Ernest James BUTLER (1895–1916)
Ernest James Butler was born in Oxford in 1895, the son of James Butler (born in Kidlington in 1868 and baptised there on 14 June) and Emily Jakeman Bryan (born in Headington on 11 October and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 28 November 1869).
Ernest’s parents were married in Kidlington on 4 June 1892 and had three children:
- Percival Butler (born in Kidlington in the last quarter of 1893, baptised there on 21 December 1893)
- Ernest James Butler (born in Oxford on 28 November 1895 and baptised at SS Mary & John Church on 16 January 1896)
- Sidney Butler (born at 53 Percy Street in East Oxford on 11 January 1901 and baptised at SS Mary & John Church on 28 February 1901).
At the time of the 1891 census Ernest’s father James Butler was an agricultural labourer of 22, living with his parents at Lyne Road, Kidlington, while Ernest’s mother (the illegitimate daughter of Sarah Bryan, who had obtained an order of affiliation against George Jakeman on 22 January 1870) was 21 and working as a general servant at 10 St Margaret’s Road in north Oxford.
The following year Ernest’s parents began their married life in Kidlington and were still there at the end of 1893; but they were living in Oxford by the time Ernest was born in November 1895, and at his baptism their address was given as 50 Charles Street.
By the time of the 1901 census they were living nearby at 53 Percy Street with Percival (7), Ernest (5), and Sidney (3 months). Ernest’s father was then working as a builder’s carter.
The family was still living at 53 Percy Street at the end of February 1901 when Ernest’s younger brother Sidney was baptised; but they must have moved within the next month, as at the time of the 1911 census their address was 73 St Mary’s Road, again in East Oxford. Percival (17) was now working as an errand boy for a boot shop, Ernest (15) was a page boy in a refreshment department, and Sidney (10) was still at school.
Ernest James Butler volunteered to serve in the First World War, and was as a Private in the 5th Battalion of the Wiltshire Regiment (Service No. 10868). He was wounded in early 1915 and came home, but went back to fight again, and was killed in action in Mesopotamia (Iraq) at the age of 20 on 9 April 1916.
He was buried in the Amara War Cemetery (XVI.K.12) and is listed on the stone plaque in the porch of Holy Trinity Church in Headington Quarry.
Left: These words were added to Butler’s parents’ grave in Holy Trinity churchyard:
AND OF
ERNEST JAMES SON OF THE ABOVE
KILLED IN ACTION IN MESOPOTAMIA
APRIL 9TH, 1916, AGED 20 YEARS
FOR EVER WITH THE LORD
Postscript
Ernest’s parents
- Soon after 1916 the family moved up to Headington, where they lived at 59 Windmill Road in Quarry parish. James Butler died at 59 Windmill Road at the age of 53 and was buried at Holy Trinity churchyard on 26 March 1921.
- Mrs Emily Butler opened a grocer’s shop at 59 Windmill Road on the corner of Bateman Street in 1922, and this shop continued to be listed in Kelly’s Directory right up until 1954. She died aged 84 on 24 January that year, and was buried with her husband in Quarry.
Ernest’s siblings
- Percival Butler (born 1893) married Hetty Mary Ann Robinson. Their son Keith J. E. Butler was born in 1930 but died aged 9 on 30 April 1940. Percival’s wife died aged 76 in 1967. He waswas living at 89 Lime Walk when he died at the age of 86 in 1980. They are all buried together in Holy Trinity churchyard.
See also
- CWGC: Ernest James Butler
- Wikipedia: Wiltshire Regiment
- Oxford Journal Illustrated, 31 March 1915: Photograph of Ernest Butler when wounded (shown above with kind permission of Oxfordshire County Council, Oxfordshire History Centre)
Back to Holy Trinity Church, Headington Quarry roll of honour