Gordon Butler
Known as Jerry so listed as J Butler on memorail not Gordon.
Worked at local shoe factory as a pattern distributor.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Only son of Albert and Winifred Butler of 143 Victoria Street, Mansfield
He had a older sister, Jessie who was born in 1909 and she also worked at the shoe factory.
Jerry married Ethel May Baggaley in 1939 and they lived at 72 Woodland Road, Mansfield Woodhouse. Ethel worked as a shoe machinist. She married again in 1945 to Lesie Owen.
City Of Perth: a steam merchant ship.
Left Bone, North Africa on 23rd March 1943 for Belfast.
At 18:44 hours on the 26th March the City of Perth was hit on the portside by one torpedo from U-77. The torpedo struck a few feet forward of the aft bulkhead and threw uo a hugh coloumn of water and debris.
The crew of 79 and 13 gunners abandoned ship in 3 lifeboats and they were picked up by HMS Man o'War but after a roll call was taken it was discovered that 2 gunners were missing. So a party of 7 men led by master returned to the ship. They discovered one of the men seriously injured at the entrance to the wll deck and he was transported to the trawlwr but he died of his wounds.
U-77 was lost a few days later.
Mansfield Chronicle Advertiser: 23/3/1944: Roll of Honour:
Butler, Gordon (Jerry) In loving memory of our dear friend who was killed in action on convoy March 28th 1943, from Syd & Elizabeth.
No photos