Annie Eliza Butler
Sex: F
Individual Information
Birth Date: 1857 - Topsail, Conception Bay South, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada 2691 Christening: Death: 17 Nov 1907 - Victoria, British Columbia, Canada ( at age 50) 2691 Burial: After 17 Nov 1907 - Victoria, British Columbia, Canada 2691 Cause of Death:Events
• Immigration: From Newfoundland, 1890, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. (Witness)
• Census: Household of Henry C. Lester, 1901, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. (Household Member)
Spouses and Children
1. *Henry Coe Lester 2692,2693 Marriage: 20 Dec 1880 - Topsail, Conception Bay South, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada 1465Major Bertram Butler DSO, MC & Bar, M.I.D.
Sex: MAKA: Bert Butler 1014
Individual Information
Birth Date: 5 Feb 1890 - Topsail, Conception Bay South, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada 1736 Christening: 6 Apr 1890 - Topsail, Conception Bay South, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada 70 Death: 4 Dec 1970 - Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada ( at age 80) 1736 Burial: After 4 Dec 1970 - Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada 23 Cause of Death:Events
• Minister/Priest: Rev. S. Snowdon, Methodist Church, 6 Apr 1890, Topsail, Conception Bay South, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
• Membership: Inducted as a member of the St. John's Lodge, Freemasons, 10 Apr 1912, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Bertram Butler
in the England, United Grand Lodge of England Freemason Membership Registers, 1751-1921
England, United Grand Lodge of England Freemason Membership Registers, 1751-1921
Name:Bertram Butler
Gender:Male
Initiation Age:22
Birth Year:abt 1890
Initiation Date:10 Apr 1912
First Payment Year on Register:1912
Year Range:1910-1921
Profession:Bank Clerk
Lodge:St. John's Lodge
Lodge Location:Newfoundland
Lodge Number:579
Folio Number:206. • Occupation: Bank Clerk, 10 Apr 1912, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
• Occupation: Accountant, Bank of Nova Scotia; $900 pa, Bef 27 Aug 1914, Bell Island, Conception Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
• Military: Enlisted, Regt. # 146, Orderly Room Sergeant, Between 2 Sep 1914 and 14 Jan 1920, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Enlisted, Sept. 2, 1914 -, Orderly Room Sergeant, Sept. 3, 1914; Lieutenant, Oct. 4, 1914; British Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Aug. 20, 1915; Captain, Jan. 10, 1916; British Expeditionary Force, March 14, 1916; Wounded, remained at duty, June 28, 1916; Wounded, Lesfosses Farm, April 23, 1917; Invalided to England; Returned to B. E. F., Nov. 10, 1917; Wounded, Marcoing, Nov. 20, 1917; Transferred to England, Nov. 27, 1917; Awarded Military Cross; Awarded Bar to Military Cross; Awarded Distinguished Service Order, Feb. 4, 1918; Mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig Dispatches, April 7, 1918; Returned to Newfoundland on furlough, Sept. 2, 1918; Major, Sept. 15, 1919; Seconded for duty with Civil Re-Establishment Committee, Jan. 14, 1920.
.• Military: Appointed Lietenant effective this date, 4 Oct 1914, Ayr, AYR, Scotland.
• Military: Promoted to Captain, 10 Jan 1916, Gallipoli, Çanakkale, Turkey.
• Military: Military Cross -- wounded, remained at duty, cutting wires for July Drive, 28 Jun 1916, Beaumont-Hamel, Picardie, France.
• Military: Bar to his MC – a second award; reported to have dispatched 15 of the enemy personally, 12 Oct 1916, Gueudecourt, Picardie, France.
• Military: Wounded, Lesfosses Farm,, 23 Apr 1917, Arras, Hautes-Pyrénées, Midi-Pyrénées, France. Multiple wounds to face and right hand due to HE Explosion; treated at 4th London Hospital.
• Military: Distinguished Service Order, 20 Nov 1917, Cambrai, Nord-Pas-De-Calais, France.
• Military: Seriously wounded, gunshot wound to right forearm and multiple wounds in back, 20 Nov 1917, Cambrai, Nord-Pas-De-Calais, France. Treated at 3rd London Hospital (Wandsworth). Later recouperating 30 March 1918 at Dawpool Auxiliary Hospital, Thursaston, Cheshire awaiting operation on forearm in hospital in Liverpool.
• Occupation: Accountant at paper mill, After 1919, Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
• Interesting: Vice-President of Great War Veterans Association, Cir 1920-1930, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. In this capacity was heavily involved in getting the War Memorial in St. John's built.
• Departure: On board the COLUMBIA en route to New York and then to St. John's, 16 Jun 1920, Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland.
