130051 PIONEER ERNEST BUTLER
Royal Engineers
by
Lieutenant Colonel Edward De Santis ©2008
Ernest Butler was born at Sutton Bridge in Lincolnshire. He was the son of Robert William and Sarah Ann Butler of 24 King Street in Sutton Bridge.
Butler enlisted as a Pioneer in the Royal Engineers at Wisbech in Cambridgeshire for service in the Great War of 1914-1918. Prior to his enlistment in the Royal Engineers, he served as a Private (Regimental Number 4500) in the Cambridgeshire Regiment.
After his enlistment in the Royal Engineers, Butler was assigned Regimental Number 130051 and was assigned to the 5th Battalion of the Special Brigade. The Special Brigade was the unit of the Royal Engineers responsible for gas warfare. Men assigned to this unit generally had some technical experience in the field of chemistry or some related field.
Pioneer Ernest Butler was killed in action at Pozieres. He was 18 years of age. He is buried at Serre Road Cemetery Number 2, Grave XXXVIII.F.7.
REFERENCES:
1. HMSO. Soldiers Died in the Great War.
2. Commonwealth War Graves Commission web site.
3. Battle Honours of the Royal Engineers. The Royal Engineer
Journal. The Institution of Royal Engineers, 1925-1932.