Court mounted for display WW1 British Army Killed In Action trio to 1977 Private Robert Butler of the 8th Battalion (Liverpool Irish) The Kings Liverpool Regiment. *1915 Star named in impressed capitals: 1977 PTE R. BUTLER. LPOOL. R. *British War Medal and Victory Medal named in impressed capitals: 1977 PTE. R. BUTLER. LPOOL. R. Robert Butler was born in 1895 (1901 Census Data) to Robert William & Catherin Butler of 78, Dalrymple Street, Gt. Homer Street, Liverpool. He is shown to have been allocated to the 8th Bn (Liverpool Irish) and is shown to have entered the French Theatre of Operations on the 3rd May 1915. He is listed as Deceased on the 21st June 1915. The 8th were in action as part of the North Lancashire Brigade/51st Highland Division at the Second Battle of Givenchy between the 15th & 17th June, as part of the French Offensive in Artois (see below). Most of the 8th were either wounded or killed in the action (232 killed) with most not even reaching the german lines. Butler was more than likely lying out in no mans land for many days before the 8th were withdrawn and listed their casualties. He is listed as having died at the age of 25, but was actually only 21 according according to the census records. Rank: PrivateService No: 1977Date of Death: 21/06/1915Age: 25Regiment/Service: The Kings (Liverpool Regiment) 8th Bn. Grave Reference: I. B. 12. Cemetery: BOIS-GUILLAUME COMMUNAL CEMETERYAdditional Information: Son of Robert William and Catherine Butler, of 78, Dalrymple Street, Gt. Homer Street, Liverpool. The 8th Liverpool Irish 1914-1915 At the onset of war, in August 1914, the Liverpool Irish mobilised and moved to Canterbury, in Kent. Two duplicate battalions of the Liverpool Irish were raised in October 1914 and May 1915, designated as the 2/8th and 3/8th respectively. Soldiers unable to volunteer for overseas service formed the nucleus of the 2/8th, which trained recruits and supplied deployed units with drafts. The 2/8th was itself sent to the Western Front in February 1917, with the 57th Divisions 171st (2nd Liverpool) Brigade. The third-line remained in England and was responsible for the training of recruits. It was absorbed by the 7th (Reserve) Battalion, West Lancashire Reserve Brigade in September 1916. The 1/8th transferred to the North Lancashire Brigade in February 1915 and landed at Boulogne in May, one-month after the brigade was assigned to the 51st (Highland) Division. Heavy casualties were sustained in the battalions first engagement of the war, in the Second Action of Givenchy (15–16 June). The attack by IV Corps was designed to support a renewed French offensive in Artois and secure the elevated ground near Violaines. Initially in reserve at Le Touret, the Liverpool Irish was committed after it received orders to deploy to fire trenches in support of the battle. As the only battalion remaining in the brigade able to undertake offensive action, the other three having incurred heavy losses on the first-day, the 1/8th was ordered to renew the attack in the afternoon of the 16th. Companies were to advance sequentially, beginning with C, then A, B, and D. After a preliminary bombardment of 45-minutes, the Liverpool Irish, commanded by Major J.A.C. Johnson, departed its trenches at 4:45pm. A maelstrom of fire confronted the men of C Company; nearly all fell in no mans land without reaching the German frontline. The three companies that followed encountered similarly intense opposition. Some did penetrate the German first-line, but their numbers were insufficient to retain possession of the captured territory. Retirement to British lines was completed by midnight and the battalion subsequently returned to Le Touret. In the three days engaged in the Givenchy sector, the 1/8th had suffered 232 casualties. https://jbmilitaryantiques.au/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&view=productdetails&virtuemart_product_id=1139&virtuemart_category_id=2&Itemid=226
Posted on: Mon, 25 Aug 2014 02:27:28 +0000
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