Bombardier Henry Butler, No: 1480, 44th Company, Royal Garrison Artillery.
Died of Sickness at home on 5th March 1917. Living with his wife Susan and 2 children on the Forest Rd, Wokingham and employed as a labourer.
Having already served in the RGA (which is where he was invalided out from), he enlisted on 31st August 1914 at Wokingham at the age of 38.
Henry was obviously thought to be of some wartime use to be accepted as a volunteer and was posted to the RGA No: 2 Depot at Gosport and then the 41st Heavy Siege Battery and promoted from Gunner to Bombardier on 24th September 1914.
He later transferred to the 43rd Heavy Siege Battery (which later left for Egypt in December 1915), and promoted from Gunner to Bombardier on 24th September 1914. He later transferred to the 44th (Home Services) Company RGA on 13th September 1915 at Pembroke Docks, western coast defences. Their role to protect the shipping movements along this part of the coastline for local Naval and Merchant bases. Whilst with the 44th Company RGA, he became ill and diagnosed as having Tubercular disease of the vocal cords. It was reported that he was in a poor state of health when he transferred from 43rd Heavy Siege Battery. The inquiry response from the Officer Commanding 43rd Heavy Siege Battery, was that he had not spent Any time under canvas with this battery, but had done so before joining the unit, whilst camped on Woolwich Common.
He was later discharged as ‘no longer physically fit for war service’ on the 24th November 1915, at South Hook Fort, Milford Haven. Henry later died of his illness in March 1917. His widow and children were granted a war pension from 1st April 1917. His name was no doubt added to the shrine by his wife in remembrance of him alongside the other Forest Road men.
Henry does not appear on the CWGC records
1881 Census Forest Road, Wokingham
Charles H Butler 39 Warfield Agricultural labourer
Jane 33 Binfield
Emily 10 Wokingham Scholar
Charles E 8 Wokingham Scholar
Eliza 6 Warfield Scholar
Harry 3 Warfield Scholar
Elizabeth A 10 months Wokingham
1891 Census
Murry Hill Farm, Mongoles Lane, King Street, Winnersh
William Bowyer 62 Warfield Farmer
Emma 50 Warfield
Charles 22 Warfield
Elizabeth 20 Warfield
Ernest 18 Warfield
Arthur E 15 Warfield
Harry Butler 14 Warfield Farm Servant Boarder
1901 Census: Henry / Harry not found
1911 Census
Forest Road, Wokingham
Harry Butler 34 Warfield carter on farm
Susan 33 Wokingham Working at laundry
Beatrice Proud 8 Wokingham Stepdaughter
Many thanks to Alan Clark and Andrew Radgick for the above information