Name
William Patrick Butler
13 Apr 1883
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
17/09/1918
35
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
33825
Cheshire Regiment
12th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
PLOVDIV CENTRAL CEMETERY
Row A, Grave 4.
Bulgaria
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Town Memorial, Holy Rood Catholic Church Memorial, Watford, Leavesden Asylum/Hospital War Memorial, Leavesden, Abbots Langley Village Memorial
Pre War
Wartime Service
Biography
William Butler was discovered whilst researching the Leavesden Parish records. He was born at Kilkenny, Ireland in 1883, probably the third son of John and Alice BUTLER; husband of Mary (nee Burke) Butler.
John and Alice married 30 June 1881 at New Bermingham Roman Catholic Church, Co Tipperary.
On the 1891 Census, he is assumed to be living in Ireland, where the 1891 Census has not survived. On the 1901 Irish Census the family consisting of Parents, William, brothers Samuel, Edward John, sisters Hannah, Hattie (Mary Kate), Ellen and Gertrude were living at Newrath Road, Waterford.
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). His parents remained at this address on the 1911 Irish census.
On the 1911 Census, an asylum attendant aged 18, he lived in Abbot’s Langley, Herts, with his wife and one child, John William Butler. William’s father died in 1918 and his mother later lived at 30 Sally Park, Waterford.
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. He was aged 32, 5’8″ tall, married with five children, John William, Mary (born 16 Oct 1911), William Patrick (born 5 Aug 1913), Norah (born 7 Feb 1915) and Patrick Leslie (born 8 Nov 1916). The last birth being at Watford, 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 posted to 9th (Reserve) Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment as Private 29981. 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 – originally Private 29881. He remained under training in England and on 19th October was transferred to the 2nd Battalion of the Cheshire Regiment with the service number 33825.
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.
Plovdiv Central Cemetery was begun in September 1918. It was formerly called Philippopolis (St. Archangel) Cemetery and was formed after the Armistice by the concentration of graves from sites including Philippopolis Roman Catholic Cemetery
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
Has a entry in the National Roll of the Great War. On 22 August 1919 Mary Butler was awarded a Pension of 35 shillings a week 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.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
