Pte 58002 Arthur Butler

• Age: 23
• From: Peterborough
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Wednesday 8th May 1918
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

Arthur Butler was born in the December quarter of 1895 in Peterborough the son of Tom Harry and Harriet Butler (nee Ward). His parents married in the December quarter of 1893 in Peterborough.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 17 Wellington Street, Peterborough. His father, Tom Harry, is aged 31, having been born in 1870 in Peterborough, his  occupation is shown as a timber yard labourer, whilst his mother, Harriet, is aged 27, also born in Peterborough in 1874. Their two children were also born in the town; Arthur aged 6, born 1895 and Frederick born 1901.

The 1911 Census shows the family now living at 17 Morris Street, Peterborough. Father, Tom Harry, is now aged 41, and his mother is aged 37. They have been married for seventeen years and have had five children of which three have sadly died. They have two children listed in nthe household; Arthur is now aged 16 and his occupation is recorded as a clothers apprentice, Frederick is aged 10, born 1901 and  there is also a boarder named Frederick Painter born 1911.

Arthur enlisted in London and was formerly 306, London Divisional Cyclist Company and was serving in D Company, 16th Platoon of the 17^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 58002 when he was killed in action on the 8^th May 1918 during the German Spring Offensive.

The 17th Battalion were at this time in the Vierstraat Sector. the diary reports that the day passed quietly until the afternoon.

The front line ran through Klein Vierstraat Cabaret. At 4.30 pm it was reported that the Germans had advanced and were now in " our original front line". At 7.10 pm A and B company's of the 17th Battalion were ordered to move forward in artillery formation from support line with object of co-operating with French troops who were advancing towards the enemy. At 08.10 pm the advance was reported to be going well on the left but nothing could be seen on the right. The situation at the end of the day was that the 17th Battalion were holding the line alongside several other units but casualties were heavy.  Captain Norman Henry and Second Lieutenant Dudley Hammond Black were killed in action alongside 17 other ranks one of which was Arthur Butler.    

Arthur was originally declared as Missing. His mother, still seeking information about her son months after he was listed as Missing, contacted the International Red Cross but received a reply dated 10th October 1918 they they held no information on Arthur.

Arthur's body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium.

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to father Tom Harry.

His father died in the September quarter of 1946, aged 76. His mother died in the December quarter of 1952, aged 79. 

We currently have no further information on Arthur Butler, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.