Lieutenant-Colonel C.F. Hutchinson
2nd Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment
8th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry
6th Battalion, Green Howards
6th Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers

Col. Hutchinson, with complete disregard for his own safety, moved forward to where he could control the attack and was successful in capturing the first locality. He was, however, wounded, and have to be evacuated. Throughout the assault he had set a fine example to his battalion and led them in spite of heavy casualties through the beach defences and up to the final objective.

(D.S.O. citation, 31 August 1944)

Born on 5 March 1908 Darlington, Durham, Charles Francis Hutchinson was a educated at Durham University and a Territorial Army officer, commissioned officer with the Durham Light Infantry since 1926. He joined the 2nd Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment in October 1942 and served as second-in-command prior to succeeding Lieutenant-Colonel L.H. Spicer in January 1944. After five months of training and planning, Hutchinson led the 2nd East Yorks ashore at Sword Beach on 6 June 1944.

The unit war diary described the difficult conditions: “Cross fire and sniping was fairly considerable and accurate enemy Mortar and shell fire was causing some casualties. The difficulty of evacuating casualties was increased by the rapidly rising tide, fire, and the fact that the M.O. was hit on disembarking.” After clearing the beach and leading an assault against enemy positions, Hutchinson was wounded in the arm by mortar fire. Although he initially refused evacuation, he eventually relinquished command. Major N.J. Nickson of the Northamptonshire Regiment arrived the next day to take over.

Hutchinson returned to the field in August 1944 to take over 8th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, be he remained physically unfit and needed to be replaced within weeks. By September, he was appointed to command 6th Battalion, Green Howards until the 50th Division returned to the United Kingdom in December. In March 1945, Hutchinson took over command of his fourth battalion of campaign, succeeding Lieutenant-Colonel K.G. Exham of the 6th Royal Welch Fusiliers.

Through the 1950s and 60s, Hutchinson was active in promoting membership in the Territorial Army. He died on 13 November 1980 in Longframlington, Northumberland.