Alexander Butters
He worked in a cycle factory.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Alexander Butters was born in 1894 the son of David, a carman, and Jane Butters (née Manton).
Born in Lincolnshire but married near Nottingham in 1888, David and Jane had eight children – George b.1883, Bertie b.1885, Lydia b.1889, Ernest b.1890, Harold b.1893, Alexander b.1894, Claude b.1895 [died of wounds 19/10/1918] and David b.1899.
Alexander’s father died on 22nd February 1915 in Nottingham aged 55 and his mother in 1916 in Nottingham aged 49.
In 1911 Jane, Alexander and Claude were living at 40 Dorset Street, Radford.
Alexander Butters enlisted at Nottingham on 1st September 1914 aged 19 yrs and 152 days. He initially served in the 4th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (140040).
He embarked from England for France on 4th January 1915 but was medically evacuated home on 5th February 1915 suffering from frost bitten feet. On recovering he returned to France on 17th August 1915.
On 4th April 1916 he was admitted to the 10th Casualty Clearing Station suffering from influenza and transferred to hospital at Etaples on 5th April 1916. He was medically evacuated to England on 9th April 1916.
On his recovery Alexander was transferred to the 9th North Irish Horse Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers, and returned to France on 16th July 1916.
Promoted to Lance Corporal on 29th July 1917 he was posted missing in action between 21st and 29th March 1918 and later presumed to have been killed in action on 29th March 1918.
Alexander has no known grave and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial (Panel 76 & 77).
His brother Claude Butters was attached to 71st tench Mortar Bty.
Claude Butters enlisted into the Special Reserves on 26th August 1913 at Nottingham. He was posted to the 4th Battalion Sherwood Foresters and underwent recruit training until 24th January 1914.
He was mobilised on the outbreak of war and on 11th November 1914 he joined his battalion in France. On 18th March 1915 he was awarded 8 days Field Punishment No 1 for not complying with an order. On 15th November 1915 he was admitted to No 10 Casualty Clearing Station with trench foot where he was treated until 21st December 1915 when he returned to duty at Rouen.
On 16th November 1916 he was attached to the 71st Trench Mortar Battery. Claude died of wounds on 19th October 1918 at the 74th General Hospital. and was buried in Tourgeville Military Cemetery, Calvados, France (Grave Reference IV.E. 6).
additional research and information Peter Gillings
Photo of Alexander Butters
Pozieres Memorial, France, courtesy of the cwgc