PHOTO PAGE 99
Photo MAE 1 Please contact Margaret Endersby at, endersby@mira.net This WW1 era portrait is
of WALTER BUTCHER, from the ISLE OF WIGHT, England On the back of the
photograph is written "Rifleman W. Butcher, 1842 A Coy. Bembridge Fort,
Nr. Sandown,
Margaret would appreciate hearing of any information what ever about this young soldier and his family.
News from Margaret 23 May 2003
"The 1901 census revealed that Walter was the youngest son of Arthur
William and Frances Anne Butcher of Ryde, Isle of Wight, and brother of
Private George Henry Butcher the soldier on the right in "Photo MAE2"
(Below)
Rifleman W. Butcher was reported in the Isle of Wight County Press 12 May 1917
as being wounded on 19th April at Gaza, and on 2 June 1917 as follows:
HOW ISLANDERS FOUGHT AT GAZA
Mrs A. Butcher of Ashey Road has received a letter from her son, Rifleman W.
Butcher, serving with the Hampshire Regiment in Palestine, in which he says he
is going on well. He is still in the convalescent camp, but says it is more
comfortable than being in the front line where "Johnny Turk throws
blacksmith's shops about". Describing the fighting on April 19th he says
Īt was like walking through hell, but our boys were eager to get to grips with
the TURKS and they did splendidly I can tell you. When you think of us walking,
or rather running, across nearly two miles of flat open country, under fire all
the time, you can imagine what that meant. Still we pushed on, never for one
moment faltering. It was a sight to see and only those who were up there with
us can realise what it was like. The boys have won undying praise, although
only "Terriers" (Terriers was the nickname for Territorials i.e. not
regular soldiers).
The article was e-mailed to Margaret by Val Sprack of Isle of Wight Living
Rifles Society."
Photo MAE 2 Please contact Margaret Endersby at, endersby@mira.net This is the second WW1
photograph that Margaret sent in, and it features two Australian soldiers who
were casualties. The soldier to the right of the photo is GEORGE HENRY BUTCHER,
(born at Ryde,
He was PRIVATE 1344 G. H. BUTCHER , AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY (A.I.F). George survived
the terrible Gallipoli battles, but was later killed in France & Flanders.
He died on the 26th of July 1916 aged 23 years, and is buried at the
The soldier to the left of the picture (who appears to be blind) is unknown.
Margaret would welcome any information about these two soldiers.
Photo BM4 Please contact Brian Martin at > brew.mart@ntworld.com This is another
of the great WW1 Royal artillery photographs that Brian has in his personal
collection, and most probably portrays men of the 156TH HEAVY BATTERY, THE
ROYAL GARRISON ARTILLERY (R.A.) which was Brian's father's unit during the Great
War.
None of the nine men seen here are as yet identified, can you help please? If you can, Brian would be delighted to hear from you.
To view a larger version of this photo, please click here> BM4
Photo BM5 Please contact Brian Martin at > brew.mart@ntworld.com This is another
photo from Brian's WW1 Royal Artillery collection, which may well be of the men
of the 156TH HEAVY BATTERY, THE ROYAL GARRISON ARTILLERY (R.A.). None of these
soldiers have been identified. Can you help please?
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