RUTTER Emmanuel

HMS Pathfinder was the second ship in history to be sunk by a submarine and the first by a German U-boat.  She was on patrol in the North Sea off St Abbs Head, Berwickshire, Scotland when she was hit in a magazine by a torpedo.  The resulting explosion led to the ship sinking within minutes. There are conflicting reports of the actual number of men who died and the number of survivors.

The following report appears in Berrow’s Worcester Journal, Saturday 19th September 1914:
Bromsgrove Naval Man lost with Pathfinder
Emanuel Rutter, who was 1st class stoker on HMS Pathfinder, which was sunk in the North Sea on Saturday last , by a torpedo from a German submarine, is among the missing.  He was the son of Mr William Rutter, of Golden Cross Lane, Marlbrook, and was 27 years of age.  He entered the navy six years ago.  Two years ago he was transferred to the Pathfinder.

The following information has been researched by Andrew Bate:
1891 Census
Golden Cross Road, Bromsgrove
William Rutter, head, aged 44, Market Gardener
Ann Rutter, wife, aged 40
Enoch Rutter, son, aged 17, Labourer Waggon Works
Eliza Rutter, daughter, aged 14
Matthew Rutter, son, aged 10, Scholar
Thomas Rutter, son, aged 6, Scholar
Emanuel Rutter, son, aged 4
Mercy Rutter, daughter, aged 1

In 1911 Emanuel Rutter, aged 23, born Catshill, Worcestershire was serving as a Stoker 1st Class with the Royal Navy.

Emmanuel Rutter has no known grave, the photograph available shows his name on Chatham Naval Memorial.