Name
Albert Michael Butterworth
12th Feb 1880
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/10/1917
37
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
42926
Royal Irish Rifles
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
NOTTINGHAM GENERAL CEMETERY
Screen Wall. 03303.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Hatfield Town Memorial, Hatfield In Memoriam Book, Diocese - Book of Remembrance, St Albans Cathedral, St Albans, Diocese of St Albans - ROH, St Albans Cathedral, St Albans, Hatfield Hyde Village Memorial, Hatfield Hyde & Mill Green ROH, St Mary Magdalene, Church, Hatfield Hyde, Letchworth Town Memorial, Welwyn Garden City Memorial, Not on the Monken Hadley memorials, Nottingham General Cemetery Screen Wall, Nottingham
Pre War
Albert Michael Butterworth was born in Hadley, Barnet, Hertfordshire (census gives Monken Hadley), on 12th Feb 1880, son of John Butterworth (a Tailor) (born 1839 in Hadley) and Annie Butterworth (nee Donovan) (born 1855 in March, Cambs).
The 1881 Census records Albert aged 1, living with his parents, brother John (born 1877) and two sisters Sarah (born 1876) and Teresa (born 1888), at 27 Highstone, South Mimms, Barnet, Middx.
Albert's father died in 1890 and on the 1891 Census Albert was living with his widowed mother, brother John (errand boy), and sister Frances (born 1881), at 5 Briers Cottages, Nesbit's Alley, Monken Hadley, Barnet, Middx. Also present was Henry (Harry) Smith, carpenter (born 1855).
By the 1901 Census Albert's mother had remarried to Harry Smith (a carpenter). Albert was still living at home with his brother John and sister, and remained in Nesbit's Alley, Monken Hadley. His occupation was given as a Coachman (not Domestic). Albert is working as a coachman/groom.
Albert married Emily Plum on 17th June 1903, in Barnet and on the 1911 Census they had four children, Dorothy (born 1903), Annie Margery (born 1906), Violet (born 1907), and Albert John (born 1910). Albert was still employed as a Coachman and they were living at 36 Calvert Road, South Mimms, Barnet. Living with the family was his stepfather Harry now a widower.
Sadly Albert John died in 1911 aged 1 year, but they later had two more children, George (born 1914) and Hilda (born 1917)
Wartime Service
Albert enlisted in London, initially with the Royal Army Service Corps, with the Service No. 056106, then transferred to the Royal Irish Rifles with the Service No. 42926. He served with the 8th (East Belfast) & 15th (North Belfast) Battalions. Both Battalions were part of 107 Brigade, 36 (Ulster Division ), They took part in the Battle of the Somme on 1st July 1916 at Thiepval. In 1917 they were involved in 3rd Ypres (Passchendaele). Albert was evacuated to UK.
He died of Addisons Disease (adrenal glands) at the Military Hospital, Trent Bridge, Nottingham, on 26th Oct 1917. His name is commemorated on the Nottingham General Cemetery Screen Wall, Nottingham.
Additional Information
His widow received a war gratuity of £12 10s and pay owing of £12 10s. She also received a pension of £1 10s 9d a week for herself and her children. His widow later remarried to Ernest Graby in 1920 and lived at 88 Pixmore Avenue, Letchworth, Herts. Albert is recorded in "Ireland's Memorial Records 1914-1918". Entry in the In Memoriam Album lists Albert as being in the Royal Army Service Corps.
Hatfield Parish Council Souvenir Committee Ledger: Mrs Butterworth, no address given – left Hatfield, received an “In Memoriam and Roll of Honour Album”.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne, Brenda Palmer, Neil Cooper
Dan Hill, Louise Fryer, Jonty Wild, Brenda Palmer, Stuart Osborne, Christine & Derek Martindale, Hatfield Local History Society (www.hatfieldhistory.uk)
