Name
William Patrick Butler
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
17/09/1918
35
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
33826
Cheshire Regiment
12th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
PLOVDIV CENTRAL CEMETERY
A. 4.
Bulgaria
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Town Memorial
Not on the Abbots Langley memorials
Biography
William Butler was discovered whilst researching the Leavesden Parish records. He was born at Kilkenny, Ireland in 1883, and it is not known when he moved to the UK, however records from his family archive confirm that he commenced in service with the Leavesden Asylum in 1906. On 23rd February 1909 William married Mary Burke. Mary had been born at Golden in County Tipperary, Ireland on 2nd February 1876).
At the time of the 1911 Census the couple lived at Asylum Terrace, Abbots Langley, and had one child, John William Butler.
William enlisted in London on 29th November 1915, and at that time gave his occupation as Asylum Attendant, and his address at 47 Diamond Road, Watford. At that point the family comprised four children, the most recent was born at Abbots Langley on 7th February 1915. Hence it is likely that the family relocated to Watford between February and November 1915.
William was mobilised on 3rd June 1916, and on the same day at his Medical he was confirmed Class A fit. On 5th June he was appointed to the Bedfordshire Regiment. In the August 1916 edition of the Leavesden Parish Magazine it was noted that William Butler, an Attendant at the Asylum, had joined His Majesty’s Forces. On 1st September William was posted to the 3rd Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment. He remained in England and on 19th October was transferred to the 2nd Battalion of the Cheshire Regiment.
On 6th November William’s battalion joined the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF), and sailed for the Balkan Front. No further details of his time with the Cheshire’s are given in his Service Record until on 15th April 1918 he was reported missing. Ten days later, on 25th April, he was reported wounded and missing. The Leavesden Parish Magazine reported in July 1918 that William had died as a Prisoner of War. This was both surprising and prophetic as he did not die until 17th September. It was not until 6th November 1918 that his wife, Mary was informed by letter from No 2 Infantry Records Section that William had died whilst a Prisoner of War, and was buried at Plovdiv in Bulgaria.
Later, on 20th December 1918, another letter from No 2 Infantry Records Section at Shrewsbury noted that there had been a further report from the War Office confirming that William died on 17th September 1918 from “sudden collapse after malaria contracted at the Working Camp at Kretcham”, and that he was buried in the Catholic Cemetery at Phillippoplis. Despite all correspondence between Mary Butler and the Army being addressed to her at 47 Diamond Road, Watford, this important communication was addressed to 47 Diamond Road, Stockport (not Watford) and it cannot be confirmed that this news and the place of her husband’s grave was ever received.
On 22 August 1919 Mary Butler was awarded a Pension for herself and her five children, the fifth being born on 8th November 1916 at Watford, two days after William Butler left England for the last time destined for Bulgaria.
Additional Information
Formerly 2nd Battalion Cheshire Regiment. Died as Prisoner of War
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