• Arrival: From Glasgow on the COLUMBIA en route to St. John's, 26 Jun 1920, New York, New York, New York, United States of America.
• Residence: 1 Marcelle Ave, 1935, Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
• Residence: From Census, 1945, Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
• Military: Hon. Col, RNR, Between Mar 1952 and Mar 1957, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
• Election: Ran for PC party in Humber-St. Georges and lost, 1953, Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
• Honors: Trail dedicated in his honour in Corner Brook, 30 Jul 2020, Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Parents
Father: John Jennings Butler Mother: Phoebe Miller
Spouses and Children
1. *Catherine Stevenson 1736 Marriage: 1 Mar 1918 - Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland 1736 Children: 1. Bertram Stevenson Butler
Notes
General:
250114 from The First 500 by Richard Cramm:
BERTRAM BUTLER REG. No. 146
This account of his gallantry in war is found on the website War History Online. Though it appears not to be properly acknowledged on the website, these are the words of ex Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland, Ed Roberts.His account of Newfoundland heroes of WWI appeared originally on The Compass website, December 18, 2012
.
http://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-articles/newfoundlands-victoria-cross-heroes-in-the-great-war.html
Tommy Ricketts is the only member of the regiment to have won the Victoria Cross, but he was not the regiment's most decorated soldier.
That honour belongs to Bertram Butler. A Blue Puttee (he was No. 146), Butler was commissioned as a lieutenant on Oct. 4, 1914, the day he and his comrades sailed for England. He fought at Gallipoli, and accompanied his comrades to France.
By now a captain, he was appointed the battalion's intelligence officer. On June 26, 1916, he led a raid on the German trenches at Beaumont Hamel, seeking prisoners and any other information that could help to prepare for the planned attack the July Drive. His mission was to destroy the barbed-wire fields in front of the German trenches.
The limited success of the raid led to a second one, on June 27. Again, Capt. Butler led the raiding party. He was awarded the Military Cross (MC) in acknowledgment of his gallantry.
Stayed close to regiment
Butler served throughout the war, and fought in the engagements at Gueudecourt, Sailly-Saillisel, and Cambrai. He earned a Bar to his MC '96 a second award at Gueudecourt, in October 1916.
A year later, at Masnières during the Battle of Cambrai, he won the Distinguished Service Order (second only to the VC, and equivalent to the DCM awarded to the rank-and-file soldiers) for leading an attack in which he and his comrades captured a machine gun. And he was Mentioned in Dispatches an official commendation by the High Command in April 1918.
Butler returned to Newfoundland after the war, and worked at the paper mill in Corner Brook for many years. He maintained his affiliation with the regiment, and served as its honorary lieutenant-colonel from 1952 to 1957.
From NGB website:
Feb 5, 1890 Topsail BUTLER John & Phebe Bertram M Rev S. Snowdon April 6, 1890 Meth
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1935 Census for Cornerbrook:
BUTLER Bertram 1 Marcelle Ave R 47 8 Yes Head M M ?
BUTLER Katherine " Wife F M ?
BUTLER Bertram S. " Son M S ?
BENNETT Eva " Domestic F S
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Gravestone in United Church Cemetery in Corner Brook reads:
BUTLER Bertram, DSO MC & BAR MAJOR, Royal Newfoundland Regiment died 4 Dec 1970, age 80 Bertram S. 1919-1968
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1945 Census from Corner Brook
BUTLER Bertram M M 55 Harbour Main Humber
BUTLER Catherine F M 52 Scotland Humber BUTLER
Bertram M S 26 Harbour Main Humber
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From:
The Canadian Experience of the Great War: A Guide to Memoirs
By Brian Tennyson
Butler, B. (Bertram [1890-1970]. "Gueudecourt." The Veteran, 2:2 (June 1922): 7-15: ill. No ISSN. AMICUS 14928598_ NF M. MUDA1, Account of the October 1916 battle, in which he participated.. Born at Topsail, Newfoundland, Butler was an accountant in St. John's when he enlisted in the Newfoundland Regiment in September 1914 and was immediately appointed orderly room sergeant He was promoted to lieutenant in October 1914 and served at Gallipoli and in France. Promoted to captain, he was wounded three times and sent back to England. He was awarded the Military Cross with bar, the DSO, and he was mentioned in dispatches, He returned to Newfoundland on leave in September 1918 and was promoted to major in September 1919. He was seconded to duty with the Civil Re-establishment Committee in January 1920, then he resumed his accounting career in St. John's, In the Second World War lie served in a home defense battery at Corner Brook, In the postwar years he served as honorary lieutenant colonel of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment.
010314:
In The Fighting Newfoundlander, G. W. L. Nicholson makes many references to Bertram Butler and the many important events in which he played a major role. Interestingly, he notes that he was only an Orderly Room Sergeant when he caught the eye of the senior officers and was promoted to Lieutenant prior to leaving for overseas.
