Cutler, John Isaac (Jack)
Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
Colour Sergeant
No. G/1228, 2nd (Garrison) Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers
Died of disease on Thursday 12 October 1916 (aged 53)
Buried:
Salonika (Lembet Road) Military Cemetery, Greece (Grave 576)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Journey of Remembering Belfast Book of Honour
BIOGRAPHY
In some records his second forename is recorded as Issachar, while in others it is shortened to Isaac.
In some records his surname is spelt Cuttler
In one census record his place of birth is incorrectly recorded as London.
Colour Sergeant John Issachar (Isaac), known as Jack, Cutler was born on 3 May 1862 in Poona, India when his father Issachar was a Second Corporal in Her Majesty’s Bombay Sappers and Miners. His father and mother, Caroline Elizabeth Shorter, were married on 21 July 1861 in St Mary’s Church of England Church, Chatham, Kent. In 1861 Issachar Cutler (then aged 21, born in Newcastle, Staffordshire) was stationed in the Royal Engineer Establishment, Brompton Barracks.
Issachar and Caroline Elizabeth Cutler (nee Shorter) had at least three children:
John Issachar (Isaac), known as Jack (born 3 May 1862 in Poona, India)
Jane (born 19 July 1866 in Poona India; by then her father was a Sergeant in Her Majesty’s Bombay Sappers and Miners)
Caroline Elizabeth (born 3 October 1869 in Kirkee, Bombay, India; married Arthur Thomas Druitt on 31 October 1897 in St Luke’s Church of England Church, Chelsea, London)
Their father Issachar was awarded the Abyssinia Medal, and in 1881 Issachar, who was working as a customs officer, was living in Southwark, with his wife and two daughters.
John Issacher (Jack) Culter enlisted at Poona aged 16 years 1 month on 17 May 1878, and it was noted that he was 5 feet 1 inch tall with a dark complexion, dark eyes and black hair. Jack Cutler was awarded the India Medal and clasps for Burmah 1885/1887, and he was discharged from 3rd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles (No. 4587) on 22 October 1904 at Newtownards. It was noted that he was 5 feet 9½ inches tall with a dark complexion, dark eyes and black hair turning grey. He enlisted again at Belfast on 24 April 1915.
It was noted in the Press that he had served for more than 28 years in the Army, 26 of which were spent in the Royal Irish Rifles. Details of his army career were published in the 28 October 1916 edition of the Newtownards Chronicle. It was reported that he had served in many parts of the world and held the long service and good conduct medal. The latter part of his service was on the permanent staff of the 4th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles (Royal North Downs) at Newtownards.
Sergeant John Isaac Cutler and Kathleen (Kate) Cutler (nee Heasley) had at least seven children:
Mabel (born 19 March 1897 in James Street, Newtownards)
Ethel Maud (born 22 March 1898 in James Street, Newtownards; died of lung congestion 23 October 1898)
John Isaac (born 17 September 1899 in James Street, Newtownards; died of rubeola and lung congestion 12 April 1901)
Margaret Ann (born 24 September 1900 at 45 Ribble Street, Belfast; died of rubeola and lung congestion 12 April 1901)
James Heasley (born 28 May 1902 in Balfour Street, Newtownards)
Eva Mary (born 26 May 1903 in Balfour Street, Newtownards)
Sarah Heasley (born 14 July 1906 in Distillery, Comber)
When Jack Cutler left the Army, he was employed by the Comber Distilleries Company Ltd. He was a member of the Ulster Star Masonic Lodge No. 133 in Comber, and he was an instructor for the Ballygowan and Comber companies of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF). Later he held a similar position with the Ballynafeigh and Newtownbreda Battalions.
After the outbreak of the Great War Jack Cutler re-joined the Royal Irish Rifles. He was 51 years of age and initially he was stationed at the Depot in Victoria Barracks Belfast. Subsequently he transferred to a Garrison Battalion of the Royal Irish Fusiliers and left for Egypt in August 1916. He had only been there for about two months when he died of heart disease at Alexandria. He was buried in Salonika (Lembet Road) Military Cemetery, Greece.
When Colour Sergeant John Isaac (Jack) Cutler died his widow Kathleen and four surviving children were living at 61 Belvoir Street, Belfast. He is commemorated in the Journey of Remembering Belfast Book of Honour.