Reginald William Butt

Memorial: Thornbury - St Mary's Church

Regiment: Royal Flying Corps

Medals: British War Medal, Next of Kin Memorial Plaque 1914 - 1921, Victory Medal

Rank and number: Air Mechanic 2nd Class 11522

Parents: Eli and Elizabeth Butt

Marital status: Single

Home address: 51 High Street, Thornbury, Bristol

Pre-war occupation: Grocer

Date of birth: 1888

Place of birth: Castle Cary, Somerset

Date of death: 18/03/1916

Buried/Commemorated at: Thornbury Cemetery (Ref. N. C. 130.) and Thornbury United Reformed Church Memorial Tablet

Age: 28

Further information:

Bronze Tablet and Wooden Memorial Board

In 1901 Reginald William Butt, known as Reg, was living with his parents, Eli and Elizabeth Butt, in Castle Cary, Somerset, where Eli traded as a grocer. By 1899 the family, including Reg and his two sisters, had moved to Thornbury. In 1907 they were living at 51 High Street, where Eli continued to run a grocery and by 1911 Reg was an assistant grocer helping with the business

Reg joined the 17th Squadron Royal Flying Corps as an Air Mechanic and was stationed at Farnborough, Birmingham and Dover. He was engaged to be married to Winifred English of Thornbury. On 17th March 1916, whilst stationed at Wallington, Surrey, he was fatally wounded in a motor accident. With four other servicemen, Reg was riding on the tailgate of a motor wagon returning to the aerodrome after having dinner. All four were thrown off into the road when the supporting chain broke. Reg struck the curbing and sustained a fracture at the base of his skull. He died the next day in Croydon War Hospital without regaining consciousness

Reg’s body was brought home for his funeral. It was conveyed on the hand hearse to the Congregational Church. Members of the Thornbury Volunteer Corps paraded under Platoon Commander V. C. Young, with a detachment from No. 33 Squadron R.F.C. from Patchway, marching in front of the funeral procession. Eight members of the Flying Corps acted as bearers. After the service the body was taken to the cemetery, where the Last Post was sounded by a bugler from the 1st Gloucestershire Regiment

By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):

Thornbury Roots website: Thornbury and District Museum Research Group, Forces War Records and the CWGC