John Fitzhardinge Paul Butler
John Fitzhardinge Paul Butler VC, DSO (20 December 1888 – 5 September 1916) was a British Army officer during the First World War and an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
John Fitzhardinge Paul Butler | |
|---|---|
| Born | 20 December 1888 Berkeley, Gloucestershire |
| Died | 5 September 1916 (aged 27) Matombo, German East Africa |
| Buried | Morogoro Cemetery, Tanzania |
| Allegiance |  |
| Service/ |  |
| Years of service | 1907–1916 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | King's Royal Rifle Corps |
| Battles/wars | First World War |
| Awards | Victoria Cross Distinguished Service Order |
| Relations | Edric Gifford, 3rd Baron Gifford VC (uncle) |
Background
Butler was born in Berkeley, Gloucestershire, on 20 December 1888 to Lieutenant Colonel Francis John Paul Butler and the Hon. Elspeth Butler (née Gifford), daughter of Robert Gifford, 2nd Baron Gifford. Butler was thus the nephew of fellow Victoria Cross recipient Edric Gifford, 3rd Baron Gifford.
In February 1907, Butler was commissioned into the King's Royal Rifle Corps.[1] He was married, to Alice Amelia of Portfield, Chichester.
Military career
Butlerwas 25 years old, and a lieutenant in The King's Royal Rifle Corps, attached to Pioneer Company, Gold Coast Regiment, West African Frontier Force, and was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on 17 November 1914 in the Cameroons, Nigeria.
Citation
For most conspicuous bravery in the Cameroons, West Africa. On 17th November, 1914, with a party of 13 men, he went into the thick bush and at once attacked the enemy, in strength about 100, including several Europeans, defeated them, and captured their machine gun and many loads of ammunition. On 27th December, 1914, when on patrol duty, with a few men, he swam the Ekam River, which was held by the enemy, alone and in the face of a brisk fire, completed his reconnaissance on the further bank, and returned in safety. Two of his men were wounded while he was actually in the water
He was awarded the DSO the following year. He later achieved the rank of captain, and was killed in action at Motomba on 5 September 1916. [3]
Medal
His medal is displayed at the Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum in Winchester.
References
- KRRC Association Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine
- "No. 29272". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 August 1915. p. 8373.
- Butler, John Fitzhardinge Paul, Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- VCs of the First World War - 1914 (Gerald Gliddon, 1994)