Butterfield+John

Private John Reginald Butterfield of the 9th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment. No: 13741.
 * Butterfield, John Reginald**



1899: Birth, 24th March. Registered in Keighley in the second quarter of the year. Parents John and Elizabeth Butterfield. Father's occupation: Joiner. Baptism, 6th September, in Keighley. Family address: 58, Enfield Street, Keighley. 1901: Census. Age 2 years, living at 58, Granville Street, Keighley with parents, elder brother Fred plus Uncle Rufus Berry. Father's occupation: Joiner in machine works. 1911: Census. Age 12 years, living at 58, Granville Street, Keighley with parents and elder brother Fred. Father's occupation: Joiner in machine works. 1913: Left Keighley Trade and Grammar School, worked for the Great Northern Railway Company as a clerk in the Goods Department at Keighley. 1914: September, enlisted in Keighley aged just 15, 1/2 years old. 1915: 15th July. 9th Battalion West Riding Regiment landed in France. John is believed to have been with them at this time. 1916: Aged just 17 years. Killed in action on 7th July during the Battle of the Somme. No known final resting place. 1919: 2nd October, War Gratuity of £8.00 paid to his father John Butterfield.

Remembered on the Thiepval Memorial. Remembered on the All Saints Church War Memorial on Highfield Lane, Keighley.

Awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his war service. No 1915 Star record found? Not listed in 'Keighley's Gallant Sons' (although he should have been).

John's brother Fred Albany Butterfield also served, with the 6th Battalion locally from 22nd May 1911, then at the outbreak of war he re-engaged, but was attached for duty to Messrs Armstrong Whitworth at Elswick and was then transferred to Dean,Smith and Grace locally in January 1916 and was discharged from the Army under 'Termination of Engagement' on 10th March1917. He had served for a total of five years and 292 days.

Obituary in Keighley News on Saturday 22nd July 1916 page 4: Pte. J. REGINALD BUTTERFIELD (West Riding Regiment), of Keighley - killed in action. Private Reginald Butterfield (17), West Riding Regiment, of 58, Enfield Street, Keighley, has been killed in action. The sad news was conveyed to his mother in a letter from his commanding officer in reply to a letter which she had written asking if her son could return from the front and serve in units at home. He enlisted in the early stages of the war at the age of 15, 1/2, and went abroad in February last. He was an old Keighley Trade and Grammar School boy, and before enlisting was employed as a clerk by the Great Northern Railway Company in the Goods Department at Keighley. He had been associated with the All Saints Church all his life, and for a few years he was a member of the choir. He was a well-built lad for his age, and on his last visit home he stood six foot two inches. An official communication was received from the War Office on Thursday.

Keighlian Magazine obituary: JOHN REGINALD BUTTERFIELD Private, Duke of Wellington's Regiment. John R. Butterfield left the Day School in 1913 and entered the services of the Great Northern Railway Company. He joined the Army in September, 1914, and after training at Aldershot, Folkestone and Clipstone, he went over to France in 1915. He was soon engaged in very heavy fighting and was, by the testimony of his comrades, always willing to do his best in any position in which he was placed. In one of his last letters home he writes with great pride of the confidence which his Major had in 'D' Section, to which he belonged. The Chaplain of the regiment writes that he was a very brave lad and much liked by the men. "His sergeant said to me," the Chaplain writes, "he was the coolest man I had." On the 8th of July, 1916, at 4 o'clock in the morning, not far from the village of Contalmaison, his regiment went over the parapet and he was shot through the head during the charge. One of his companions wrote home saying: "He did his duty to the last and he cheered some of the men up when they were getting low-spirited prior to going over the top." John R. Butterfield showed the same willing spirit as a scholar that he possessed whilst in the Army. He took an active part in all school interests, and took a prominent part in the Dramatic Performances which were given at the School.