Private 20128 Edgar Thomas Butler
10th Hampshire Regiment
Killed in Action 7th December 1915
Son of Thomas and Emma Butler, of 34, Canning St., Cwm, Mon. Born at Bromley, Kent.
Doiran Memorial
Born: Bromley, Kent
Enlisted: Liverpool
Residence: Hemel Hempstead
10th Battalion history:
- Formed at Winchester in August 1914 as part of K1 and moved to Dublin, attached as Army Troops to 10th (Irish) Division. Moved to Mullingar in September.
- March 1915: moved to the Curragh and transferred to 29th Brigade in same Division. Moved to Basingstoke in May 1915.
- Sailed from Liverpool on 7 July 1915 and going via Mudros landed at Gallipoli 6 August 1915.
- 6 October 1915: landed at Salonika.
- 2 November 1916: transferred to 82nd Brigade in 27th Division.
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Prior to Butler's death, on the 6th of December 1915 intermittent shelling occurred throughout the day and then a night attack from the enemy followed. The next day, on the 7th of December, there was heavy shelling of Rocky Peak for 30 minutes, resulting in the regiment being attacked and subsequently captured by the enemy. Due to the lack of resistance, the men were unable to get out of the trenches due to the forward slopes of the hill. This was also due to an alarm account after the fall of the Rocky Peak.
All soldiers became subjected to heavy and mountain gunfire, and the regiment's artillery had little impact, thanks to the awkward formation of the ground.
Later on that day, at around 2:50 PM, the regiment retired in order without being attacked and withdrew to Crete-Simonet, taking up a new position there at 5:30pm. This new shield–like position had much more effect, as for several days after the 7th there were fewer casualties. However, new problems started to arise such as a lack of food and few rations for many days. Edgar Thomas Bulter was one of the 269 casualties from the 7th and the 8th.
Source:
- 10th Bedfordshire Regiment War Diary, Catalogue reference: WO-95-4835
By Chloe Piper, Zara Crawley and Bhavandeep Walia
4th July 2024
