John Fitzhardinge Paul Butler
Lieutenant, The King's Royal Rifle Corps, atchd., Pioneer Company, Gold Coast Regiment, West African Field Force
- Register No.
- 158 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lieutenant all Lieutenants →
- Unit
- The King's Royal Rifle Corps, atchd., Pioneer Company, Gold Coast Regiment, West African Field Force all King's Royal Rifle Corps VCs →
- Date of action
- 17 November 1914 on this day → all of 1914 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 23rd August 1915 on this day → all of 1915 →
- Born
- 20th December, 1888 at Berkeley, Gloucestershire
- Died
- 5th September 1916 at Motomba, East Africa
- Memorial / grave
- Morogoro Cemetery, Tanganyika
- Medal held by
- the Royal Green Jackets Museum
Digest of citation
On 17th November 1914 in the Cameroons, West Africa, Lieutenant Butler, with a party of 13 men went into the thick bush and attacked a force of about 100 of the enemy, including several Europeans, defeated them and captured their machine-gun and many loads of ammunition. On 27th December when on patrol duty with a few men, Lieutenant Butler swam the Ekam River, which was held by the enemy, alone and in the face of brisk fire. He completed his reconnaissance on the further bank and returned to safety
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
BUTLER, John Fitzhardinge Paul. (reg No. 158)
Lieutenant The King's Royal Rifle Corps, atchd., Pioneer Company, Gold Coast Regiment, West African Field Force.
London Gazetted on 23rd August 1915.
VC Medal's Custodian is the Royal Green Jackets Museum.
Born on 20th December, 1888 at Berkeley, Gloucestershire.
Died on 5th September 1916 at Motomba, East Africa.
Memorial at Morogoro Cemetery, Tanganyika.
Digest of Citation reads: On 17th November 1914 in the Cameroons, West Africa, Lieutenant Butler, with a party of 13 men went into the thick bush and attacked a force of about 100 of the enemy, including several Europeans, defeated them and captured their machine-gun and many loads of ammunition. On 27th December when on patrol duty with a few men, Lieutenant Butler swam the Ekam River, which was held by the enemy, alone and in the face of brisk fire. He completed his reconnaissance on the further bank and returned to safety.
Additional information: Captain Butler also held the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). He was the nephew of Major The Lord Edric Frederick Gifford VC. (reg No. 449)
Additional information
Captain Butler also held the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). He was the nephew of Major The Lord Edric Frederick Gifford VC. (reg No. 449)
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Morogoro Cemetery, Tanganyika
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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