Acting Corporal Frank Henry Butters

Thank you to Jim Edwards for this research. Thank you to Lenka Cathersides for further research.

Frank Henry Butters was born on 9^th May 1879 in Kentish Town, London to Robert and Annie Isabella (nee Clarke). He  was baptised at St Andrew’s, Haverstock Hill, Camden. At the time of the baptism the family lived at 43 Carlton Street.

Frank’s father Robert was born in the 1^st quarter of 1844 in Fordham, Cambridgeshire to agricultural labourer John born about 1807 and Mary born about 1807, both in Fordham. His mother Annie was born in the 1^st quarter of 1849 in Lincoln, Lincolnshire to hairdresser Jesse, born about 1821 in Maidwell Northamptonshire and Betsy born about 1923 in Lincoln. Robert married Annie on 30^th July 1870 at Holy Trinity, Islington. At the time of the marriage Robert was working as a police constable. At the time of the 1871 Census, Robert and Annie lived at Brooksby Street, Islington.

Frank had seven known siblings: Emma Rhodes born in the 2^nd quarter of 1871; Robert William born in the 2^nd quarter of 1873 and John Evison born in the 1^st quarter of  1876, all in Islington. Winifred Annie born in the 2^nd quarter of 1881 in Kentish Town; Walter Frederick born in the 3^rd quarter of 1883 in Croydon. Charles Herbert born in the 1^st quarter of 1886 and George Albert born in the 1^st quarter of 1888, both in Mitcham, Surrey.

At the time of the 1881 Census, the family were still at 43 Carlton Street. Robert was working as a Metropolitan Police Sergeant and Annie was looking after their children: Emma, Robert, John and Frank.

In 1885 Frank was admitted into Mitcham Board School.

At the time of the 1891 Census, the family lived at 1 Romeo Villas, High Street, Mitcham. Robert was working as a police inspector and Annie was at home. The household further comprised of their children: barmaid Emma, clerks Robert and John, Frank, Winifred, Walter, Charles and George.

At the time of the 1901 Census, Frank worked as a gardener for jeweller Cyril A. Smith at The Holt, Morden.

At the time of the 1901 Census, Frank’s family were still at Romeo Villas. Robert had retired from the Police Force and Annie was at home. The household further comprised of their sons: insurance agent John, George and two grandsons William and Vincent.

Frank married Elizabeth Pearce, on 2^nd April 1902 at St John’s Church in Capel, Surrey. At the time of the marriage Frank was working as a bailiff.

Elizabeth was born in the 1^st quarter of 1881 in Capel to coachman George, born about 1842 in Wimbledon and Jane (nee Lovell), born about 1849 in Epping, Essex. Elizabeth was baptised on 10^th April 1881 in Capel.

Frank and Elizabeth had one son. Frank Reginald was born on 18^th May 1905 in Enfield.

At the time of the 1911 Census, Frank lived at Wilkins Green nr St Albans, Hertfordshire. He was working as a chauffeur. The household further comprised of his wife Elizabeth, their son Frank and his sister-in-law dressmaker Hannah Pearce. The accommodation had two rooms.

At the time of the 1911 Census, Frank’s parents Robert and Annie lived at 16 Ravensbury Grove, Morden. The household further comprised of a boarder; butcher Arthur Spice. Annie stated that she had given birth to ten children of whom seven were still alive. The accommodation had five rooms.

Frank enlisted on 27^th October 1914 at St Albans to the Royal Regiment of Artillery R.G.A. He was a Private with regimental number 47683. At the time of his enlistment he was working as a gardener and lived at North Hyde Lodge, Hatfield. Frank had black hair, hazel eyes and a dark complexion. He joined at No 4 Depot Royal Garrison Artillery the 28^th October 1914 in Great Yarmouth. He was discharged for ‘not being likely to become an efficient soldier’ on 12^th November 1914 at Great Yarmouth. He was diagnosed with osteo-arthritis on his left great toe rendering him unfit to march. Frank re-enlisted about 1915 into the Army Service Corps. At the time of his enlistment he resided in Dorking. He was a Private with regimental number M2/078425. Around September 1916 he was transferred to France.

At the time of his death he was a Private (Acting Lance Corporal) of the Army Service Corps in the Mechanical Transport unit attached to 156rd Divisional Ammunition Column, Royal Garrison Artillery.   

Frank died of wounds on 30^th September 1917 at 57^th Field Ambulance, Belgium. He was buried at Locre Hospice Cemetery in Belgium. His cemetery number is: III.A.25.

He received the British War and Victory medals.

The 1917 Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser reads that Frank joined Mechanical Transport service about two and half years ago and had been in France for 14 months.

Frank’s wife Elizabeth received £4, 14s and 8d on the 1^st of February 1918, £9, 9s and 4d on the 11^th of March 1918 (for child) and a further £11 on the 14^th of January 1920 in Soldier’s Effects.

In 1917 Frank Henry’s parents lived at Oakdene Road, Brockham, Surrey.

Born	Kentish Town, London
Son of	Robert and Annie Isabella (nee Clarke) Butters of Oakdene Road, Brockham, Surrey
Husband of	Elizabeth Pearce of Capel
Father of	Frank Reginald Butters born in 1905
Regiment	Army Service Corps
Number	M2/078425
Date of Death	30th September 1917
Place of Death	Heuvelland, Belgium
Cause of Death	Died of wounds
Age	38
Cemetery	Locre Hospice Cemetery, Heuvelland, Belgium

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