Wilfred BUTT

04 August 1917

DEATH OF INGLETON'S OLDEST INHABITANT

By the death of Mrs. Sarah Kilburn, of High Street, Ingleton, has lost its oldest inhabitant. Mrs. Kilburn, who was known as 'Ingleton's grand old lady,' was 84 years of age, and up to two years ago was in excellent health and in possession of all her faculties. For the past two years, however, she had been confined to her bed, but beyond her inability to get about was fairly healthy. She passed away quietly on Tuesday evening. The deceased was predeceased by her husband 18 years ago, he dying at the age of 83 years. Mr. Kilburn was one of the old fashioned schoolmasters and acted in that capacity for 35 years at Chapel-le-dale. He and his wife were also for many years the respected host and hostess at the Station Hotel, Ribblehead, where they also kept a general store and sub-post office. It is some 23 years since they came to reside in Ingleton, during that time the deceased lady took a very active part in parochial work. She was a member of the Ingleton Mothers' Union and worked most assiduously for the Ingleton Literary Institute to clear off the debt owing on that useful building. She was a most ardent church woman and was always first and foremost to assist in any good work in the place. She leaves five married children. Four of the deceased's grandsons have been killed in the war, and six are still on active service.

[Grandmother of Gunner George Henry Butt; Private Wilfred Butt; L/Sergeant Herbert Hewitt and L/Corporal John William Kilburn.]

16 November 1917

LONG PRESTON

MILITARY NOTES - Pte. Wilfred Butt of the West Yorkshires, was in October wounded while in France. A bullet pierced his leg from front to calf and damaged the bone in passing. He was brought first to Exeter, but is now in a V.A.D. hospital at Torrington in Devonshire. Sergt. George Delves, of the Canadian Remounts, invalided to England with trench fever, has had four days leave. He is expecting to be sent back to Canada to train conscripts. Lieut. Jackman, recently at home, has transferred from the infantry to the Flying Corps, and has gone into training for his new duties at Reading. Lieut. Beecroft, of the Tanks, has had a month's leave on account of his brother's illness. Corpl. Hitchin, M.M., who was severely wounded last summer, and since been in a convalescent camp in Ireland, has had a short leave before returning to France. Pre. Percy Cooper has been home on draft leave. All who are well enough will soon be on their way to active service again, and it is certain that all their friends wish them even better luck in the future.

09 August 1918

Long Preston Family's Second Bereavement

Mr. and Mrs. F. Butt, Main Street, Long Preston, have received the distressing intimation that their son, Pte. Wilfred Butt, West Riding Regiment, died in hospital in France on Aug. 1st. This is the second son they have lost in the war.

09 August 1918

REMEMBRANCE DAY: LOCAL OBSERVANCES: PULPIT MESSAGES

LONGPRESTON

August 4th was celebrated at Long Preston Parish Church in a most appropriate fashion. There were very large congregations at the holy communion and at matins, when the Vicar (Rev. R. Shipman, lately T.C.F.) preached on the 'Day of remembrance.' In the evening there was a united service for the whole village, and the Nonconformist Chapels were closed. The old church was crowded. Mr. S. Goldsborough, who was due to take the Baptist Chapel service, read the lessons, Rev. Mr. Elsom, Wesleyan minister, took the special prayers appointed for the day, and the Vicar took the text of the service and preached on I Pet., v. 10. His theme was the eventual strengthening of character through suffering. He pictured first the immensity of the world suffering these last four years, and alluded to the suffering and loss sustained in the village by the recent deaths of Lieut. J. Jackman, who died in Germany, and Pte. W. Butt, who died in hospital in France. Suffering and struggle, if we were true to our ideals and firm of purpose, would, pray God, lead in course of time to a League of Nations which should be the definite goal or end to have in view. In conclusion he felt what a power for good this united service might be and hoped the next would be a thanksgiving for peace. The choir was strengthened by the addition of several Nonconformist members. The National Anthem brought to a conclusion a very remarkable service.

16 August 1918

LONG PRESTON MEMORIAL SERVICE

On Sunday a memorial service in honour of Wilfred Butt was held in the Wesleyan Chapel. Mr. H. Elsom conducted the service, Mr. Hoggarth read the lesson, and an address was given by Rev. R. Shipman, who said Mr. Elsom had invited him to speak as he had known Wilfred Butt longer than he had. They all felt there had been a double tragedy in the village: first there was official information that Wi1fred had died of wounds; then came a letter from the lad himself, then a letter from a nurse to say he died the same day that the letter to his mother had been written. They all felt for his parents and brothers, their sorrow being turned to joy and their joy to deepest sorrow again. That there was the greatest sympathy for them in that assembly there was sufficient token. He had known Wilfred Butt for a clean living, clean spoken lad, and he did not 'grouse.' They all knew he had been wounded in the knee, and after a long and tedious recovery he did not grumble when he had to go out again. He was a lad who loved his mother and was not afraid to show it, and his affection came out in that last letter - written in pencil - and probably when in great pain. - The Cadets were present, and at the end of the service one of their buglers sounded the 'Last post' and the 'Dead March' was played on the organ.