Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Flanders | Panel 6 and 8. | |
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.117 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 15C GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | |||
Family :
Husband of Emily Botterill, of 23, Crag Path, Aldeburgh, Suffolk.Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 26th Battalion Royal Fusiliers |
26th (Service) Battalion (Bankers) Formed in London on 17 July 1915 by the Lord Mayor and City of London, composed in the main of former bank clerks and accountants. November 1915 : attached to 124th Brigade, 41st Division. Landed in France on 4 May 1916. Moved with the Division to Italy in November 1917 but returned to France March 1918. |
| Action : The Battle of Messines 1917 and associated actions |
7 June - 11 July 1917. The plan at Messines was to blow up 19 mines in what was the largest man made explosion before Hiroshima, and utterly destroy the German front line along the Messines Ridge. The effect was to "liquify" the ground and create a mini earthquake, which coupled with the largest artillery preparation thus far of over 3 million shells would stun the defenders into submission. The plan largely worked and was initially very successful although the Germans did re-group and opportunities to develop the attack were lost. Casualties in this victory were 25,000.
Detail :
Pte. John Botterill, No. G/52718. 26th Bn. Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment). Killed in Action 15th June 1917. Age 41. Commemorated: Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. Ref: Panel 6 & 8. Lodge Tyler John was born in the 4th quarter of 1876 to Robert, a Shepherd, and Sarah Botterill, in Stanground, Peterborough. He was the youngest of six children, all living in Whittlesey Road, Stanground at the time of the 1881 census. He married Emily Gray in the 2nd quarter of 1898 and at the time of the 1911 census the family were living at Wentworth Cottage, 8 High Street, Aldeburgh, with six children and Emily's father, who is described as an Army Pensioner, and one female servant. John is shown as a Hotel Porter. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission shows Emily as living at 23 Crag Path, Aldeburgh. John appears to have originally joined the 14th Bn. Essex Regiment, No. 31048 and at some later stage was transferred to the Royal Fusiliers, but unfortunately his service record did not survive the WW2 blitz. Legend courtesy of W.Bro. Rod Gibson (Suffolk)
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Adair No. 936 E.C. | Suffolk |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
6th April 1906 | 4th May 1906 | 1st June 1906 |
Tyler
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley