Sapper Walter J. Butters 85145 and Charlotte Copland QAIMNS

[Gongie]

Looking for any information about my great-grandparents Sapper Walter J. Butters 85145, Royal Engineers and his wife, Sister Charlotte Copland, QAIMNS.

They emigrated to Canada in 1919.

Any help would be appreciated.

Cheers!

[Sue Light]

Your great-grandmother has a service record at The National Archives (WO399/1206) held under her married name (Charlotte Butters), and she has a medal index card which is indexed under both names here:

Charlotte Butters MIC

In the summer of 1917 she was working in Rouen, as she gets a very brief mention in the war diary of the Matron-in-Chief:

17.7.17

Medical Board: Forwarded to D.G.M.S. proceedings of Medical Board on Sister C. Copland, QAIMNSR who had applied for 3 months’ leave without pay. Instructed Rouen to evacuate her in the usual way.

That wording suggests that she was run down or very tired, and had asked for long leave rather than resign. The normal procedure then would have been to Board her, and return to UK - better for her, both financially and professionally. Her file will have all the details, I'm sure.

Sue

[Terry_Reeves]

Gongi

There is a possibility that Sapper Butters was with either 207, 208 or 209 Field Company's which were raised in Norwich for the 34th Division. Did he have any connection with that area?

Terry Reeves

[Gongie]

Sue,

Thanks very much!

Terry,

Checked with my father. He seems to remember a connection to Norwich, either before or after the war (but couldn't be sure).

I know the family originally came from Shropshire (Cheswardine to be precise), but I doubt that's where he was actually from.

[Gongie]

Found out my great-grandmother was born in 1886.

I'm guessing Walter would have been around the same age. Not sure if this helps at all.