Herbert was the youngest son of Edward Ormond Butler and Mary Anne Butler of Richmond

Educated at the Richmond School and the Technical High School, Christchurch, New Zealand

Before the out break of war was a bugler in the Territorials and Sydenham rifles

At the time of enlistment was a gunner at the Lyttelton forts

Excerpt from a letter from France, dated 1 May 1918 from Fred Stratford to his mother: 'Bert Butler was killed instantaneously on the 28th March. He was asleep at the time and a shell struck the billet. I have written to his mother giving full particulars.'

On this same 28th March, when Major Edwards was wounded, a 5.9 shell landed on the Rifle Brigade HQ at Colincamps, killing Major Purdy and 9 other ranks. Three officers and eleven other ranks were wounded. General Fulton dying of wounds. 2nd Lieut C.R.G. Bassett, V.C. buried in the explosion, and when he got out he found 5 of his men killed and two wounded. Sergeant Bill Birkett M.M. and Serbian Cross 1st Class, was killed, also George Duff, H.E. Butler, R.J. Christie and A.J. Cullingham. Cyril had communications restdored in 15 minutes and had his name sent foreward, but nothing came of it because he had already received the highest award. Major Waite in his 'Gallipoli' had wrongly credited Cyril with the D.S.O. The next morning the 3rd Rifle Brigade was moved back a mile to Courcelles, where the Machine Gun Battlaion had their Headquarters.' from 'By Wires to Victory' by Roy F. Ellis

New Zealand lost 18,166 service men and women, out of a population of approximately 1,089,825, in World War I. Nearly all those killed were buried overseas - 5325 New Zealanders have no known grave. AWMM