No buts, it's Gunner be Butters!
Gunner Arthur Ernest Butters Royal Artillery
The Man Arthur Ernest Butters was born on Monday 19th March 1906 in Lambeth, London. Son of William Arthur, a Waterside Labourer and Elizabeth nee Smith, he was one of four children, William A Jnr born in 1897, Albert E 1899 and Thomas H 1900. The family lived at 83 Stamford Street and Arthur was Baptised on 15th April 1906 at St Andrew, Lambeth. Arthur’s youth appears a difficult one, as on 22nd December 1916 aged 10, he was admitted to the Medway Union Poor House, location unknown and again in April 1917, his Grandmother, a Mrs Jarris, being given as next of kin. No further detail is known about Arthur’s youth except that his civilian occupation was a packer and that he enlisted into the London Regiment Territorial Army in about 1924 aged 18. This was followed on 16th November 1927 by attesting at Hounslow for two years in the Royal Army Medical Corps TA with service number 6527251 from which he was discharged under Para 390 (XVIII) King’s Regulations (services no longer required) on 9th June 1929, almost immediately re-enlisting into the TA Royal Field Artillery as a Gunner and with the same service number. At the time Arthur was living back with his mother at 1 Marshland Road. Arthur was awarded the Coronation Medal 1937 as a Gunner and during the second quarter of 1939 aged 33, married Dorothy Ethel Bridger in Southwark and they lived at 36 Cavour Street. With World War II looming in late 1939, Arthur was embodied and served as part of the British Expeditionary Force in France between 25th September 1939 and 24th June 1940, most likely being present at the Dunkirk evacuation. The 1939 census shows Dorothy living back with her parents at Woodherowle Farm Cottages in Battle. Following his evacuation from Dunkirk, Arthur served at home for the remainder of the war and qualified as a cook gaining a 3rd class Army Education Certificate. He was discharged on 27th Mach 1944 as permanently unfit for any form of military service, under King’s Regulation 390 (XVI) 1940, having served with the colours or a total of 6 years and 49 days and the Territorial Army for 12 years and 283 days. His military conduct was given as exemplary and he was awarded the 1939-45 Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45 and Efficiency Medal ‘Territorial’ with clasp the latter appearing Army Order 138 of 1944. Arthur and Dorothy separated and in 1945 he was living at 22 Hollington Street, Camberwell with Catherine Elizabeth Winslow and her daughter, also Catherine Elizabeth, who was adopted a year later aged 11! Catherine senior is listed as Butters on the electoral Register although she and Arthur did not actually marry until the first quarter of 1955! Arthur, his mother and Catherine lived at 13 Aulay Street. Catherine died on 28th January 1978 at Guy’s Hospital aged 62 and was cremated at the Honor Oak Crematorium in Southwark, her ashes were scattered on the lower lawn. Arthur died 22 years later aged 94 on 4th April 2000 and was living at Perrygrove Nursing Home, Rectory Field Crescent, Charlton. He was also cremated at Honor Oak and his ashes scattered in the grounds. It seems Arthur had one son Brian Butters, who dealt with Arthur’s funeral.
The Story The medals awarded to Gunner Arthur Ernest Butters were acquired from E–Bay in July 2013 and of interest due to the 1937 Coronation and Efficiency Medal with clasp, showing some service prior to world War II. Sadly, at the time little additional detail could be found on Ancestry.UK as there were several A E Butters. However, during the 2020 ‘Lockdown’ further research online was undertaken including a cursory search on Forces War Records. FWR confirmed the award of the Efficiency Medal and clasp but also a link to an Arthur Ernest Butters who had served in the Royal Army Medical Corps with the same service number. Once the FWR subscription was paid the records were obtained and confirmed that this was the same man, thus after seven years his full name was revealed. The RAMC record also provided a date of birth, allowing a more successful search of Ancestry, which in turn revealed a photograph of Arthur from an existing family tree. Another example of research ‘never ending’.
Medal Details:
- 1939-45 Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Coronation Medal 1937: Unnamed as awarded.
- Efficiency Medal: 6527251 GNR.A.E.BUTTERS. R.A.
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This page last updated 7 Nov 20