Hutchings was born at Southborough near Tunbridge Wells in Kent, the oldest son of Edward and Catherine Hutchings. His father was a surgeon and had been a keen cricketer.[1][2][3] He was educated at Tonbridge School where he played in the cricket team between 1896 and 1898, captaining the side in his final year at school. He also represented the school at rackets at Queen's Club in 1898.[4]
In the 1905 season Hutchings played in ten matches for Worcestershire County Cricket Club, scoring three half-centuries with a highest score of 85 runs, made against Kent at Tunbridge Wells. He played twelve times the following season, but was less successful, averaging under 20 and passing fifty only once.[5][6]
Military service
Hutchings volunteered in August 1915 during the First World War. He joined the Army Service Corps, initially as a Private before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in September. He served at with the Motor Transport Depot at Grove Park, London, having given his occupation as chauffeur when he enlisted.[6] He spent time at the Holt Caterpillar Section at Aldershot before returning to Grove Park and attached as Road Officer of the 36th Brigade of the Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA), responsible for organising the movement of large artillery pieces.
In 1916 he was posted to the 48th Siege Artillery in Egypt before being transferred to the Western Front in France where he served in the RGA during the Battle of the Somme and throughout 1917 with II Corps Headquarters and with First Army, being promoted to Lieutenant in August and temporary Captain in December. In January 1918 he was wounded in an artillery barrage, having previously suffered from bleeding ears which caused some deafness. He was invalided home and declared unfit for service, relinquishing his commission in July 1919.[6]
Personal life and family
Hutchings worked for United Brewery at Abingdon-on-Thames in Berkshire and had moved to The Wheatland brewery at Much Wenlock in Shropshire by 1905.[4][6] He married Winifred Fitzsimmons in 1909.[6] His three brothers all went to Tonbridge and played in the cricket XI, with Frederick and youngest brother Kenneth both playing first-class cricket for Kent – Kenneth also playing in seven Test matches for England.[1] All four brothers served in the First World War, Kenneth being killed in action in 1916 and the others all injured.[3]
^ abSteed HE (ed) (1911) The register of Tonbridge School from 1826 to 1910 : also lists of exhibitioners, &c. previous to 1826 and of headmasters and second masters, p.285. London: Rivingtons. (Available online, retrieved 2017-11-17).