John Fitzhardinge Paul Butler


John Fitzhardinge Paul Butler was a British Army officer during the First World War and an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Background

Butler was born in Berkeley, Gloucestershire, on 20 December 1888 to Lieutenant Colonel Francis John Paul Butler and the Hon. Elspeth Butler, daughter of Robert Gifford, 2nd Baron Gifford. Butler was thus the nephew of fellow Victoria Cross recipient Edric Gifford, 3rd Baron Gifford.
In February 1907, Butler was commissioned into the King's Royal Rifle Corps. He was married, to Alice Amelia of Portfield, Chichester.

Military career

Butlerwas 25 years old, and a lieutenant in The King's Royal Rifle Corps, attached to Pioneer Company, Gold Coast Regiment, West African Frontier Force, and was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on 17 November 1914 in the Cameroons, Nigeria.

Citation

He was awarded the DSO the following year. He later achieved the rank of captain, and was killed in action at Motomba on 5 September 1916.

Medal

His medal is displayed at the Royal Green Jackets Museum in Winchester.