220614:
In "Pilgrimage - a Guide to the Royal Newfoundland Regiment in World War I", Dr. W. David Parsons gives this account of the engagement that won Butler the DSO at Marcoing Copse:
"They took shelter in buildings along the canal, preparatory to a sixty yard dash to the railway line runinng parallel to the canal. The area was covered by German machine gun fire. Several attempts resulted in casualties. Capt. Bert Butler charged forward with his men and reached the railway and were able to silence the machine gun. He was awarded the D.S.O. for this action."
I find it a bit sad that in this same encounter other soldiers who died, including Victor Carew of Shores Cove, never receive a mention, except as casualties. It is as if only those who survived were meritorious.
140615:
Sydney Frost, whose memoirs were published by Ed Roberts coming out the same day as my book, knew Bert Butler well and had a lot to say about him. Here are the sections that pertain from the book A Blue Puttee at War:
Lieutenant Bertram Butler, DSO, MC and Bar, MID (later Honorary Lieutenant Colonel): Bert was employed before the War with The Bank of Nova Scotia, as Manager at Bell Island. He enlisted 2 September 1914 (as Reg. No. 146), acted as Orderly Room Sergeant until we sailed for overseas, when he was commissioned as Lieutenant. Receiving rapid promotion, he commanded a Company in several engagements. Bert was the most decorated Officer in the Regiment and was held in the highest esteem by all ranks. He could call by his first name every man in his Company and frequently addressed them as such. In the line and in action he and his men communicated as pals, a unique relationship indeed. When on parade proper discipline was observed. The young Officers and Other Ranks in Bert's Company had the utmost confidence in his judgment and would go to hell and back for him if need be. To recount Bert's many daring exploits and heroic escapades would be to rewrite the history of the Regiment. I have twenty-nine newspaper clippings in my scrapbooks featuring his military career. As Intelligence Officer he commanded a raid on the enemy trenches 26 and 27 June 1916, for which he was awarded the MC. After Beaumont Hamel on 1 July when all of the Officers, apart from Battalion Headquarters, were killed or wounded, there remained only four Officers called up from the 10 per cent to hold the line, Captain Bert Butler, Lieutenant James Irvine, Lieutenant Bill Grant, and me. Grant was killed by a shell the next day, and Irvine was taken ill. For three days the two of us remaining found little opportunity to rest or sleep. It was a wonderful experience for me to work with an Officer of Bert's calibre. He distinguished himself again and again '96 at Gueudecourt on 12 October 1916 when he won a Bar to the MC; during the winter of 1916'96 17 under terrible conditions on the Somme; at Cambrai November 1917, when he was awarded the DSO; and on several other occasions. He was wounded three times and MID. He returned to Newfoundland in September 1918.
Frost, Sydney (2014-11-10). A Blue Puttee at War: The Memoir of Captain Sydney Frost, MC (Kindle Locations 1362-1376). Flanker Press. Kindle Edition.
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Meanwhile, each battalion was ordered to carry out a night raid on enemy trenches to assess the damage to their defences, the extent of barbed wire entanglements remaining intact, and, if possible, capture prisoners. Captain Bert Butler was placed in command of a raiding party of two Officers '96 Lieutenant Charlie Strong and Lieutenant Walter Greene, DCM '96 and fifty-four other ranks, which silently moved toward enemy lines at 11: 30 p.m., 26 June. A few men crept up to the German barbed wire and discharged a Bangalore torpedo, which was supposed to open a gap for the party to pass through. Unfortunately, the entanglements proved much deeper than expected and the missile penetrated only halfway. Another torpedo was brought up, but failed to explode. Then the men attempted to clip their way through with hand wire cutters. By this time the Boche sentries were thoroughly alerted and sprayed the attackers with machine-gun bullets. Butler ordered a withdrawal and all returned safely to our lines with only two of their numbers wounded. Stupidly, the Brigade Commander [Brigadier, later Major General, D.E. Cayley] ordered Butler to repeat the raid the following night. At first, luck seemed to be with them for they found a gap in the wire only twenty yards from the enemy trenches and proceeded to rush through. Immediately a flare discharged by the Boche defenders lit up the area as brightly as day and numerous forms could be seen lining the parapet. Facing heavy machine-gun fire, four of our party reached the trench and brought their bayonets into action, while the remainder tossed bombs into the enemy positions. By this time ammunition had become exhausted, and Butler ordered a retreat. While no prisoners were captured, the second raid was considered most worthwhile in that it demonstrated beyond doubt that the enemy barbed wire was for the most part still intact, their positions remained well fortified and were held in great strength. Four of Butler's party were killed, twenty-one wounded, and three taken prisoners (all of whom were wounded). All of the twenty-one wounded men were brought back to our lines by those who escaped injury. Captain Butler was awarded an MC, Private George Phillips an MM, and Private Cahill an MID. I often felt the last named was worthy of higher recognition. My memo to Nicholson regarding his bravery was repeated in the history: . . . Private John J. Cahill, of St. John's, was Mentioned in Dispatches for his conduct in the raid. Some ten or twelve years older than the average Newfoundlander in the Regiment, Cahill showed conspicuous gallantry in bringing in a wounded man under fire. After the raid he went out again on a similar errand, but did not return. He died of wounds on July 5, while in enemy hands. (258) One of the prisoners who survived the War reported, upon repatriation, that substantial casualties were inflicted on the Germans. Captain Butler's findings as to the insignificant damage to enemy Front Line defences from the British bombardment were immediately conveyed to Brigade headquarters. Doubtless this information was corroborated by raiding parties of other Battalions. Notwithstanding this indisputable evidence, the Generals made no change in the battle plans.
