Wilfred was educated at Ratcliffe College, Leicester. He enlisted on 3rd December 1914, and was embodied into the 2nd South Midland Divisional Field Ambulance on the same day. He was 19 years and 8 months old. He embarked at Southampton on 23rd March 1915, then disembarking the next day at Havre he entered the war in France on 24th March 1915. Wilfred had several stays in hospital suffering from Pyrexia on 12th August 1915, Trench Fever on 9th September 1916; problems with his left heel on 1st January 1917; and Boils on 19th April 1917. He served with the 1/2nd South Midland Field Ambulance for the majority of his service but on the 12th August 1917 he was posted to join the 2/1st South Midland Field Ambulance, in the field. On 21st March 1918, after the fighting near Fresnoy, it was reported that Wilfred was wounded and missing, believed to be a prisoner of war - but he was never found. He was the eldest son of William Josiah and Anna (daughter of Francis Plant) Sutton of Hilton Manor, Bridgnorth, Salop.