Mexborough and Swinton Times May 19 1917

Wath Officer Wounded
Lt H A Butterfield

son of Mr and Mrs J Butterfield, “Thornleigh,” Wath upon Dearne, who has been severely wounded.

Lt Butterfield was formally Assistant Surveyor to the Wath Urban Council, and more recently assistant to the Surveyor of Batley.

A letter has been received by his parents stating that Lt Butterfield was severely wounded shortly after midnight on May 6. The billet in which he was settled was heavily shelled by the enemy, and Lt Butterfield, was fully dressed and in bed, was hit in the chest by a piece of shrapnel, which passed through a portion of his left lung and came out at the back.

Medical aid was at one summoned and they kept him all night in the bill at, and after 12 hours he was moved to the clearing station.

A sergeant stayed and watched over at great risk until he was moved. During his stay in hospital at the base he recognised a familiar face, that of Miss Bertha Hackford of Wath, who was on night duty.

Mr and Mrs Butterfield have since received news that Lt Butterfield has arrived in London, and is progressing favourably.

A RAMC officer writes that he personally is grieved to lose him, for he was such a cheerful fellow, and has so bravely and ungrudgingly faced hard, dangerous tasks, that it is a decided wrench parting from him. All his brother officers like him greatly, and there are, rather were, few more popular offices in any of our company.

Lt Butterfield was formally in the surveyor’s office at Wath, then he was appointed Asst surveyor at Batley when he was about 18 months, and at the time of enlistment was in the borough surveyor’s office at Keighley.

His younger brother, Mr Sidney K Butterfield, is working on munitions of war, not having been accepted for military service.

Mr and Mrs Butterfield received many letters off enquiry and sympathy, including some from France.