Bertie Neville Butler (1903 - 1988)

Birth Certificate Holme Life Australian Adventure Ramsey

Family Tree

Bertie was born on 5th November 1903 at Holme, near Peterborough. He was the first child of George Butler (age 29) and Kate Butler (nee Welfare, age 20).

He was christened on the St. Withburga's floating church on 6th December 1903 at Allen's Engine.

On 15th November 1907, he travelled to Western Australia with his parents and his brother Fred (born in 1906). His Uncle John, his Aunt Lynn and his cousin Sydney were supposed to join them, but Sydney died just before the trip (John and Lynn followed on in December 1907).

Little is known about his life in Australia. His father worked in the goldfields. His sister Lillian was born in 1909 and her birth was registered in the Coolgardie district of Western Australia. Bertie appears on the register of Coolgardie State School in 1911:

This postcard was sent from Australia to Kate's parents and sister and appears to show Bertie, probably at the Coolgardie school.

Bertie's sister Edith was born in 1911. Sadly she died of meningitis in 1912.

The family returned to England in 1912 and spent some time at Randall Farm, Upware (approximately 25 miles south-east of Peterborough). Another sister, Edith Laura Welfare was born in 1913 close by, at Swaffham Prior.

Death of his father and birth of Kenneth (and death). All at Holme? When did the family move to Ramsey St Marys?

Bertie married Vera Irene Marshall (Rene, when and where?). Lived at Ugg Mere (Ramsey Heights) in the adjoining house to Fred and Maud. Bert and Fred farmed together (Butler Brothers).

Neville was born in .... Beryl was born in July 1938. Rene died six months later. Gus moved in to look after the family; she was just 17 at the time. (Had Gus still been at home with Granny Anker?) Gus got married to George Brookbanks in ... and a housekeeper was employed, Eleanor Hutchcraft. Bert married her in ... and three further children were born (Margaret, Dorothy and Robert).

In about 1946 they all moved to Baston. Bert and Eleanor lived in a cottage on the main road for a while before moving to The Walnuts. Fred and Maud went to live at Urn Farm in Baston and the brothers continued to farm together until retiring in the 1960s. Bert and Eleanor went to live in Godsey Lane, Market Deeping where they brought up Margaret's son, Andrew. In about 1973 they moved to Thurlby where they lived at 7 The Green, next door to Beryl.

Memories

Beryl Pell
Dad used to take me over to Granny Anker's house on his bike. It had two stone balls at the front. The house is still there. After Aunt Gus got married we had a housekeeper to look after us. Dad asked us to choose which one we liked - we chose the one in the green coat. I went missing once, I was in the rabbit hutch eating the dried bread. I was terrified when I found a snake in the barn. Once I got stuck in the toilet, it was a long way from the house; everyone was telling me how to unlock the door.