South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

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The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Private 8466 William BUTCHER - D Company, 4th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment

Killed in action on Monday 6th December 1915 aged 31


Military History

     
Theatre of War Campaign Medals Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France & Flanders 1914 Star, British War & Victory Medals Chapelle-d'Armentieres New Military Cemetery
     
Arrived in Theatre Bravery & Conduct Medals SWFHS Area Memorials
12 Sep 1914 in France ~ Leamington Spa War Memorial
    Leamington All Saints Memorial
Action, Battle or Other Reason Died Date and Place Enlisted Leamington St. John's Memorial
Local actions near Armentieres 9 Jan 1903 in London  
     
Place of Death Previous Regiments or Units Other War Memorials
near Armentieres
     

Circumstances of Death

William is listed as being killed in action on 6th December 1915 near Armentieres. The 4th Battalion war diary indicates that he was killed during an enemy trench mortar attack. The war diary entries of the period 5th to 7th December are transcribed below.

Armentieres - 05 Dec 1915: Our artillery awakens that of the enemy during the afternoon & he replied by whizz-bangs on our front trench but did no physical damage. The trenches are very bad & wet owing to the rain after frost & in places they are collapsing. The earth being of clay in nature is subject to falls & many dry weather revetments are giving way.

Armentieres - 06 Dec 1915: A quiet day & wet. Trench mortars a bit troublesome in the afternoon. We has one casualty, Pte Butcher of D Coy being killed.

Armentieres - 07 Dec 1915: A little shelling in the morning & some shouting from the enemy to the effect that they were fed up. The Bn was relieved by the 8th Lincolns, relief being completed without casualties by 8.30pm.


 
 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/Place Baptism Date/Place
28 Aug 1884 in Leamington Spa 12 Sep 1884 at Leamington Spa, All Saints 
   
Parents Names Abode
William and Dinah Maria Butcher 46 Court Street, Leamington Spa                      
   
Schools Colleges
  ~
   
Address History Employment History
1884 - Packington Close, Leamington Spa 1891 - School age 
1891 - Packington Place, Leamington Spa 1901 - Errand Boy
1901 - 46 Court Street, Leamington Spa  1903 - Soldier in Middlesex Regiment                        
1911 - Army Barracks in India 1911 - Soldier in Middlesex Regiment 
1914 - Devonport Barracks 1914 - Soldier in Middlesex Regiment 
1915 - 46 Court Street, Leamington Spa