Vincent Mark Butler
One of eight children born to
Mark and Annie Butler of Ottershaw, Surrey, Vincent was born in
either Spratts Lane or Spratts Alley in Ottershaw during May 1893. At the age
of 20, on 12th May 1913, Vincent married Helena Catherine Bates at the Parish
Church of Byfleet, Surrey and with Vincent employed as an Assistant Postman, he
and Helena settled down to married life, firstly at Stonehills Road and then at
Chobham Road, Ottershaw.
On the 11th December 1915 Vincent enlisted as a Private at the Army Recruitment
Office in Addlestone and was placed on the Reserves for the next 4 months. At
the time of his enlistment his records describe him as 5 feet 8
1/4 inches
tall, of fair complexion with grey eyes and brown hair. His chest measurement
is given as 38 1/2 inches with a 4 inch expansion. On 7th April
1916 Vincent was mobilised and joined the Royal Garison Artilery as Gunner
74115 at their number one depot. After his training, on the 3rd June 1916
Vincent was posted to 152 Siege Battery and 10 days later found himself as
"B" Support for that Battery. On the 5th of August 1916 Vincent was
sent to France where on the 11th August he took up a post to HQ Heavy Artilery
Group and stayed there until 3rd March 1917 when he joined the 67th Siege
Battery. Whilst serving with the 67th, on the 14th July 1917, Vincent sustained
a gunshot wound to his right eye and was sent to hospital, arriving 3 days
later on the 17th. Vincent did not recover from this wound and died on 16th
October 1917; he was 24 years old. Vincent is buried in Godewaersvelde British
Cemetery on the French/Belgian border about 12 miles south of Ypres.
In January 1918, Vincents personal posetions were returned to his widow,
Helena, but these amounted to no more than two I.D. disks, some letters and
photos, his pipe and a coin. Later in April 1918 Helena was awarded 13
shillings and 9 pence per week widows pension (approximately 69 pence in
today's money). Vincent and Helena had no children.
Vincent's signature; as taken from his attestation form