Private 21393 George William Rutledge 1st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers was born the 9th of December, 1879 at Huddersfield, one of five children, the son of John Rutledge (1939 to 1908) and Mary nee Long (1841 to 1911). [His brother Hugh, born 1874 in Glasgow, served as a Private with the Yorkshire Regiment, Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, Bedford Regiment, Labour Corps and Royal Engineers. He was discharged as no longer physically for service and died 16th of February 1919]

The 1881 census finds George with his family at Pipewellgate, Gateshead, this was a notorious slum district, by the River Tyne. The family lived with other families in an overcrowded tenement. For some reason, the whole family is recorded as being born in Devonshire. John aged 32 is a journeyman tailor. Mary is aged 30 was also a “journeyman” tailor. Children recorded are John aged 8, Hugh aged 5 and George aged 2.

By 1891 the family were residing at 4, Globe Passage, Scarborough. John is not present for the census. Mary is still a tailoress, now recorded as being born in Dublin. Children recorded are Hugh, a general labourer born at Glasgow; George and William, at school, born at Seaboro, Yorkshire.

By 1901 he was with the 4th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment at Hallam Barracks, Sheffield. His service number at this time was 4427. He went with his regiment to South Africa and was awarded both the Queens South Africa Medal (with the Cape Colony and South Africa 1902 clasps), and the Kings South Africa.. At some time after this he left the army.

On the 13th of June 1904, George married Frances Appleby (1885 to 1949) at Scarborough. The couple had eight children one of which died at one year old.

The 1911 census finds the family at 1-4 Longwestgate, Scarborough. George is a general labourer. Frances aged 26, was born Northampton. Children recorded are George aged 7; Samuel aged 6; Jane aged 5, Frances aged 3 and Mary aged 5 months, all born Seaboro, Yorkshire.

George enlisted at Scarborough His Medal Index Card records that he went to France on the 13th of July, 1915 and therefore entitled to all three war medals. George died of wounds 14th of July 1916 at 28 Field Ambulance buried Bronfay Farm Military Cemetery, Somme.

The Hull Daily Mail for the 14th of August, 1916 reports the death of Private George William Rutledge of the Northumberland Fusiliers. The paper reports that "his wife and seven children reside at 100, Long Westgate, Scarborough. He was killed in action on the 14th of July. He was 36 years old and had served in the Boer War."