Lte. The Honourable Brian Danvers Butler 7th KRRC KIA 18th August 16

[wet255]

I have been lucky enough to pick up the memorial plaque to the above officer who played two first class games for the MCC between 1913-1914 (See The Final Wicket by Nigel McCrery).

Does any member have information about him, especially his military career he was KIA at High Wood attacking Orchard Trench on 18 August 1916 with the 7th KRRC (He was attached at the time from the 13th battalion). Any help would be greatly appreciated. Nigel McCrery

[HarryBrook]

The Hon. Brian Danvers Butler was gazetted temp. 2nd Lt. on 6.4.1915

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29122/page/3455

His medal index card states that he was previously a Private in 23rd Bn. Royal Fusiliers with no overseas service. His first theatre of war was France, but no date of entry is given. He was entitled the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal so must have entered France before 31.12.1915.

Promoted temp. Lieutenant 19.9.1915

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29506/page/2791

The 7th Bn. K.R.R.C. did not, unfortunately, record a monthly list of Battalion officers, as some other units did.

He is mentioned twice in the war diary of 7th Bn.:-

On 1.5.1916 - "Lt. Hon. B. D. Butler struck off strength thro' sickness 28.4.16."

and on 23.6.1916 - "Lt. HON. B. D. BUTLER rejoined on reposting."

He is not mentioned as having joined the Battalion as a replacement between the time the Battalion landed in France, at Boulogne, on 19.5.1915 and 1.5.1916 (see above), so assume he was attached to 7th Bn. before going overseas.

The 13th Bn. returned a list of officers on 11.9.1915 - he was not included.

There appears to be no Times obituary for him.

[Coldstreamer]

you got his name right 2nd time round

where did he live ? Or should I say his main residence ?

FMP seems quite light on London papers but that could just be me being unlucky not finding anything

[HarryBrook]

He was born at Swithland Hall, Leicestershire. In the 1911 census he was living at Little Farindons, Dormsland, Surrey with his sister Lady Winifred Butler. He as unmarried. The same address is given in his probate records.

He is remembered at Swithland Church, but there are no Leicestershire newspapers available online for 1916, and there is no reference to him in the Surrey Mirror for 1916.

His service record at National Archives is WO339/41047

[wet255]

My main interest was in the fact that he played 2 First Class cricket matches for the MCC in 1913 and 1914. See "The Final Wicket" by Nigel McCrery for full bio and photograph.

[MBrockway]

His obit from the KRRC Chronicle ...

"Lieut. The Hon. Brian Danvers Butler.

Was the fourth son of the sixth Earl of Lanesborough, and brother of the present Peer. He was born in April, 1876, and received his commission in The King's Royal Rifle Corps in April, 1915. Promoted to Lieutenant in September, he was killed in action in August, 1916."

Mark

[MBrockway]

The 7th Bn. K.R.R.C. did not, unfortunately, record a monthly list of Battalion officers, as some other units did.

He is mentioned twice in the war diary of 7th Bn.:-

On 1.5.1916 - "Lt. Hon. B. D. Butler struck off strength thro' sickness 28.4.16."

and on 23.6.1916 - "Lt. HON. B. D. BUTLER rejoined on reposting."

He is not mentioned as having joined the Battalion as a replacement between the time the Battalion landed in France, at Boulogne, on 19.5.1915 and 1.5.1916 (see above), so assume he was attached to 7th Bn. before going overseas.

The 13th Bn. returned a list of officers on 11.9.1915 - he was not included.

There appears to be no Times obituary for him.

Butler is not on the 7/KRRC nominal roll of officers at embarkation, so he does not appear to have been attached before 7/KRRC went out.

Is there an embarkation date on his MIC?

[HarryBrook]

No date on the M.I.C., just 'France'.

Edit to add:-

7th Bn. K.R.R.C. war diary for 24.9.1915 at Poperinghe.

"Bivouac. Battalion ordered to be ready to move at short notice, 2/Lieuts. Hon. D. BUTLER, BARLOW, LEWIS, SCOTT-RUSSELL join."

[wet255]

This is all very good thank you very much

[wet255]

The plaque