Frederick William BUTLER (1886-1961)

Frederick William Butler (1886-1961), known as Fred, was the nephew of Eugénie Sladden and the cousin of Jack, May, Kathleen, Ethel, Arthur, George, Cyril and Juliet Sladden.

Fred was born on 2nd November 1886 at Surbiton, Surrey, the eighth of nine children of Charles Butler, a tobacco manufacturer, and his wife, Fanny Eliza Jacqueline (née Mourilyan).  He was baptized the following month at St Mark’s Church, Surbiton.  He was aged 11 when his father died in 1898.  Like his brothers, Fred was educated at Charterhouse in Godalming.

Fred was still living at home in 1911 with his widowed mother and younger sister; he was a motor engineer.

During the First World War, Fred served with 250 Company Royal Army Service Corps, ending the war as Captain/temporary Major.  He went to France in 1915 and, at the end of the war, received the 15 Star, Victory and British medals.  He was based near Béthune in 1916 and was able to meet up with his brother, Ted, occasionally.

After the war, Fred, described as a manufacturer, married Vera Gwendolin Holbrook on 7th October 1919 at Holy Trinity Kensington Gore, London, and lived at 72A Longridge Road SW5.  They had two children:  Aileen Molly (1920) and Kenneth Frederick (1923).

At the time of the 1939 register, they lived at High Banks, Coombe Park, Malden and Coombe; Fred was a tobacco manufacturer.

Fred died at Abbotswood, Pelhams Walk, Esher, Surrey, on 6th May 1961.  His widow, Vera, died in 1981.