Special Constable Wilfred Guy Butler Worcestershire Special Constabulary
Wilfred Guy Butler, known as Guy was born on Sunday 14th April 1895 at Churchill Farm, Kidderminster, son of John Rawlinson the farm owner and Sarah Edith nee Heath. He was one of four children, Thomas Roland Heath 1891 – 1980, John Norman 1892 – 1966 and Elsie Margaret 1893 – 1956.
Sadly, Guy’s mother died in 1899 aged just 34, leaving John to manage the farm and bring up their three children. The 1901 census shows only Guy living with his father as a Scholar, but there are three servants listed Mary Showell Domestic Housekeeper, Edith Butler a Domestic Servant and Harry Cartwright, an Under Carter on the farm.
In 1904 John re-married to Nancy Stockbridge and the 1911 census shows the family, John junior, Elsie and Guy, still residing at Churchill Farm and Wilfred working for his father on the farm. Annie Price was also living with them as a Domestic Servant.
At the start of World War I Guy was aged 19, but avoided war service, probably on account of his occupation as a Farmer. In 1921 John Senior passed away aged 57 and the family continued running the farm and had been joined by Ethel Gertrude, John Junior’s wife.
At about this time Guy joined the Worcestershire Special Constabulary - the territorial police force responsible for policing rural Worcestershire in central England from 1839 until 1967, as a Constable and in the first quarter of 1925 married Edith Lawrence in Tenbury and she joined the family at Churchill Farm. They had one son, Gerald Edward born in 1930. The 1929 Electoral Register shows the family still working at the farm and Guy was awarded his Special Constabulary Long Service Medal in about 1930.
By 1939 it seems Guy and Edith were still living at Churchill Farm, but John junior and family had moved to Yielding Tree Farm, Client, near Stourbridge. At the outbreak of World War II Guy now aged 44 was still working in a reserved occupation as a Farmer, but continued service in the SC and awarded further clasps to his medal in 1940, 43 and 1945, war service counting treble. He was also awarded the Defence Medal for his war service.
The 1952 electoral Register shows Guy, Edith and Gerald still at Churchill Farm and Edith passed away during the final quarter of 1973 and Wilfred, now living at 16 Churchill Lane, Blakedown, near Kidderminster died on 30th December 1981.
Sadly, Guy’s mother died in 1899 aged just 34, leaving John to manage the farm and bring up their three children. The 1901 census shows only Guy living with his father as a Scholar, but there are three servants listed Mary Showell Domestic Housekeeper, Edith Butler a Domestic Servant and Harry Cartwright, an Under Carter on the farm.
In 1904 John re-married to Nancy Stockbridge and the 1911 census shows the family, John junior, Elsie and Guy, still residing at Churchill Farm and Wilfred working for his father on the farm. Annie Price was also living with them as a Domestic Servant.
At the start of World War I Guy was aged 19, but avoided war service, probably on account of his occupation as a Farmer. In 1921 John Senior passed away aged 57 and the family continued running the farm and had been joined by Ethel Gertrude, John Junior’s wife.
At about this time Guy joined the Worcestershire Special Constabulary - the territorial police force responsible for policing rural Worcestershire in central England from 1839 until 1967, as a Constable and in the first quarter of 1925 married Edith Lawrence in Tenbury and she joined the family at Churchill Farm. They had one son, Gerald Edward born in 1930. The 1929 Electoral Register shows the family still working at the farm and Guy was awarded his Special Constabulary Long Service Medal in about 1930.
By 1939 it seems Guy and Edith were still living at Churchill Farm, but John junior and family had moved to Yielding Tree Farm, Client, near Stourbridge. At the outbreak of World War II Guy now aged 44 was still working in a reserved occupation as a Farmer, but continued service in the SC and awarded further clasps to his medal in 1940, 43 and 1945, war service counting treble. He was also awarded the Defence Medal for his war service.
The 1952 electoral Register shows Guy, Edith and Gerald still at Churchill Farm and Edith passed away during the final quarter of 1973 and Wilfred, now living at 16 Churchill Lane, Blakedown, near Kidderminster died on 30th December 1981.
The Story The medals awarded to Wilfred Guy Butler were bought from Dave Walters of the Birmingham Medal Society on 1st June 2023. They were of interest because of the three clasped Special Constabulary Medal and the locality of Wilfred’s residence in Warwickshire.
Ancestry.UK and withdrawal of his will enabled a brief biography to be compiled and after much searching the 1939 Register was eventually located showing his surname as Butter!
Ancestry.UK and withdrawal of his will enabled a brief biography to be compiled and after much searching the 1939 Register was eventually located showing his surname as Butter!
Medal Details:
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- Special Constabulary Long Service Medal: WILFRED G.BUTLER
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