ernest Clement Dutton, a farm labourer, travelled from New Zealand to England in March 1920, stating that he intended to reside in England. In April 1924, 41 years old and a bushman, who had been residing at 11 Matlock Street, Stepney, left England for New Zealand, intending to reside permanently in New Zealand. Ernest Clements Smith was atimber worker at Manunui in 1928. No date or reason has been shown for the name change.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [01 November 2020]; Extracts from Personnel File (Archives NZ) [09 November 2020]; English Baptism record (ancestry.com.au) [21 December 2020]; 1891, 1901, 1911 England census returns (ancestry.com.au) [21 December 2020]; UK Royal Hospital Chelsea Pensioner Soldier Service Service Records (ancestry.com.au) [21 December 2020]; NZ Electoral Roll (ancestry.com.au) [22 December 2020]; Hillsborough Cemetery record [22 December 2020]; Probate record (Archives NZ/Family Search) [22 December 2020]; Timaru Herald, 30 October 1919, New Zealand Herald, 19 September 1931 [x 2] (Papers Past) [01 November 2020; 22 December 2020]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC branch NZSG

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.