Soldier Record

Robert Butcher signed up in 1916 and being drafted to the 3rd Wilts. Regiment went to Weymouth to commence training. Later he was transferred to the Dorset Regiment, then to the Royal Berks. and being transferred again to the 1st Hants.

On 15th April of the same year he went with a draft of that Regiment to France where he was attached to the 10th Worcs. Regiment. He wrote a letter home on 28th May 1918 just before he went into action and was reported missing later that day.

His family received the following letter, dated 25th February 1919, from the British Red Cross and Order of St. John:-

"With reference to your enquiry regarding Private Robert B. Butcher 57426 10th Worcesters A Company, we regret to say that we have received a very sad report about him from a returned prisoner of war....who states: I knew Butcher, who was near my number. He was very tall and slim and in the same billet as me. On May 30th (sic) about 6 a.m. in Champagne and just in front of the village of Lacquiere(?) he was killed instantaneously by machine gun fire. The Huns had the machine gun up the trees in the orchard. I did not see him killed but was told a few minutes after when we were taken prisoners."

Previous to joining up Robert, who was the youngest of nine children, had been engaged from a lad in his father's business. My grandmother was one of his sisters and the last of the nine children to survive. None of them ever knew where his remains were but thanks to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the internet the family now have that information.