Frost, Sydney (2014-11-10). A Blue Puttee at War: The Memoir of Captain Sydney Frost, MC (Kindle Locations 3004-3017). Flanker Press. Kindle Edition.
and
Frost, Sydney (2014-11-10). A Blue Puttee at War: The Memoir of Captain Sydney Frost, MC (Kindle Locations 3017-3027). Flanker Press. Kindle Edition.
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The 10 per cent was called up from Reserve, which with the unwounded survivors '96 most of whom were feeling the effects of their horrible experience '96 added up to a total of around 150 All Ranks. We were pathetically short of Officers, as some of those on the 10 per cent had been sent on courses to qualify as specialists in various classifications to fill vacancies. There were only four Officers in the Front Line, Captain Bert Butler in charge, Second Lieutenants Irvine, Grant, and me. Grant, who was born in Pictou, Nova Scotia '96 one of the few Nova Scotians in the Regiment '96 was blown up by a shell which exploded in the trench, and died a few days later. Irvine became ill and was off duty for a few days leaving only Butler and me. It was an arduous task, defending the position, rebuilding destroyed trenches and burying the dead, until the Battalion was relieved on 6 July.
Frost, Sydney (2014-11-10). A Blue Puttee at War: The Memoir of Captain Sydney Frost, MC (Kindle Locations 3439-3445). Flanker Press. Kindle Edition.
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After capturing the first enemy position, two Platoons attempted to press on towards the Brown Line. They encountered heavy enemy resistance, particularly enfilade fire from their right flank, causing serious casualties. The few that remained were forced to retreat to the Green Line. Their leader, Lieutenant Cecil Clift, son of Honourable T.J. Clift of St. John's, was killed. An enemy counterattack was launched against the captured Green Line, and the Essex on our Battalion's left retired to their jumping-off trench, leaving an open flank facing the Newfoundlanders. I witnessed them scurrying back across No Man's Land from my vantage point in the shell hole, causing me no little concern, but confident that our boys would hold their position. They did more than this. Headed by Captains Bert Butler and Wes March, they drove out the Boche and took full possession of the trench abandoned by the Essex, resulting in the line held by the Newfoundlanders doubling in length.
Frost, Sydney (2014-11-10). A Blue Puttee at War: The Memoir of Captain Sydney Frost, MC (Kindle Locations 3901-3908). Flanker Press. Kindle Edition.
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During the fighting at the Green Line Captain Butler was credited with having shot fifteen Germans. It was pleasing to learn months later that the most effective fire came from the Battalion's Lewis Guns. Brigadier General Cayley wrote to the Governor of Newfoundland: "The success of the Newfoundland Regiment was all the more gratifying as it was the only real success of the day." Decorations were awarded to several other soldiers: Captain Bert Butler '96 a Bar to the Military Cross [which he had won at Beaumont Hamel.]
Frost, Sydney (2014-11-10). A Blue Puttee at War: The Memoir of Captain Sydney Frost, MC (Kindle Locations 3919-3924). Flanker Press. Kindle Edition.
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Leave to Dundee was granted in the evening once weekly for the soldiers, and to Carnoustie as often as desired after parade hours, except when on duty. There were no restrictions on officers being out of camp after 5: 00 p.m. unless on special assignment. Close friendships developed rapidly between the civilian population and the troops and quite a number of our boys came back after taking a life partner with them to Newfoundland. Majors Wes March and Bert Butler married Carnoustie ladies, prominent in the social life of the community, and I judge their apparent affluence was not a negative consideration as far as the husbands were concerned. Certainly the women were not younger than their spouses and, though possessing charming personalities, even they would not boast of flaming beauty. For my part, I rarely left camp, desiring to spend my spare hours resting so as to regain normal health and strength as soon as possible.
