Thorne Military Medallist
The three brothers of Tom Butler joined H. M. services in the early days of the war, one has been killed at the front, and a second - a mine-sweeper - died as the result of an accident on a ship.
THORNE-MOORENDS TOWN COUNCIL ASSEMBLY ROOMS FIELDSIDE THORNE DONCASTER DN8 4AE. Tel. 01405 818015 Fax 01405 816333 e-mail
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Thorne-Moorends Town Council - Pictorial History
War Memorial - Family Memories
War Memorial - Family Memories
The Butler family, 'Memories' provided by Barbara Melling - Tony Brookes
'Thorne Family of Warriors'
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| Private Tom Ernest Butler 6th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment (A.C.) |
Mr & Mrs John Butler The heads of the family |
Seaman Jack Butler Royal Navy |
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| Private Albert Butler 8th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment |
Private Jack Cragg Service Battalion Kings Own Light Infantry (Son-in-law of Mr & Mrs Butler) |
Seaman Joe Butler Royal Naval Reserve |
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Five members of the Butler family in War Services |
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| Above are photographs of Mr & Mrs John Butler of Queen Street, Thorne and their four sons who have joined the Army or the Navy. Mr & Mrs Butler have five sons, the oldest of whom is too old even under the extended regulations, otherwise he too would have cast of his civilian clothes for the uniform of the Army. Mr Joe Butler was a workman at the Hull docks and is now in the Royal Naval Reserve. The second son Jack was a carpenter in the shipbuilding yard of Mr. R. Dunston, of Thorne and is now in the Royal navy. The third son, Tom, worked as a miner in the Glass houghton Colliery, near Pontefract and is serving in the ambulance corps attached to the York and Lancaster Regiment. The youngest of the four, Albert, was a carpenter in the same yard as his brother Jack and shortly after the war commenced joined the York and Lancaster Regiment. In addition to the four sons, Mr and Mrs Butler have also a son-in-law, Jack Cragg, previously a miner and now in the Kings Own Light Infantry Mr and Mrs Butler are justly proud of the circumstances, having fully recognised long ago that the country is in need of the services of the most virile sons of the race. The young men themselves fully appreciate the hardships that may lie in front of them, but with stout hearts and sturdy limbs they may all be trusted to deal good hefty blows at the enemies of civilisation. |
Soldier's Wedding at Thorne
At the Thorne Parish Church on Monday, was celebrated the first local wedding of a soldier since the commencement of the war. The parties were Pte. Albert Butler, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. John Butler of Queen Street, Thorne, and Miss Hilda Farrar, a daughter of Mr. Simeon Farrar of Doncaster. The Rev. Canon Littlewood tied the nuptial knot, and Miss Minnie Butler was the bridesmaid. Private Butler took the King's Shilling when recruits were first called for and joined the York and Lancaster Regiment. He expects to be sent to the front before many more weeks have passed
A Thorne Soldier's death
Mr. and Mrs. John Butler, of Belmont Terrace, Thorne, have just received the sad news that their son Albert, a private in the York and Lancaster Regiment, has been killed on 1/07/1916 the first day of the battle of the Somme. Before joining the army, shortly after the outbreak of hostilities, he was an apprentice in the shipbuilding yard of Mr. R. Dunston. He was reported to be missing on July 1st. He was one of four brothers to join the army or navy, and one had previously been killed as the result of an accident on a hospital ship. He married Hilda on 26/12/1914 and was the first soldier to be married in Thorne since the war commenced. He took the Kings Shilling when recruits were first called for and joined the Yorkshire & Lancaster Regiment 8th service battalion. There is no grave but he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial France. Albert had no children Hilda re-married in 1919 and had six children.The three brothers of Tom Butler joined H. M. services in the early days of the war, one has been killed at the front, and a second - a mine-sweeper - died as the result of an accident on a ship.
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Rebecca Butler outside her 'haberdashers' shop |
John Butler in the Temperance Brass Band 1917 Do you know any of the members? |
Minnie Butler & Rhoda Butler (Wife of Jack Cragg) c1918 |
Other family information
William Butler, born at Field Side Thorne was a Rope Maker at Dunstons and in later life an engine cleaner in Glasshoughton. He married Susanah Lister at the Primitive Methodust Chapel in Thorne. They had one son and three daughters. He died in Castleford on 1/02/1950.
John William Butler, born 27/10/1874 in Back Street Thorne died 02/01/1875.
Joseph Butler, born 28/10/1875 in Thorne died 3/07/1916 accidentally killed on HMHS China and buried in Western Cemetery Hull. He worked as a dock labourer before joining the Royal Navy. He married Emily Johnson on 3/05/1898 in Hull. They had 6 to 8 children (not all confirmed)
John Henry (Jack) Butler, born 13/12/1877 in Back Street Thorne; died 1957 in Doncaster. He was also in the Royal Navy and on the HMHS China and he survived the war. He married Florence Glasby in 1901 in Tickhill and had 5 children, one died in infancy. They lived at The Nab Fishlake. John was a carpenter.
Florence Butler, born 1888 in Sheffield. She married Joseph Needham in 1907 in Lincolnshire, they had 3 children; one (Florence) died aged 6 years in 1929. Florence died 31/3/1979 aged 90 years.
Amy Butler (Barbara Melling's grandmother), born 7/3/1886 at Back Street Thorne. She married Arthur Robert Sykes of Snaith, a farm labourer, they had 14 children only 7 survived to adulthood. Amy died in Hemsworth in 1987 a month before her 102nd birthday.
Albert born 20/03/1883 baptised St. Nicholas Thorne 20/04/83 Died Thorne aged 2 (Another son, born 1894, was to be given the same name)
Sarah Ann Butler, born 10/02/1880 Thorne, married William Arthur Pilsworth at St. Andrews Epworth on 29/06/1901. They lived in Turbury; he was a farm labourer and they had 11 children. Sarah Ann died 22/05/1979 aged 99 years.
Rhoda Butler, born 25/07/1890 in Thorne married John William (Jack) Cragg. Jack was a private in the York and Lancaster Regiment in WW1. They had 1 child in 1922, Jack was a master coal leader after the war. Rhoda died in 1923 aged 33 years in Glasshoughton.
Minnie Butler, was born at Thorne on 18/07/1897 She married Joseph B. Whittaker in Hull in 1920; they had 2 daughters. Joseph died 1947 and was buried close to John and Rebecca Butler at Thorne. Minnie was remarried to John Raven in Hull in 1962 when aged 65. Died 17/06/1994 in Immingham aged 96
Thomas Ernest Butler (Tom) was born in Sheffield 24.10.1892 and did not marry. After an apprenticeship at Dunston's he became a colliery ropeman at Glasshoughton Colliery Tom served as a Corporal in the York & Lancaster Regiment in WWI winning the Military Medal. He was discharged in March 1918 with blindness in one eye. Tom died at Glasshoughton 22/07/1918. The cause of death was given as 'Gas on active service/pneumonia'. He was buried at Thorne St. Nicholas Churchyard Extension
Albert Butler was born Finkle St., Thorne 18/10/1894 He married Hilda Farrar at St. Nicholas Church, Thorne 26/12/1914; they had no children Albert was a Plumber's apprentice at Dunston's shipyard and joined the York and Lancaster Regiment as a private when war broke out. Albert was killed in action on 01/07/1916 (First day of Battle of the Somme) and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France (Hilda remarried in 1919 and had 6 children)