2nd Lieut Richard Norman Butcher

• Age: 26
• From: Luton,Beds
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• D.O.W Saturday 5th August 1916
• Commemorated at: La Neuville Brit Cem Corbie
  Panel Ref: I.E.66

Richard Norman Butcher was born in Luton, Bedfordshire in the second quarter of 1890, the son of William Joseph Butcher and his wife Lily Rhoda (née Edwards) who were married in 1889 at Basford, Nottingham. His father was a pawnbroker born in Chesham, Bedfordshire, whilst his mother was born in Nottingham.  

The 1891 Census finds the family living at 12 Cardiff Road, Luton, Beds. His father, William J. is a 35 year old pawnbroker, jeweller and clothier, his mother is 26 years old and has no occupation listed. Richard is not yet a year old and the family also has a visitor, Dorothy L. Waters aged 5 and born in Nottingham. Also declared is a nursemaid, Elizabeth Newell aged 16 and born in Slip End, Beds.

Richard was educated at St Gregory’s School, Luton and at Mill Street School where he distinguished himself at Swimming and Rugby.

On the 1901 Census the family have moved to Studley Road, Luton. His father, is aged 45, a pawnbroker, jeweller and clothier, his mother is aged 36. There are five children declared in the household; Richard Norman is 10, Erica 9, Ralph 4, Gwendoline 2, and Leonard 8mths. The family employ a domestic cook, a housemaid and a nurse.    

The 1911 Census finds the family living at "Bendrose", Braithwaite Road, Luton. His father is now aged 55 and still employed as a pawnbroker, jeweller and clothier, his mother is now 46 years of age. They advise that they have been married for 21 years and have had six children, five of whom have survived. Richard Norman is 20 years old and an assistant straw hat manufacturer, Erica Marion is 19 years of age, Gwendoline Rhoda is 12, and Leonard William is 10 year old. The family employ two servants, a domestic cook and a housemaid.   

Prior to enlisting Richard was employed in the straw trade by Messrs William Walsh and Sons of Chapel Street.

He joined the 24^th County of London Regiment as Private on 12^th September 1914. He was subsequently promoted to Lance Corporal. He was wounded at Givenchy on 26^th May 1915 and in September 1915 he rejoined his regiment. After he recovered from his wounds, he was offered a commission and was Gazetted, Second-Lieutenant in November 1915 in the 15th Battalion The King’s Liverpool Regiment. He returned to France on 19th June 1916 and was transferred to the 20th Battalion. He reported for duty on 2nd July 1916 when the Battalion was in the newly captured German Trench positions near Montauban on the Somme.

He was wounded again on 11^th July 1916 but rejoined his unit after treatment.

On 25th July after dark, Butcher and another Second-Lieutenant Henry Kramen Bush patrolled No Man’s Land in the area of Maltz Horn Farm searching for newly dug German trenches, presumably as a reconnaissance for the forthcoming Battle of Guillemont.

He was fatally wounded during the course of that Battle on 30th July 1916.

The Battalion’s objectives on the day were the German Trenches on the South Eastern edge of Guillemont, which was a heavily fortified village on top of a gentle slope with a front of about seven hundred yards. Each end of the front was also defended by Machine-guns, which could give covering and enfilading fire. The line of attack was entirely without cover, the 20th Battalion was on the right of the British line, next to the French153e Regiment d’infanterie.

The attack began at 04.45am in a thick mist, which only gave ten yards visibility. This, and a barrage of high explosive and gas shells made it extremely difficult for the attacking waves moving forward to keep in touch and when the mist began to lift at about 6am most of the waves had lost touch. However, this gave the Germans on the left a clear field of fire, and most of the 20th Battalion was pinned down in the open. By the time it was relieved in the early hours of 31st July, nine officers and one hundred and thirty seven other ranks had been killed or were missing, and many more wounded.

Second Lieutenant Butcher was one of those wounded. He was evacuated to the No.21 Casualty. Clearing Station at Corbie, where he died of his wounds on 05th August 1916 aged twenty six. 

His death was reported in the Luton Reporter on Monday 14th August 1916; 

He now rests at La Neuville British Cemetery, Corbie, France, in Plot I, Row E, Grave 66. His headstone bears the epitaph:

IN GRATEFUL AND LOVING MEMORY 

In April 1916, No.21 Casualty Clearing Station came to La Neuville and remained there throughout the 1916 Battles of the Somme, until March 1917. La Neuville British Cemetery was opened early in July 1916. Most of the burials date from this period, but a few graves were added during the fighting on the Somme in 1918. Neuville British Cemetery contains 866 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There are also 27 German war graves. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

The events of 30^th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89^th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.        

Probate was granted in London on 23rd November 1916:

BUTCHER Richard Norman of Bendrose, Braithwaite Road, Luton, Bedfordshire, second lieutenant Liverpool regiment died 5 August 1916 in France on active service. Administration London 23 November to William Joseph Butcher, pawnbroker. Effects £343 15s 1d.  

Richard's brother, Second-Lieutenant Ralph Wycombe Butcher of the 4th Battalion, of The Manchester Regiment, attached to the 22nd Battalion Manchester Regiment, was also killed in the Great War on 14th March 1917. He now rests at Gommecourt Wood Cemetery, France in Plot I, Row A, Grave 2

His headstone inscription reads:

"IN GRATEFUL AND LOVING MEMORY"