Find Ancestors

Thanks for all the input everyone. Gritty has identified my RCB.

It would seem that my RC Butler is not the same one. Shame.

He was actually sunk twice by torpedo in WWII and survived both incidents.
He had some stories to tell!........and a bunch of top medals :)

Interesting anyway.

Thanks again

David (once of Vancouver)

I think this is the marriage that David (not in Vancouver) is referring to and parents of his mother:

Reginald C Butler
Spouse : Agnes A Mustart
Date of Registration: Apr-May-Jun 1924
Registration district: Romford
Inferred County: Essex
Volume Number: 4a
Page Number: 1031

David (the one still in Vancouver!) - as the other David is new to the boards he may not realise you have posted a response, click on his name to send a direct message.

I do hope you get a result. Good luck!

Hello David.
Thanks for your reply.
I have few details about my Reginald, other than these:
He was christened 31 July 1904 in Scunthorpe.
He was the son of Harry Hoskisson Butler and Gertrude Wright.
I have never found a record of a marriage or of children. Nor do I have a date for his death, assuming he isn't still around at the age of 110.
Same guy? Or a coincidence?
Cheers,
Dave (still in Vancouver)

David, this post is a couple of years old so I would suggest clicking on Dave's name and sending him a message that way.

I am sure he would love to hear from you and clear up the mystery of Reginald Butler. I do hope you have success in contacting him as he may not still be a member of genes.

Liz

Hi Dave

By complete chance I saw your post about Reginald Butler.
The guy you are taking about was my Grandfather. He worked for the Silver shipping company and was indeed sunk off Portugal. He survived and lived until 1975 I think. Need to check with my Mother (his daughter) who lives in Fareham, England. He grave is in Colchester.

He had two children, Audrey Agnus Moran (nee Butler), my Mother who is 88 and a son who died early (around 30) and four Grandchildren: James Moran 62, Robert Moran 59, David Moran 56 (me) and John Moran 53.

Let me know if you need any more information and I'll dig it out.

Regards

David
...who lived in Vancouver for a year!

David probably already has this, but these are the three crew members who lost their lives when the Silverwillow was hit:

MACKAY , Second Engineer Officer, JOHN STRANGEWAYS, M.V. Silverwillow (London). Merchant Navy. 30th October 1942. Age 27. Son of Mr. and Mrs. George Williamson Mackay; husband of Joan Mackay, of Whitley Bay, Northumberland.

MACMANAWAY , Apprentice, JOHN GARDNER, M.V. Silverwillow (London). Merchant Navy. 30th October 1942. Age 19.

MORRISON , Third Officer, PETER, M.V. Silverwillow (London). Merchant Navy. 30th October 1942. Age 22. Son of William Henry Morrison, and of Elizabeth Morrison, of West Denton, Newcastle-on-Tyne

In addition, there was a gunner and two passengers lost.

Due to not being able to find a death fro Reginald Charles Butler, Im starting to think that although he may have survived the U-Boat attack in 1942 (If he did indeed survive)

Then maybe he was killed at sea later and I dont think there would be a death registered if he was.

There are no more births after 1945 for his children so this would possibly fit with him being deceased sometime before 1945

lol Gins, wish I could spend a bit more time here, but have to go out shortly, bloomin' nuisance!.

See ya later!.

Chris :)

Chris......since when did me an thee like 'easy'

:-D

UK Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960
Name: Reginald C Butler
Birth Date: abt 1905
Age: 31
Port of Departure: Montréal, Québec, Canada
Arrival Date: 9 May 1936
Port of Arrival: Liverpool, England
Ports of Voyage: Montreal
Ship Name: Duchess of Atholl
Search Ship Database: View the 'Duchess of Atholl' in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Shipping Line: Canadian Pacific
Official Number: 160505

(just seen the above, Elect. Engr. with wife Norah?, housewife, age 27 going to 39, Hurst Road, Hinckley, Country of last permanent residence as Hong Kong)

(could be getting complicated!!)

Chris :)

Hi Dave

You know when you say 'no luck' with the marriage/death for Reginald...do you mean you cant find either of the records or is there no info on them to help?


Marriages Mar 1937
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Butler Reginald C - Minnie D Van Immerseel Coventry 6d 1383


England & Wales, Death Index: 1916-2006
Name: Minnie Dimphina Butler
Birth Date: 22 Feb 1918
Date of Registration: Apr 2001
Age at Death: 83
Registration district: Coventry
Inferred County: Warwickshire
Register Number: C69A
District and Subdistrict: 0631C
Entry number: 215

I cant seem to find a death for Reginald at the moment. The marriage certificate and the death certificate of his wife might hold a clue?

