BORN CRICKLESTONE, YORKS, 1890. SON OF ROBERT SAMUEL BUTCHER (1857-1902) AND SARAH BLYTH (1862-1942), OF 155 & 120 ST PAUL STREET, HULL. ONE OF ELEVEN CHILDREN. EMPLOYED AS A GOODS RULLEYMAN.
HIS WIFE, BERTHA TOPHAM, & 2 CHILDREN, LIVED AT 217, WATERLOO STREET, HULL (CWGC ADDRESS).
HE ENLISTED AT HULL. SERVED AS PRIVATE, 205574, 1/4TH EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT. WAS KILLED IN ACTION, ON 27/05/1918, AGED 28.
COMMEMORATED ON THE SOISSONS MEMORIAL, FRANCE. HIS ARMY EFFECTS WERE LEFT TO HIS WIDOW, BERTHA.
HIS BROTHERS ALSO SERVED. PRIVATE, FREDERICK WILLIAM BUTCHER, 378172, RE’S SIGNALS, OF 4, PROVIDENCE PLACE, NEWLAND AVENUE; ROBERT SAMUEL BUTCHER, 7839, 2ND EYR, & 222493, LABOUR CORPS, SERVED IN INDIA, EGYPT AND FRANCE, (TWICE WOUNDED), OF 1, WOODBINE TERRACE, NEWLAND AVENUE,
AND ARTHUR BUTCHER (NM), OF 147, SCULCOATES LANE, HULL.
1/4th East Yorkshire Battalion War Diary – 27th May 1918
When the storm of gas and High Explosive shells broke over the 50th Division, at 1am, on 27 May 1918, the 1/4th East Yorkshire Regiment of the 150th Brigade (the left Battalion, of the left Brigade of the Division) were disposed as follows: “A” Company held the front line, “B” Company was in close support in Trench Falais (in CRONNE, at the disposal of the 5th Green Howards (on the right of the 1/4th EYR), “D” Company was in support in Marais. For two and half hours the Tornado swept the whole divisional area, causing many casualties and practically destroying the Trenches. The 1/4th EYR was completely disorganised and rear guard actions were fought back to the River Aisne and the Bridge at Maizy, “the number which succeeded in crossing being very small.” Total strength of the 1/4th EYR was 4 Officers and 105 Other Ranks, out of 30 Officers and 642 Other Ranks, which began, before the attack. The Battle continued until 6th June 1918, but the 1/4th EYR took no further part after the 27th May and retired to Vert La Gravelle.
