Thomas Henry Dutton was born on 28th September 1894 in Whitley Inferior and baptised on 23rd October that year at Daresbury Parish Church. He was the son of Ralph Dutton (born in Walton) and his wife Mary Ann (nee Bazley) who had been born at Rocksavage.
In 1901, he was living in Newton Lane in Newton-by-Daresbury, with his parents and his younger siblings Walter (4), Mary (3) and Elizabeth (1).
A decade later, Thomas Henry was living in Spark Lane in Halton village with his parents and five siblings, now including Mary(6) and Edith(6 months). Three other siblings had already died. He was a single young man of 16 years of age, employed as a farm labourer.
When Thomas Henry joined the Royal Navy on 15th March 1913 (service number SS/113729), he gave his occupation as a moulder, which could mean a maker of moulds or castings or a brickmaker. He was described as being 5’6” tall with brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion. He served on his first ship (which was Vivid II) from March until September 1913, then he transferred to HMS Defence for the rest of his war service.
According to the electoral roll for Hatton, his mother was living at New Houses in Hatton in 1916.
On 31st May 1916, he was killed in action at the Battle of Jutland, whilst serving as a Stoker 1st Class on HMS Defence. He was 21 years old. His body was not recovered for burial: he is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial and on the War Memorial in Daresbury churchyard. He was awarded the Victory Medal, British War Medal and the 1914-15 Star Medal.