There are also three children born to the couple, the last in 1945. Would be worth getting the birth certificates to check his occupation

You can check the details here for free


http://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/search.pl

Passenger lists leaving UK 1890-1960 (Find My Past)

Name: Reginald Charles BUTLER
Date of departure: 17 October 1947
Port of departure: Southampton
Passenger destination port: Hong Kong, China
Passenger destination: Hong Kong, China
Date of Birth: 1904 (calculated from age)
Age: 43
Marital status:
Sex: Male
Occupation: Elec Eng
Passenger recorded on: Page 2 of 17
Ship:
Official Number:
Master's name:
Steamship Line:
Where bound:
Square feet:
Registered tonnage:
Passengers on voyage:
CANTON
166555
Captain G S Stable
P. & O.
Hong Kong, China
16033
561

(last address UK as, 39, Hurst Road, Hinckley)



Name: Reginald Charles BUTLER
Date of departure: 20 October 1950
Port of departure: Southampton
Passenger destination port: Hong Kong, China
Passenger destination: Hong Kong, China
Date of Birth: 1904 (calculated from age)
Age: 46
Marital status:
Sex: Male
Occupation: Elec Eng
Passenger recorded on: Page 2 of 19
Ship:
Official Number:
Master's name:
Steamship Line:
Where bound:
Square feet:
Registered tonnage:
Passengers on voyage:
CANTON
166555
Captain G S Stable
P. & O.
Hong Kong, China
15784
581

(last address UK, (same as one above)


Name: Reginald BUTLER
Date of departure: 30 October 1930
Port of departure: London
Passenger destination port: Hong Kong, China
Passenger destination: Hong Kong, China
Date of Birth: 1904 (calculated from age)
Age: 26
Marital status:
Sex: Male
Occupation: Engineer
Passenger recorded on: Page 2 of 14
Ship:
Official Number:
Master's name:
Steamship Line:
Where bound:
Square feet:
Registered tonnage:
Passengers on voyage:
RANCHI
148130
C Brooks
Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co
Yokohama, Japan
8849.75
196

(last address UK as, 20, Chandos Street, Nuneaton)


Name: R C BUTLER
Date of departure: 17 November 1936
Port of departure: London
Passenger destination port: Hong Kong, China
Passenger destination: Hong Kong, China
Date of Birth: 1904 (calculated from age)
Age: 32
Marital status: Married
Sex: Male
Occupation: Engineer
Passenger recorded on: Page 14 of 17
The following people with the same last name travelled on this voyage: -
Mrs BUTLER Page 14 of 17 (age 30)
Ship:
Official Number:
Master's name:
Steamship Line:
Where bound:
Square feet:
Registered tonnage:
Passengers on voyage:
RAJPUTANA
149361
W A Cotching
P.& O.S.N.Company
Yokohama, Japan
9454.91
389

(last address UK as, 39, Hurst Road, Hinckley, Leics.)


(could be Reginald outgoing?)...

Chris :)

Thanks to all for the advice. No luck with marriage or death records.
I'm intrigued by Gins' discovery on the incoming passenger lists. I'll do some more digging along that line, and will contact the National Archives as well.
Could my Reginald have been captain of a ship in 1942, and an electrical engineer returning from Hong Kong in 1945? I suspect there is a fascinating story here somewhere.
Cheers,
Dave

What an absolutely fascinating site that is Gins! Never heard of it before but have bookmarked it for future reference.

Liz

UK Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960
Name: Reginald C Butler <<<Electrical Engineer
Birth Date: abt 1904
Age: 41
Port of Departure: Hong Kong, China
Arrival Date: 9 Nov 1945
Port of Arrival: Southampton, England
Ports of Voyage: Bombay
[Colombo]
[Suez]
Ship Name: Highland Monarch
Search Ship Database: View the 'Highland Monarch' in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Shipping Line: Royal Mail Lines Ltd
Official Number: 148158

Going to 13 Dean Road Leicester


Not sure if its your man?

Have you seen this website

http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/person/53388.html


You could also try the National Archives to see if he is listed there

Also his marriage and death certificate might give a clue as to his occupation, might be worth sending for

x

Merchant Navy Seamen
1835-1941 (Find My Past)

(not seeing him on above, only a Reginald Charles born 1890 Haslingfield, Cambs., also has photo)


http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/navy.asp

(above link for National Archives, Navy, or perhaps contact them)

Chris :)

edits (the above died 1975 Essex)

Hello all. I've had considerable success in the past when I've been stumped and came to this forum for help and suggestions. I'm hoping that will happen again with my latest puzzler.
I recently came across a record of a person who I believe may be a relative. He was Reginald Charles Butler, skipper of the British merchant ship Silverwillow, which was torpedoed off the coast of Portugal by a German U-boat on 30 Oct., 1942, and sunk.
Three crew members died, but my possible relative survived and was picked up by a Royal Navy vessel.
My Reginald Charles Butler was born on 6 June 1904, in Lincolnshire, which would have made him 38 years old at the time of the sinking, a plausible age for the master of a small merchant ship at the time.
I've made some preliminary attempts to find a source of records for Merchant Navy officers at the time, without success. I would like to find some identifying details of the skipper of the Silverwillow so that I can either identify him as my relative or rule him out. Names of parents, date and place of birth, etc.
As always, any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
Dave in Canada