George BUTLER

England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966

1911

BUTLER William Duckett of Higher House Farm Freckleton near Kirkham Lancashire farmer died 24 July 1911 at Preston Lancashire Probate Lancaster 23 August to Elizabeth Butler widow George Butler farm labourer and George Butler Sharp poultry farmer. Effects £2084 3s.

1917

BUTLER George of 30 Woodlands-road Ansdell Lytham Lancashire sergeant R.F.A. died 14 April 1917 in France on active service Probate London 21 July to Sarah Butler widow and Elizabeth Butler spinster. Effects £266 18s. 4d.

‘Preston Guardian’ (19 May1917)

FRECKLETON TRADESMAN KILLED

Sergeant George Butler,(30) R.F.A., eldest son of the late Mr. Wm. Duckett Butler, Higher House, Freckleton, was killed in action on April 24th. Sergeant Butler, who leaves a widow and one child, was, prior to leaving for the Army, in business as a greengrocer and poulterer at Fairhaven. Formerly he had been a Sunday School teacher at Kirkham Congregational School. He is interred in a British Military Cemetery a few miles east of Arras. During his service in the Artillery, Sergeant Butler declined a commission, preferring to stay with his men.

‘Burnley Express’ (19 May 1917)

WHEATLEY LANE LOSS

The death of Sergt. George Butler, R.F.A., has come with a great shock to all his friends. He was 30 years of age, and leaves a widow and one little boy. He married the eldest daughter of Mr. R.W. Lee, then of Raker House Farm, Freckleton, and now of Height Farm, Fence. He was the eldest son of the late Mr. William D. Butler, of Higher House, Freckleton, who was well known as one of the best and most progressive farmers in the Fylde district, a man well know and widely respected, and a deacon of the Kirkham Congregational Church. His son, the sergeant, was a member of the same church and one of its Sunday school teachers. Sergt. Butler at the outbreak of war had a fruit and poultry business at Ansdell, and was doing well.

To him the war came with a call to duty, and he enlisted in May, 1915, joining the R.F.A. When on leave from the front last December, he said, “I have never regretted joining the Army; I felt it my duty.” He had refused the offer of a commission. Lieut. Scott writes to Mrs. Butler: “To my very great sorrow I have to inform you that your husband was killed in action to-day, 14/4/17. He was struck on the head by a splinter. Death was instantaneous. No doubt you have read how successful our attack has been here. It is to the steadfast courage and energy of such men as your husband that we owe the victory. He was a tiger for work, and though I know how keenly he was attached to his loved ones at home, duty was always the feature of his life. I have been his section commander since he joined. From the start he impressed everyone by his self-sacrificing disposition, his hard work, and his cheerfulness under the most trying conditions. He was indeed–and I say this in all sincerity after 22 months of intimate association with your husband–a noble Christian soldier. We shall all miss him, but I especially. His sub-section was always the best in the battery. He was a splendid fellow, and everyone liked him, and I, who knew his worth so well, had grown to love him. We laid him to rest, a chaplain conducting the service, in a British Military Cemetery 2½ miles east of Arras.”