Harold Butler
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Harold was the son of William and Kate Catherine Butler (née Cooper). Both his parents were born in Nottingham, William in about 1866 and Kate in 1869. They were married in 1887 and had 12 children, five of whom died in infancy or childhood. Their seven surviving children were: Harold b. 1891, William b. 1895, Claude b. 1899, Sidney b. 1901, Dora birth registered 1903 (J/F/M), Ronald b. 1905 and Leslie b. abt 1909. They were born in either Sneinton or St Ann's. Shortly before Harold's birth, William, a bricklayer's labourer, and Kate, a winder, were living at Thoresby Street, Sneinton in 1891, but had moved to 23 Norland Road, St Ann's, by 1901. The family was living at 19 Providence Street, Corporation Road, St Ann's, in 1911: William, Kate and their seven children, Harold a cabinet maker, William a bricklayer, Claude, Sidney, Dora and Ronald who were school age and Leslie. Harold married Jenny (also Jennie) Derrick in 1913 and they had a daughter, Jenny, the following year. His wife Jenny (b. 1894) was the daughter of Robert and Annie Jane Derrick (née Madgwick m. 1886). The family lived at 7 Providence Street, St Ann's, in 1901 and at 60 Corporation Road, St Ann's, in 1911. Jenny, who was still living at home, was working as a lace jennier. Harold's wife and daughter were living at Duncombe Street, Nottingham, at the time of his death in 1915. His widow had a son, John H Butler, in July 1916. (See 'Extra information') In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, Jenny and her son John H Butler were living with her widowed father, Robert Derrick (d. 1947), at 60 Corporation Road. Harold and Jenny's daughter, Jenny, had married Joseph W Evans in 1937 and they and their daughter were also living in Nottingham. Jenny's widowed mother-in-law, Kate Butler, was living with her son Sydney, a bricklayer's labourer, at 58 Corporation Road in 1939. Kate died in 1950; she was still living at 58 Corporation Road. Jenny Butler died in 1990 (reg. J/F/M Nottingham). Her daughter Jenny Evans probably died in 1998.
2nd Bn East Surrey Regiment The 2nd Battalion returned from Chaubattia, India, at the outbreak of war, disembarking at Devenport on 23 December. It came under orders of 85th Brigade, 28th Division, and landed with the Division at Le Havre 16-19 January 1915. The Brigade was attached to the 3rd Division between February and April 1915, a period which included the Battle of Neuve Chapelle (10-13 March). The 28th Division later served with the MEF, moving from Egypt to Salonika on 1 December 1915. Harold Butler died on 12 March 1915 from burns received in action. (Soldiers' Effects Register). An 'In Memoriam' notice in the local paper in 1917 included the information that he had died at Neuve Chapelle. Harold is buried in Wulverghem-Lindenhoek Road Military Cemetery, Belgium (grave ref. III.D.12). The history of the cemetery indicates that his grave was brought in after the Armistice. He qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Wulverghem-Lindenhoek Road Military Cemetery (extract): The Cemetery is 13km from Ieper [Ypres]. 'The cemetery was begun in December 1914 by four battalions of the 5th Division and was called at first Wulverghem Dressing Station Cemetery. It was used until June 1917, and again in September and October 1918, and at the Armistice it contained 162 graves, the present Plot I. Graves were then brought in from the surrounding battlefields and the following smaller burial grounds [listed]. (www.cwgc.org)
He was the father of Jenny Butler whose granddaughter Josie Marsters writes, 'My gran had John Butler in 1916 with an Australian who, once he found out my gran was having his baby, fled. My gran never did remarry and raised both her children single handedly. She lived initially with her dad Robert Derick at 60, Corporation Road, and continued there after his death until demolition.' Nottingham Evening Post, 'Roll of Honour', 8 July 1915: 'Killed in action March 12th. R. Harold Butler 2nd East Surrey Regiment the dearly beloved husband of Jenny Butler of Dunscombe Street. He died a noble death and was loved by all - From his loving wife, child, mother, father, sister, brothers.' Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 13 March 1916: ‘ Butler. In loving memory of Harold, the dearly beloved husband of Jenny Butler, killed in action March 12th, 1915, aged 24 years. I think of him in silence and his name I often call, though there’s nothing left to answer, but his photo on the wall. From his loving wife and child.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 13 March 1916: ‘ Butler. In loving memory of our dear son Harold, killed in action March 12th, 1915, aged 24 years. God takes our loved ones from our homes, but never from our hearts. From his loving mother, father, sister [Dora], and brothers (in France).’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Note: Of Harold's brothers, only William (b. 1895) would have been old enough to serve overseas in March 1916. Claude was about 16 years old and Sidney 15 years. The two youngest brothers, Ronald and Leslie, would still have been under-age in 1918. ‘In Memoriam’ notices were placed in the Nottingham Evening Post by Harold’s widow and his family on 12 March 1917; one notice gave his place of death as Neuve Chapelle. Notices the following year were inserted by his widow and also ‘father and mother-in-law [Derrick], Annie, Alice [sisters].’ Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 13 February 1950: ‘Butler. February 11th, Kate, passed away. Family funeral. 58 Corporation-road. Tuesday, 12 noon.’ (www.britishnewsaperarchive.co.uk) Research by Mavis Paskulich and David Nunn