Frost, Sydney (2014-11-10). A Blue Puttee at War: The Memoir of Captain Sydney Frost, MC (Kindle Locations 4400-4406). Flanker Press. Kindle Edition.
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A dinner was arranged on the evening of the Lord Mayor's Show at the Elysée Restaurant, Coventry Street West, attended by about fifteen officers of the Regiment. It proved to be a swell party although it must have been an orderly one, for of the thirteen autographs on a card I have in my scrapbook, all signatures are legible even though written fifty-eight years ago. A generous tip to the orchestra leader flattered him enough to play any selection we requested. These are the signers in order of name from the top: C.S. Frost (Lieutenant) Regimental Number 58. R.W. Bartlett (Captain Rupert) Regimental Number 66, MC and Bar. Killed at Marcoing, 30 November 1917, a few days after rejoining Battalion in France. B. Butler (Major Bert) Regimental Number 146, DSO, MC and Bar. Passed away at Corner Brook, December 1970. J. Clift (Captain Jack) Regimental Number 508, MC. Died at St. John's about 20 years ago [circa 1955]. Jim Mifflin (Lieutenant) Regimental Number 419, MC. Died 24 November 1955 at Catalina. His wife, a nurse, lives in Willowdale. J.R. Stick (Captain Bob) Regimental Number 46, MC. Died at St. John's, March 1963. L. St. A. Field (Lieutenant Dick) Regimental Number 2375. After the War worked on Wall Street, New York. Died in Florida December 1968. J.E.J. Fox (Captain Jack) Regimental Number 142. Still living in Montreal [in 1975]. A.J. Noble (Lieutenant) With the Newfoundland Forestry Corps. Passed away several years ago. I did not know him well. L.C. Murphy (Captain Leo) Regimental Number 1384. Passed away at St. John's some years ago. G. Emerson (Captain George) OBE Regimental Number 1879. Died many years ago. J.J. Strang (2nd Lieutenant) Regimental Number 2897. Passed away at St. John's at the age of 66. H. Rendell (Captain Herb) MC. Killed 29 September 1918 at Keiberg Ridge.
Frost, Sydney (2014-11-10). A Blue Puttee at War: The Memoir of Captain Sydney Frost, MC (Kindle Locations 4446-4461). Flanker Press. Kindle Edition.
and
Frost, Sydney (2014-11-10). A Blue Puttee at War: The Memoir of Captain Sydney Frost, MC (Kindle Locations 4462-4470). Flanker Press. Kindle Edition.
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The Regiment entered the Cambrai battles with a strength of 553. Two-thirds of our numbers became casualties, of which 115 were killed or died of wounds. Officers killed were Captain Rupert Bartlett, MC and Bar; Lieutenants Walter M. Greene, DCM; Arthur J. Herder; George Langmead; James J. Tobin; John F. Edens; and Second Lieutenant Vincent Cluett, all of whom were my close friends. Twenty-nine decorations were awarded, including a DSO to Captain Bert Butler, MC and Bar, who was wounded for the fourth time; MCs to Lieutenant Gerald Whitty, Captain Herbert Rendell, and Lieutenant James Mifflin; a Bar to the MC for Captain Grant Paterson; and three DCMs, eighteen MMs, and three Bars to MM. Besides these well-merited individual honours, high praise came from GHQ [General Headquarters] Despatches and war correspondents's reports at the time and, after the War in official histories, lauded the gallant conduct and soldierly performance of the Newfoundland Regiment in the Cambrai battles. Greatest of all, however, was the award to the Regiment itself, which came two weeks later. A passage in The Fighting Newfoundlander reads: . . . Two weeks after the battle had ended, Governor Harris [who had succeeded Davidson as Governor of Newfoundland] was notified by the Secretary of State for the Colonies that "His Majesty the King has been pleased to approve the grant of the title 'Royal' to the Newfoundland Regiment." It was a signal mark of the Royal favour in recognition of the splendid performance of the men of Newfoundland in the Ypres and Cambrai battles. This was a unique honour, for no other regiment of the British Army was to have such a distinction awarded to it during the First World
Frost, Sydney (2014-11-10). A Blue Puttee at War: The Memoir of Captain Sydney Frost, MC (Kindle Locations 4765-4778). Flanker Press. Kindle Edition.
