William Boynton Butler
Private, 17th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment attached 106th Battery
- Register No.
- 160 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Private all Privates →
- Unit
- 17th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment attached 106th Battery (register: Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment)) all Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) VCs →
- Date of action
- 6 August 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 17th October 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Born
- 20th November 1894 at Leeds, Yorkshire
- Died
- 25th March 1972 at Leeds, Yorkshire
- Memorial / grave
- not known
Digest of citation
On 6th August 1917 east of Lempire, France, Private Butler was in charge of a Stokes gun in trenches which were being heavily shelled. Suddenly one of the fly-off levers of a Stokes shell came off and fired the shell in the emplacement. Private Butler picked up the shell and shouted a warning to a party of infantry. He then turned and put him self between the party of men and the live shelf, holding it until they were out of danger, when he threw it on to the parados* and took cover. To shell exploded, damaging the trench, but only contusing Private Butler. from the rear
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
BUTLER, William Boynton. (reg No. 160)
Private 17th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment attached 106th Battery.
London Gazetted on 17th October 1917.
Born on 20th November 1894 at Leeds, Yorkshire.
Died on 25th March 1972 at Leeds, Yorkshire Memorial not known.
Digest of Citation reads: On 6th August 1917 east of Lempire, France, Private Butler was in charge of a Stokes gun in trenches which were being heavily shelled. Suddenly one of the fly-off levers of a Stokes shell came off and fired the shell in the emplacement. Private Butler picked up the shell and shouted a warning to a party of infantry. He then turned and put him self between the party of men and the live shelf, holding it until they were out of danger, when he threw it on to the parados* and took cover. To shell exploded, damaging the trench, but only contusing Private Butler.
*A mound of earth behind a fortified place to give protection from the rear.
Additional information: Private Butler also held the Croix de Guerre (France).
Additional information
Private Butler also held the Croix de Guerre (France).
*A mound of earth behind a fortified place to give protection
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: not known
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.
Research this recipient further
Would you like to honour William Boynton Butler by sponsoring this page from £1 a month — in memory of someone, in your own name or for your company? Sponsor this page.