South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

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The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Private 512 Thomas Arthur BUTLER - 16th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment


Killed in Action on Sunday, July 30th 1916 aged 20

grave for ta butler


Military History

     
Theatre of War Medals Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France and Flanders 1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medals Dantzig Alley British Cemetery
     
Arrived in Theatre Medal Citation (if app) SWFHS Area Memorials
21 Nov 1915 in France ~ Warwick (Eleanor Cross) War Memorial
    Warwick St. Nicholas
Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed Date and Place Enlisted Warwick School
Battle of Delville Wood (Somme) October 1914 in Leamington Spa Warwick Avenue of Trees
     
Place of Death Previous Regiments or Units Other War Memorials
near Delville Wood    
     

Circumstances of Death

Thomas is listed as being killed in action on 30 Jul 1916. The 16th Battalion war diary for that day is transcribed below and suggests he was killed in the early hours of 31 Jul 1916.

Pommiers Redoubt – 1916 30 July: Bn received orders that 13th I.B. [Infantry Brigade] were attacking and consolidating the line approx from Delville Wood S.11.d.8.5 to S.11.d.27.85 – S.11.c.55.85 – thence NW towards High Wood as far north as S.11.a.3.2.

XIII and III Corps were attacking on right in conjunction with the French, 51st Division were attacking on the the left. The Bn & the 1/Bedfords were detailed to be in Divisional Reserve and were prepared to move at short notice from 6pm.

9.40pm: The Bn received orders to move off and report to 13th I.B to find out the situation and come under their orders. The situation was as follows: 51st Division had taken their objective but had been driven out and were on their original line. The Bn was to move up into the German second line trench from S.16.a.5.6 to S.16.b.8.1.

12am: Bn HQ in position about S.16.b.2.4 in German second line trench.

12.30am [31 July]: All Coys in position in German trench & commenced to dig themselves in.

3.00am: The enemy put up a barrage along German second line trench.

Casualties: Wounded 1 officer. Killed 8 Other Ranks by shell fire.



 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/Place Baptism Date/Place
Apr Qtr 1896 in Warwick 23 May 1896 at St. Nicholas, Warwick
   
Parents Names Abode
Thomas Henry and Elizabeth Butler 37 Smith Street, Warwick
   
Schools Schools
Warwick Borough School Warwick School
   
Address History Employment History
1896 - 37 Smith Street, Warwick 1911 - Scholar at Warwick School 
1901 - 37 Smith Street, Warwick 1914 - Assistant Clerk to Borough Justices  
1911 - 37 Smith Street, Warwick  
1915 - 37 Smith Street, Warwick  
   
  • The Butler family ran a confectioners business from their address at 37 Smith Street.
  • Thomas was a teacher and organist at St. Nicholas Church Sunday School
  • Warwick War Memorial Project Biography