250615:
In her book What Became of Corporal Pittman, Joy B. Cave mentions Butler's actions at Guedecourt that won him the bar to his MC:
"... the Newfoundlanders hung grimly on to their hard-won section of Hilt Trench and even extended their thin line to cover 350 yards to include part of Hilt Trench vacated by the Essex [when they had been forced to retreat]. At 3 AM on the 13th [October 1916] the Hampshires relieved the Newfoundland Battalion. They were one of the few units in action that day who captured and retained an objective successfully: but it cost them 239 casualties, of which 120 were fatal, They collected an impressive array of medals -- 1 Military Cross, a bar to an existing M. C. for Captain Butler, 3 Distinguished Conduct Medals, 8 Military Medals and two Croix de Geurre."
111015:
Frank Gogos' second book on the RNR, The Royal Newfoundland Regiment in the Great War, published in 2015, makes several references to Bert Butler:
On pages 108 to 110 he notes in reference to the raids prior to the battle of Beaumont Hamel that:
"They were sent behind the lines for intensive training under the leadership and tutelage of Capt. Bert Butler...With their faces blackened, and all identifications stripped from their uniform and person, armed with 'revolvers, rifles, bayonets, knob-berries, knives and mills bombs' and carrying two 20-foot long Bangalore torpedoes to blast the wire in front of the German trenches, Butler's party set off into the night. The first torpedoe failed to competely open up the wire, and the second one was deployed but failed to explode. Wire cutters were being used when the men were exposed by enemy flares. Rifle fire erupted and, having lost the element of surprise, a reluctant Butler ordered the men to withdraw. The raiding party was asked to make another attempt the very next night. Butler's raiding party formed up in no man's land near what is known as the Danger Tree today. From there they advanced nearly 200 yards and paused until his scouts could clear the German wire with Bangalore torpedoes. After a short while Butler did not hear the concussion of the bomb exploding. The scouts reconnaissance had revealed a large 15-yard-wide gap in the wire that ran straight toward the German trenches. Butler advanced with John Lukins and they laid low in a sheel hole near the German parapet, waiting for the main party to join them. The raiders came within 20 yards of the German trenches when a flare went up, exposing their positions. A firefight ensured and the Newfoundlanders inflicted heavy casualties on the crowded German trench with rifle, bayonet and bombs. Some of the raiders got caught up on the wire on the parapet, some managed to get into the trench, and two were severly wounded and taken prisoner.
Wire Cutter Private George Phillips of Whitbourne won the Military Medal and Russian Order of Saint George for single-handedly bayonetting several Germans in the trench (his comrades could hear a lot of screeching and groaning as he cut a swath through a trench full of Germans). He retired to a shell hole, where he stayed out all night sniping at the enemy. He returned the next day, having to cut the enemy wire to get back, covered in blood and his tunic shredded by the wire. Frederick O'Neill was Mentioned in Despatches for an exceptional act of bravery when he promptly picked up a German bomb thrown in the midst of his section and attempted to throw it back. It exploded just as it left his hand, leaving him with a badly mauled limb that eventually forced a medical discharge in 1917. Through, his brave actions he undoubtedly saved lives that night.
Though they failed to take a prisoner, the Newfoundlanders were able to report back to HQ that the week-long artillery bombardment of the German trenches in preparation of the big attack along the Somme front had little or no impact on the German preparedness and numbers in front of Beaumont-Hamel. The attack went ahead regardless on July 1, delivering a disheartening blow to the British that still resonates today."
On page 125, in reference to action at Guedecourt he quotes Butler as follows:
"... in their eqgerness to get at grips with the enemy, many of the men walked into, and through, our barrage...thirty percent...put out of action before the first objective was reached --- fully half of this number being killed or wounded by our own shells."
On page 238, Gogos describes a sad and strange incident that happened in the battle for Masnières:
"On crossing the ridge, Lt. Walter Greene, DCM, was killed when Battalion HQ took friendly fire from a deranged and horribly wounded tank gunner. Captain Bert Butler of "B" Company dismounted a Lewis Gun from another stricken British tank and chased fleeing Germans until his ammunition was exhausted, casting the gun aside as he continued to lead the right flank toward the Lock...The Battalion was pinned down in an old building. The now severely wounded Captain Butler rallied his men for a frontal charge on the German machine gun that was preventing his men from moving forward. Getting up with only certain death facing him, Butler rallied his troops and shouted, "Come on the Bou! [Caribou]" while others cheered him on. He led a party of his most dedicated men into a hail of bullets, ultimately silencing the enemy gun."
On page 265 Frank gives this account of the action at Marcoing Copse in which Butler proved his mettle but which cost the life of Sgt. James Carter amongst others:
"Sgt. James Carter, from St. John's, was the brother-in-law of Frederick C. Alderdice, a Protestant Irishman, future Newfoundland Prime Minister. Carter led a Lewis Gun team to bring enfilade fire on a stubborn German machine gun post holding up the advance. With the German strong point coming under fire from the sides, it provided enough of a distraction to allow a frontal assault led by the courageous Capt. Bert Butler. Carter was killed instantly during the assault."
