Cenotaph Stories

Captain, Promoted to Major

Canadian Infantry, CEF, RFC
77th Battn, 26th New Brunswick Battn,
54 Squadron RFC

June 6th, 1917
Age 25

Lindsay Riverside Cemetery Lindsay, ON, Canada - Private vault, Range 11

First World War Book of Remembrance - Page 335

Charles Elliott Sutcliffe was born 7 May 1892 in Brampton, ON. He was the oldest child of 2 boy and 2 girls born to Fred and Anna Sutcliffe of Lindsay ON. The Sutcliffe’s were a prominent family in Lindsay at the time, owning several businesses across Ontario and the Maritimes including the Sutcliffe’s Department Store in downtown Lindsay. When the news of Charles’ death arrived in Lindsay, Sutcliffe’s was closed for 2 days as a period of mourning.

On 1 August 1915, Charles enlisted with the 77th Battalion, where he served for a short period as an officer before being taken on as a scout pilot with the 54th Squadron RFC. As did his younger brother Mervyn, Charles also served with the 45th Regiment as a Captain before enlisting with the CEF as an officer. Mervyn served in WW1 with the No 3 Canadian Army Service Corps as a Lieutenant, and also served in WW2.

Listed as a merchant by trade, Charles appears to have had a significant role in the family business. He was said to have traveled to the maritimes frequently, as well as west to Manitoba. In his letters home, he frequently mentioned the stores and to pass his best wishes along to the staff.

After serving as a Captain with the 45th Reg't, Charles was appointed in July 1915 to the 77th Battalion as a Captain, and then transferred to the 26th Battalion in France. He was seconded to the RFC and sent to the front lines in Cambrai in April 1917 as a Scout Pilot to serve with the 54th Squadron, flying the Sopwith Pup. The life expectancy of a new pilot during that period of the war was about 11 days. In a letter home during his initial flight training period, Charles wrote “I am now flitting about the sky each day in a Sopwith Pup which is certainly a neat little bus and goes like lightning when you want it to. It takes nerve and coolness mostly, and I have both.”

On 6 June 1917, Charles was part of a large group of planes on a mission when they were met by a much larger group of German fighters. 54th Squadron Flight Lieutenant Sherradin, who was Charles’ roommate, wrote a letter home to his family about the circumstances around his death: “We had been having rather a rough passage over the lines for some days. On the morning of the 6th we went out fifteen strong and were joined by members of other squadrons, which brought our numbers up to twenty four. When we crossed the lines there were no Huns in sight, but they came up half an hour later about forty strong. There was a big fight almost immediately, which lasted for half an hour, during which everyone got very much mixed up, and it was almost impossible to distinguish individual machines. All the Huns were eventually driven down. On returning to the aerodrome, it was found that a fellow named Gravelink and your son were missing. No one saw either of them in difficulty, but at one time Gravelink was seen quite a long way off the main fight, and it is thought your son may have gone to help.” Another report said that he fought three planes alone until he was finally forced to bring his plane to land behind German lines. He set his plane on fire before succumbing to his injuries.

Unlike many soldiers who died in France, Charles’ remains were brought back to Canada from a cemetery in Epinoy where he was originally buried. His remains were placed into the family vault at Riverside Cemetery on 22 August 1918. Charles Sutcliffe was 25 years old.

Attestation and other Documents (pdf, 50 pages - 26MB)

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Sutcliffe was Shot down by future German ace Leutnant Hermann Becker;
this was probably his first kill—he would go on to record a total of 23.
Recommended for Blue Max, but never received it due to Kaiser's abdication.