Name
George Butterfield (DCM)
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
13/09/1916
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Bombardier
28772
Royal Garrison Artillery
104th Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Distinguished Conduct Medal
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BAGHDAD (NORTH GATE) WAR CEMETERY
XXI. P. 16.
Iraq
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Markyate Village Memorial, St John The Baptist Church Memorial, Markyate
Pre War
George Butterfield was born in Caddington, Markyate, Beds in 1891 to Daniel Butterfield, brickmaker, and Elizabeth (nee Godfrey).
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Ernest (born 1878, brickmaker), Eliza (born 1879, straw hat sewer), Hames (born 18800, Kate (born 1886), Alfred (born 1888), Jane (born 1889) and George were living at Caddington Common, Markyate.
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Eliza, Alfred, May (born 1889), George, Daisy (born 1893), Beatrice (born 1898), and Edgar (1901) were living at Chapel lane, Markyate.
On the 1911 Census George’s parents, May, Daisy, Edgar and Violet (born 1905) were living at 8 Luton Road, Markyate. No Record of George was found.
Wartime Service
No Service Record was found for George who had enlisted in the Royal Garrison Artillery as Gunner 28772. He was posted on 24 Jan 1915 to 104 Company RGA which was stationed in India at Campbellpore as part of 2nd (Rawalpindi) Division and t some time promoted to Bombardier. 104 Company was posted with a change of name (104 (Heavy) Battery RGA) to Mesopotamia in late March 1915 on the formation of 12th (Indian) Division. Taking part in the Advance on Baghdad, the battle Ctesiphon and the subsequent retreat to Kut-al Amara (25 Nov- 3 Dec 1915) where the whole force was besieged.
Georg was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal published in the London Gazette on 22 January 1916. The citation reads: 'For conspicuous gallantry at Kut-al-Amara (Mesopotamia), on 28th September 1915, when he repaired telephone wires on several occasions under heavy shell and rifle fire.'
George had been wounded and was taken Prisoner of War by the Turks during the Siege of Kut ended on 29 Apr 1916 on the surrender to the Turkish. He was reported to have died in Adana Hospital from his wounds on 13 Sep 1916.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £13 and arrears of £114 3s 9d was paid to his father.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, Anne & Gordon Mead