131015:
It is interesting to note that, according to Mel Baker and Peter Neary, in their article in "Essays on the Great War" [a special publication of Newfoundland and Labrador Studies published in 2014), entitled "A Real Record for All Time", Bertram Butler was offered the opportunity in 1956 to become the author of an official history of Newfoundland in WWI after numerous failed previous attempts. He declined, though the authors of the article do not give his reasons, and ultimately that honour went to G. W. L. Nicholson. Though the latter did a fine job of recording the historical aspects, not being a Newfoundlander and therefore not being steeped in the more emotional mythology, his account is rather academic and misses the colour that Butler could have added.
220816:
Paul James Dwyer's 2016 book From Miners & Fishers to Soldiers & Sailors, makes frequent mention of Bertram Butler:
Pg. 13: " Major Bertram (Bert) Butler #146 from Topsail, DSO, MC and Bar.
Bert Butler worked at the Bank of Nova Scotia at Bell Island making $900 annually which was twice the salary of any employees working in the mining industry. Nevertheless, he willingly gave up his position and
volunteered at St. John's on August 27, 1914, at 24 years of age. He was wounded in action on three separate occasions which, over time, required many operations. He was one of the most highly decorated soldiers in the Royal Newfoundland Regiment. After his return to Newfoundland, he was appointed to the Civil Re-establishment Committee as a vocational officer and later, in 1921, he was with the Department of Militia at St. John's."
Pg. 218-219: "Name: BERTRAM BUTLER DSO, MC & Bar to MC
Regt. #: 146 Rank: Major
Community: Topsail
Occupation: Working at Bank of Nova Scoria, Bell Island
Enlisted: August 27, 1914
Place of Birth: Topsail
Distinguished Service Order - Cambrai
Military Cross - Beaumont Hamel
London Gazette, September 22,1916 Action Date, June 26-27,1916 - Beaumont Hamel Raid
For conspicuous gallantry during operations. He commanded a raiding party on two successive nights with great determination in face of heavy opposition. A few days later he took part in an attack on the enemy's lines and did fine work.
88th Brigade Lists: Action Date: On the night of June 26-27, 1916, south of Beaumont Hamel, he was in command of a raiding party which failed to achieve its objective. On the following night the raid was repeated. This officer led the raid with courage and ability. A severe fight took place and the party only returned after all three officers, including Capt. Butler, had been wounded.
Authority: Daily Orders 1st Battalion
Bar to Military Cross - Gueudecourt
London Gazette 11/12/16
Reference: "For conspicuous gallantry in action. He showed great courage and initiative in the attack, and by his able dispositions consolidated the position and held it against counter-attacks. He personally shot fifteen of the enemy.
88th Brigade Lists.
On October 12, near Gueudecourt, showed the greatest personal courage in the attack on German trenches and by his able dispositions consolidated the position and held it against counter-attacks. He personally shot fifteen Germans in capturing the trench."
220816:
According to Owen Steele's diary, which Richard Cramm quoted from for the sections pertaining to Gallipoli in "The First Five Hundred", Capt. Herbert Rendell was given responsibility to clear up the problem with the Turkish snipers and, as he was in charge of C Company, he called on Lieut. Donnelly and his team of volunteers to carry out the task of taking Caribou Hill.
In regard to the night raids prior to the Battle of Beaumont Hamel, Cramm says: "On the 27th (of June) a party under the command of Captain Bertram Butler got up to the German wire defences, but found that their wire-cutters were unable to sever the very heavy wire which the Germans had recently put in. They were obliged to retire as soon as they were detected by the enemy. Again the following night they went forward, and this time succeeded in making several gaps in the wire defenses [sic] and getting through to the enemy trenches. They were subject to heavy fire and bombing from the enemy, but they held their ground until every available hand grenade had been used. In this action several men displayed unusual courage and ability, Private T. M. O'Neil, seeing an enemy bomb thrown in the midst of the party and realizing the danger to the entire party, picked up the bomb and threw it back. It exploded on leaving his hands and severely wounded him, but his quick and brave act undoubtedly saved several of his company. Captain Butler was awarded the Military Cross because of the great ability and daring courage that he displayed on this occasion..." This is actually a highly sanitized version of what occurred. The first foray revealed that the German wire had not been destroyed by weeks up bombing leading up to the July Drive. Senior officers refused to believe this report and sent Butler and his men out the following night. THe were immediately detected because the Germans expected them and several men were killed and others seriously wounded only to have the same intelligence ignored once again by the General staff.
