Born: 1895, Shipley
Died: 3 September 1916
Buried:
Address: 19 Henry Street, Shipley
Parents: John Thomas and Margaret, nee Bland
Spouse:
Siblings: Sam and five others
Occupation: Dyer’s labourer
Organisations/clubs:
Military
Rank: Pte
Medals/awards:
Rolls of Honour: St Paul’s, Shipley; Christchurch, Windhill; Nab Wood; Thiepval
Children:
Regiment: 1/6 West Yorkshire
Henry ‘Harry’ Butler
In a letter home in June 1915, Henry
wrote: ‘I had a narrow escape the other
day. While we were in the dug-outs the
Germans shelled us. One shell went clean
through the place where seven of us were
sitting talking, missing us by inches.
‘I do not know how it missed killing
somebody. Every man in my dug-out got
down on his knees and prayed.
‘You can hear the shells roaring through
the air miles away and then they fall with
a crash. They scattered a lot of sleeping
apartment with three shells. I cannot tell
you what damage they did but you can
guess. I thank God I was left alive.’
Harry Butler was the son of John Thomas Butler.
John was born 1864 in Shipley. He married
Margaret Bland 26 September 1885 in Bradford
Cathedral. They had both been living with their
families in Otley Road in Bradford. In 1891 they
were living at 148 George Street in Shipley with
John working as a dyer’s labourer. They had ten
children, but three died in infancy.
Harry, the fifth of seven children, was born 1896 in
Shipley. The family lived in Shipley; in 1891 living
at 148 George Street moving to 72 Dale Street
around 1905. In 1900 they were at 23 Hanson
Street and in 1911 at 19 Henry Street, where they
remained throughout the war. In 1911 Harry was
working as a dyer’s labourer.
Harry served as a Private in the 1st / 6th Battalion
Prince of Wales’s Own West Yorkshire Regiment.
He was pronounced missing presumed dead 3
September 1916. He is remembered on the
Thiepval Memorial in France.
Harry is also remembered on the Rolls of Honour
at Nab Wood, St Pauls & Windhill Parish Church.
Harry had an elder brother, Sam, who also lost his
life in the war.
Researched and written by Colin Coates
to whom many thanks
