Name
Joseph Henry Butler
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
268065
Hertfordshire Regiment
3rd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
Joseph Butler was born in the summer of 1895 at Abbots Langley. His father Edward Butler, had died in the autumn of 1899, and in the Census of 1901 his mother, Lucy Butler was listed as the Head of the Household and the family lived at Asylum Road, Abbots Langley. After Edward and Lucy married in 1879, they set up home at Upper Highway, Abbots Langley, where Edward worked as a Gardener. Edward and Lucy had seven children, but by the spring of 1903 when Lucy married again, this time to Thomas Chalk, two of the children had moved away. Lucy’s remaining three sons, including Joseph, and two daughters moved in with Thomas, but retained the name Butler. In 1905 Thomas and Lucy had a daughter, and in 1911 the family lived at 21 Regent Street, Watford. Thomas worked as a House Painter, and Joseph worked as an Errand Boy for a Grocer’s Stores.
On 16th February 1912 Joseph attested at Watford and was posted to the 1st Battalion of the Hertfordshire Regiment, signing up for a four year term of duty. When he attested he gave his occupation as an Office Boy at the Paget Price Plate Company. He undertook a Medical on 6th March 1912, where his physical development was considered fair, and he was declared fit for Service. However on 8th August 1914, four days after War with Germany had been declared, Joseph was discharged at Warley being considered medically unfit for further Military Service.
On 30th July 1915 he attested for a second time, this time at Hertford, and once again with the Hertfordshire Regiment. He noted that he was living at 28 Bradshaw Road, Watford. There followed a period of indiscipline. On 26th August 1915 he was Confined to Barracks for three days due to being absent from Tattoo (the evening call back to quarters). On 4th October 1915 he was Confined to Barracks for another three days for causing a disturbance at Camp after Lights Out. He received a further three days Confined to Barracks on 20th October 1915 for being Late on Parade.
In November 1915 Joseph suffered two attacks of epilepsy (Petit Mal), and undertook a medical examination at Halton Park on 13th November. As a result he was discharged for a second time, this time on 17th December 1915 from North Camp, Halton Park, Tring. At the time he gave his occupation as Artist’s Model, and stated that he intended to return to 28 Bradshaw Road, Watford. The reason for discharge was given that he was “unlikely to become an efficient soldier on medical grounds”, however the Report was keen to explain that the condition was not caused by Military Service.
Having been discharged twice, Joseph was Called Up for Service on 24th July 1916, and enlisted once again with the 1st Battalion of the Hertfordshire Regiment. He embarked for France at Folkestone on 10th December 1916, arriving at Boulogne later the same day. He joined up with the 1st Herts on 14th December 1916 whilst they were behind the lines in the vicinity of Bethune. It was not long before the Hertfordshire’s were back in the Front Line, near Cuinchy, and Joseph would have spent Christmas Day in the trenches in 1916. The battalion took part in the Battle of Arras in April 1917, and in an engagement at La Coulotte it suffered 332 killed, wounded and missing.
On 13th June 1917 Joseph was sentenced to seven days Field Punishment No 2 for losing his rifle by neglect. He was admitted to hospital at Rouen on 20th July 1917 and remained there until 28th July. He was re-admitted to hospital, this time at Calais, on 4th August and was released on 29th August 1917. His Service Record was damaged and the details of several other admittances to hospital are unreadable. Between 12th and 26th February 1918 Joseph was granted Leave to England, but returned to France for the remainder of the War. On 3rd March 1919 he was returned to England from Calais, this time suffering from influenza. Joseph was demobilised on 26th April 1919.
Joseph Butler survived the War, however despite being born in Abbots Langley he was not recorded in the Parish records.
Additional Information
Formerly service numbers 1876 & 5423, 1st Battalion Hertfordshire Regiment
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