Later, in his discussion of the actions at Gueudecort, Cramm retells this oft told anecdote about Butler: "On one occasion, in the early dawning, a corporal's attention was drawn to the fact that a man was crawling under our wire. A private pointed his gun, but the corporal, fearing it was one of our own men, requested him not to fire until he could determine whether the man was an enemy or a friend. The corporal called out 'Who goies there?' and back came the reply 'Butler'. It turned out that Captain Butler had been in close proximity to the enemy trenches all night, and was returning only when it became obvious that daylight would soon expose him to the enemy.This was not an unusual incident but rather a regular practice with Captain Butler."
Apparently Capt. Butler was also a bit of an entertainer according to Richard Cramm because he sang at the Blue Puttee Reunion held at Smithville, St. John's on November 18, 1920. Amongst others in attendance was Lieut. Philip Sorsoleil Le Messurier.
1307117:
The Legion's book "Lest We Forget, Vol 14" has this brief entry on him: "BUTLER, Bert Major 146 Royal Newfoundland Regiment Awarded Distinguished Service Order, Military Cross and Bar and MID Born: Topsail Deceased"
564,2695,2696,2697
Bertram Stevenson Butler
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth Date: Cir 1919 - Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland 2698 Christening: Death: Cir 1968 - Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada ( about age 49) 2699 Burial: Cir 1968 - Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada 2699 Cause of Death:Events
• Alt. Birth: Cir 1919, Harbour Main, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
• Departure: On board the COLUMBIA en route to New York and then to St. John's, 16 Jun 1920, Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland.
• Arrival: From Glasgow on the COLUMBIA en route to St. John's, 26 Jun 1920, New York, New York, New York, United States of America.
• Residence: 1 Marcelle Ave, 1935, Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
• Residence: From Census, Living at home with parents and single at 26, 1945, Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Parents
Father: Major Bertram Butler DSO, MC & Bar, M.I.D. 1736 Mother: Catherine Stevenson 1736Cecil Parmiter Butler
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth Date: Jun 1921 1736 Christening: Death: 6 May 1946 - Topsail, Conception Bay South, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada ( at age 24) 1736 Burial: Cause of Death: Died in house fire with other family membersEvents
• Military: RAF.
Parents
Father: Alexander Jennings Butler 1736 Mother: Martha Elizabeth Parmiter 1736Cyril Heyfield Butler
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth Date: 27 Oct 1904 - Chamberlains, Conception Bay South, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada Christening: 5 Mar 1905 - Topsail, Conception Bay South, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada Death: 4 Jul 1983 - Derry, Rockingham, New Hampshire, United States of America ( at age 78) Burial: 9 Jul 1983 - Littleton, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States of America Cause of Death:
Parents
Father: Jabez Henry Butler Mother: Julia Phoebe MoyesDaisy Butler
Sex: FAKA: Tot Butler 2700
Individual Information
Birth Date: Cir 1912 - Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada 2701,2702 Christening: Death: 10 Dec 1998 - St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada ( about age 86) 2701 Burial: Cause of Death:Events
• Residence: King St., 1945, Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
• Alt. Death: Bef 18 Jan 2009.
Parents
Father: James Winsor Butler 1736 Mother: Flora Mary Jewer 2690
Spouses and Children
1. *Thomas M. Hopkins 2700,2702 Marriage: Cir 1933 - Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada 2702 Children: 1. Living 2. Living 3. Living 4. Living 5. Living 6. Living
Notes
General:
280114 from Telegram obits:
Hopkins, Daisy (nee Butler, known as Tot)
1912-1998. Died peacefully at St. John's, Newfoundland on December 10. 1998. Robert, James, Barbara, Tim and Thomas Hopkins will receive friends on Sunday, January 10, 1999 between 2-6 pm in the lounge of the Brentwood Park Condominiums, 156 Portugal Cove Road.
Living
Sex: F
Parents
Father: Living Mother: Annie Irene Higgins 2703
Spouses and Children
1. *Jim Conyers 2703 Marriage:Living
Sex: F
Parents
Father: John Jabez Butler 6,70 Mother: Margaret Macdonald 70,1014Eleanor Gertrude Butler
Sex: F
Individual Information
Birth Date: 6 May 1913 - Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States of America 1095 Christening: Death: 3 Feb 1992 - Lombard, Dupage, Illinois, United States of America ( at age 78) 1095 Burial: Cause of Death:Events
• Census: 1135 Fillmore St., 1930, Oak Park, Cook, Illinois, United States of America.
Parents
Father: Harold Gear Butler Mother: Lillian Gertrude Peet 1095
Spouses and Children
1. Living
Notes
General:
300614:
Two children, a son and a daughter, both living
Living
Sex: F
Spouses and Children
1. *John Frampton Payne 1045 Marriage: Children: 1. Living 2. Living 3. Living 4. Living
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