Dutton was
commissioned into the
Devonshire and Dorset Regiment in 1963. He served in
British Guiana,
Libya,
Belize, and Germany, as well as postings to
Northern Ireland and as an instructor at the
School of Infantry from 1969 to 1971. From 1976 to 1978 he was a member of the Commander-in-Chief's Mission to Soviet Forces in Germany (
BRIXMIS), then for a year was a company commander in the 1st Battalion the Devonshire and Dorsets. In 1979 he was
mentioned in despatches for his service in Ireland and in 1990 was appointed a
Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his work there. He served on the Planning Staff in the
Northern Ireland Office from 1979 to 1981, was an instructor at the
Staff College during 1981–1982, and spent two years as Military Assistant to the
Adjutant-General (1982–1984) before commanding the 1st Battalion the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment from 1984 to 1987. After some months on the Operations Staff at UK Land Forces, in 1987 he took up the command of the
39th Infantry Brigade for two years. he was Director of Public Relations (Army), from 1990 to 1992, Director of Infantry, 1992 to 1994.
Honorary appointments He was
Colonel Commandant,
Prince of Wales' Division, from 1996 to 1999, and Colonel of the
Devonshire and Dorset Regiment from 1998 to 2002. ==Civilian life==