Harry Butler
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Harry was the son of George and Louisa Butler (née Long). George was born in Rugby, Warwickshire, in 1863, the son of William Butler. Louisa was born in Birmingham in about 1863, the daughter of James Long. In 1881 George Butler, a groom, and Louisa Long, a domestic servant, were living at Wells Green, Sheldon, Warwickshire, where both were in the employment of James Bunkle, a public accountant, and his wife. George (25), a railway wagon builder, and Louisa (24), no occupation given, were married at Balsall Heath St Thomas in the Moors on 20 February 1887; both were living on Balsall Heath Road. They had nine children, two of whom died young. Their surviving children were: Louisa Mabel (Mabel) b. Birmingham 1888 (reg. J/F/M), George Leonard (Leonard) b. Birmingham 1889 bap. Long Eaton St Lawrence January 1893; Elizabeth Violet (Violet) b. Long Eaton 1891 (reg. J/F/M) bap. St Lawrence February 1891; Harry b. Long Eaton 10 November 1892 (reg. Shardlow 1893 J/F/M) bap. St Lawrence 13 January 1893; and Mary Jane b. 1900 (reg. J/F/M), John (Jack) b. 1901 and Dorothy b. 1906 who were born in Mansfield. The two children who died young were Dorothy May b. Mansfield 1896 bap. St John the Evangelist March 1896 d. 1897 (A/M/J) and James William b. 1898 d. 1902 (J/F/M) aged 3. George, Louisa and their three children, Mabel, Leonard and Violet, were living at 2 Station Street, Long Eaton in 1891, but had moved to Chapel Street by the time Leonard and Harry were baptised in January 1893. The family was living at 20 Pheasant Hill, Mansfield, when Dorothy May was baptised in March 1896; she died the following year. Her parents and their six children Mabel, Leonard, Violet, Harry, Mary and James were at the same address in 1901. James died the following year. George, who was still working as a wagon builder, and his wife had moved to 15 Pheasant Hill by 1911. Only five of their seven surviving children were in the home on the night of the census: Violet a hosiery worker, Harry a coal miner, Mary, Jack and Dorothy. Leonard was working as a tailor's salesman in Derby and was a boarder at Gerard Street. Mabel was employed as a general domestic servant in the household of John Woolley, an electrical contractor, at Lyton Avenue, Mansfield. George and Louisa had moved to 101 Bould Street, Mansfield, before Harry's death in 1915 and this was still their address when the CWGC record was compiled. Louisa died in 1934 (reg. Mansfield). In 1939 when the England and Wales Register was compiled, her husband George, now retired, was living with his married daughter Dorothy Jennings (m. 1933 Thos. W Jennings, prev. Bowler m. 1926 Mansfield St John) and her husband at 107 Bould Street, Mansfield. George probably died in 1944.
Royal Marine Light Infantry, Portsmouth Battalion, Royal Naval Division. The Royal Marine Brigade was formed in August 1914 from the Royal Marine Light Infantry and Royal Marine Artillery and comprised four battalions: Chatham, Deal, Plymouth and Portsmouth. It was decided later that month to embody two more naval brigades comprising eight battalions, named after naval commanders, to join the Marine Brigade to make a composite Royal Naval Division. The composition of the RND evolved and by 1916, as the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division, it transferred to the British Army. Harry Butler enlisted on 23 September 1914. He embarked with the Royal Marine Brigade on 17 November 1914 for the BEF Mediterranean (in theatre 28 February 1915). Portsmouth and Chatham battalions disembarked Gallipoli (Anzac beachhead) on 28 April 1915, the other two battalions disembarking the following day. The CWGC record gives Harry's date of death as 6 May 1915, a week after he disembarked at Gallipoli. However, RND records note that Portsmouth Battalion casualties at Gallipoli who were recorded on CWGC as having died on 6 May 1915 were probably killed three days earlier on 3 May during the attack on Razor Back Hill, Gallipoli, but may have died at Anzac Beachead between 28 April and 3 May. Harry is buried at Beach Cemetery, Anzac, Turkey (including Gallipoli), grave ref. I.A.30). He qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Beach Cemetery, Anzac (extract): 'The eight month campaign in Gallipoli was fought by Commonwealth and French forces in an attempt to force Turkey out of the war, to relieve the deadlock of the Western Front in France and Belgium, and to open a supply route to Russia through the Dardanelles and the Black Sea. The Allies landed on the peninsula on 25-26 April 1915; the 29th Division at Cape Helles in the south and the Australian and New Zealand Corps north of Gaba Tepe on the west coast, an area soon known as Anzac. Beach Cemetery was used from the day of the landing at Anzac, almost until the evacuation.' (www.cwgc.org)
CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'One of God's best never forgotten by father, mother and all' CWGC additional information: 'Son of Mr and Mrs G Butler of 101 Bould Street, Mansfield' Mansfield Chronicle Advertiser, 3 June 1915: Photograph with caption: 'Enlisted 23 September 1914 had worked at Crown Farm Colliery and lived on Bould Street, Mansfield.' Mansfield Reporter, 18 June 1915: ‘Memorial Service to the Fallen. St John’s Mansfield. On Sunday afternoon a memorial service was held in St John’s Church to honour several parishioners who have fallen at the front. The service was attended by members of the Adult School, St John’s CEMS, St John’s and St Andrew’s BP Scouts, and many friends. Suitable hymns were sung, and the service, which consisted of the greater part of the burial service, was read by the Rev. W Bunting, the lesson being read by the Rev. J Ridgeway. The Vicar (Rev.W Lilley) gave a short address … The vicar also mentioned two other parishioners (Butler and Bert Shepherd), who had recently been killed at the front. The former was connected with St Andrew’s ... At the close of the service the Dead March was played by Mr TW Renshaw.’(www.britishnewspaprarchive.co.uk) Mansfield Reporter, 26 November 1915 (extract): ‘Free Churches And The Valiant Dead. Memorial Service at Bridge Street. Laurel Wreaths for Heroic Men. The memorial service for the sixteen gallant men who have given their lives for the nation, and who were connected with the Free Churches of Mansfield, was a most impressive and touching occasion. It was held in the Bridge-street Wesleyan Methodist Church on Sunday evening at 7.45, an hour fixed so as to allow worshippers in other churches to attend in order to do honour to the memory of the heroes. The congregation was a notable one, for it filled every part of the building, and scores of people had to stand. A civic touch was given to the service by the presence of the Mayor (Councillor T Smith) wearing his chain and he was accompanied by [names of aldermen, councillors and council officials]. Three ministers, the Revs. CF Gill (Primitive Methodist), CM Wright (Old Meeting House), and WJ Mackness (Skerry Hill Reform) occupied seats in front of the rostrum and the relatives of the brave men who fought for their country, were in the pews facing them … It was a happy idea which led the promoters of the service to introduce a laurel wreath for each of the men for whom the service was being held, and these sixteen symbols of victory were hung from the pillars of the building and the choir stalls. Attached to each wreath was a white card, bearing the borough arms, and the name of the soldier. The tributes were afterwards handed to the mourners … The Roll Call … Butler, Harry, RM Light Infantry.’ The report included details of the address given by the Rev. J Leonard Webber. (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) WW1 Pension Ledgers: named his parents, George and Louisa, resident Mansfield.
