No.30375, Private, John William BUTCHER
Aged 23
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John W Butcher was born in Isleham on 29th March 1895 (Newmarket Q1-1895 3B:548), 4th son of Jonathan and Mary Elizabeth BUTCHER (née OSBORNE).
1901 census...Aged 6, he was at Fen Bank, Isleham with his father Jonathan [44] a general labourer; mother Mary E. [46] , sisters Rebecca [20] and Violet[16] and brothers David [13] Isaac [11], Harry [9] and Bertie [3]. The entire family were born in Isleham Fen. John W [6] and Bertie [3]. The newest brothers were also born at Isleham Fen. 1911 census... Aged 16, he was at Fen Bank, Isleham still, with his parents, sister Violet and brothers David, Harry and Bertie. All the men were farm labourers. One sibling had died. Isaac had moved to Wisbech. All the brothers were educated at Isleham Fen School An elder brother, David Butcher died in France in September 1916. see here another brother, Harry Butcher died in Belgium in March 1915. see here another brother, the 2nd son, Isaac survived the war. Their brother in law, Herbert Harvey was killed in Flanders in 1917 see here |
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He enlisted in Newmarket. Croix du Bac is just south west of Armentieres and from http://www.lancashireinfantrymuseum.org.uk we read :- "A brigade of the 25th Division, including 9th Loyals, moved south to assist the 34th and 40th Divisions, and the Loyals counter-attacked at Croix du Bac on April 10th, near Bailleul on the 13th and at Kemmel on the 25th......Losses in the April offensive were again terrible: 662 for the 2nd South Lancashires and 821 for 9th Loyals". On the 10th April, 99 of the 9th Loyals were killed, of which 39 are named on Special Memorials in Croix du Bac and a further 46 on the Ploegsteert Memorial. |
photo- Commonwealth War Graves Commission
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