Thomas Adair Butler

For other people named Thomas Butler, see Thomas Butler (disambiguation).

Major Thomas Butler VC
Major Butler's portrait
Born	12 February 1836 Soberton, Hampshire
Died	17 May 1901 (aged 65)
Buried	St Michael's Churchyard, Camberley
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Bengal Army British Army
Years of service	1854 - 1874
Rank	Major
Unit	1st European Bengal Fusiliers 101st Regiment of Foot
Battles/wars	Indian Mutiny Umbeyla Campaign
Awards	Victoria Cross

Thomas Adair Butler VC (12 February 1836 – 17 May 1901) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Early life

Born at Soberton, Hampshire. He was the son of the Rev. Stephen Butler, of Bury Lodge, Hambledon, Hampshire, by his first wife Mary Ann Thistlethwayte, daughter of Thomas Thistlethwayte (1779–1850), of Southwick Park; Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire, hereditary Constable of Porchester Castle and warden of the Forest of Bere. He was a nephew of Rear-Admiral Sir Francis Augustus Collier.

He was educated privately and gazetted as Ensign to the 1st Bengal European Fusiliers, 9 June 1854; Lieutenant, 23 November 1856, and was afterwards Instructor of Musketry. He served in the Indian Mutiny from 10 June 1857, was in all the engagements under the walls of Delhi, was galloper to General Nicholson at the action of Nugafshot, and took part in the Storming of Delhi. He also took part in the actions of Gungehri, Pu and Minpoorie and was present at the Siege and capture of Lucknow where he won the Victoria Cross.

Details

He was 22 years old, and a lieutenant in the 1st European Bengal Fusiliers (later Royal Munster Fusiliers) during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place on 9 March 1858 at Lucknow, India, for which he was awarded the VC:

"Of which success the skirmishers on the other side of the river were subsequently apprised by Lieutenant Butler, of the Bengal Fusiliers, who swam across the Goomtee, and, climbing the parapet, remained in that position for a considerable time, under a heavy fire of musketry, until the work was occupied."
(Extract of Lieutenant-General Sir James Outram's memorandum of operations carried on under his command at the siege of Lucknow, published in the Governor-General's Gazette Extraordinary, of the 5th April, 1858, and re-published in General Orders by the Commander-in-Chief in India, on the 27th of December, 1858.)

Further information

He later served in the Umbeyla Campaign and achieved the rank of major in the service of the 101st Regiment of Foot.

The medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst.

References

• Location of grave and VC medal (Surrey)
• Short Bio