2nd Lieutenant, Owen James BUTLER
Aged 20
|
Owen James Butler was born in Swaffham Bulbeck (Newmarket Q2-1898 3B:519) son of Charles and Lucy BUTLER (née CORNELL).
1901 census...Aged 3, he was at Commercial End, Swaffham Bulbeck with his father Charles BUTLER [47] farm labourer; his mother Lucy [39] born Little Wilbraham; brothers Herbert [7], Alec [5] and Raymond [1]. All except his mother were born in Swaffham Bulbeck. 1911 census...Aged 13, he was at Merchants Cottage, Commercial End, Swaffham Bulbeck with his parents, brothers Herbert and Alec (both farm labourers), Raymond Campbell and sisters Edith Lucy [8] and Helen Mary [6] and brother Douglas Isaac [3], the newcomers being born in Swaffham Bulbeck. CWGC have his parents at Archers Farm, Swaffham Bulbeck. |
|
He was initially in the 1st Battalion, Cambridgeshire Regiment. Commissioned 30th July 1918 in Norfolk Regiment. The 7th Norfolks other deaths that day are all buried some miles away, in Loos. There are just two military graves in the cemetery, Owen and Private Miller of the same battalion and died the same day, so perhaps this was a case of an officer and his batman off on a mission.
photo; peterswar.net and commemorated on the tablet of the Zion Church in Swaffham Prior. click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
