BORN HULL 04/11/1890. SON OF THOMAS HENRY CUTHBERTSON AND SARAH ANN WITHERS (1864-1930), WHO LIVED AT 12, RICHMOND TERRACE, HARROW STREET, HULL (CWGC & NAVY ADDRESS). ONE OF EIGHT CHILDREN AND SEVEN SONS, FOUR DIED IN THE WAR.
SYDNEY SERVED AS A DECKHAND IN THE ROYAL NAVAL RESERVE. HE DIED OF COAL GAS POSIONING WHILE ON LEAVE, ON 23/10/1917, AGED 27. HE WAS BURIED IN HULL.
HIS BROTHERS WERE WILFRED CUTHBERTSON KILLED 1917, WILLIAM CUTHBERTSON DIED AT SEA 10/03/1919, AGED 19 AND STEP BROTHER, WILLIAM BRATTON, LOST AT SEA ON 23/08/1915, AGED 31.
Hogmanay 1918 and many families in the Western Isles awaited with great anticipation the imminent return of husbands, fathers and sons after four long years of war. Such was the demand to get returning servicemen home, the mailboat ‘Sheila’ could not cope with the demand and therefore the Admiralty drafted in the Yacht Iolaire to assist. But when the Iolaire arrived at Kyle at 4pm on 31 December, she collided with the pier as a result some refused to board her.
The Iolaire finally left the port of Kyle of Lochalsh on the Scottish mainland late on 31 December 1918. On board were around 254 returning servicemen, many of whom had served in the Royal Naval Reserve, two base sailors and a crew of 24. Therefore around 280 men crammed aboard.
At 1.55am on 1 January 1919, the Iolaire was approaching Stornoway harbour when, in appalling weather and sea conditions, she hit the infamous ‘Beasts of Holm’ so close to harbour were these rocks that those on board would have seen the lights of Stornoway.
Two lifeboats were launched but were smashed upon the rocks by the mountainous seas and as the yacht heeled heavily to starboard, many jumped into the sea but were dashed against the rocks. Many of those aboard could not swim and those that could were hampered by their greatcoats and boots.
Seaman John F Macleod from the Port of Ness managed to secure a rope, and around 40 men were saved as a result, but a total of 181 islanders, the 2 returning base sailors and 18 of the crew perished.
