BUTTERS, Lawrence Sylvester

War
2nd Word War
Date of Birth
Date Attested
Attested at
Stratford - Ontario
Regimental Number
37847
Rank
Private
Date of Death
Age at Death
26 years 5 months
Cenotaph
Biographical Summary

NAME              BUTTERS      Lawrence Sylvester
RANK              Private            37847                                                                                                                                                1st Canadian Army - II Canadian Corps - 3rd Canadian Infantry Division - 9th Infantry Brigade      REGIMENT     Highland Light Infantry of Canada                                                                                                                            "defence not defiance"                                                                                                                                              Royal Canadian Infantry Corps                                                                                        Residence       Stratford - Ontario                                                                                                                      Born                                                                                                                                                                    Died                June 22, 1944     26 years   5 months                                                                                                Cemetery        Beny-Sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery - Reviers - Calvados - France
                        X H 1
Parents           Mr. John Butters - St Marys / Kirkton                                                                                    Brothers          Private John Butters serving with Canadian Army and attached to the Ordinance Corps Training                         Centre at Barrifield - Ontario                                                                                                                                     Private Clarence Butters was serving overseas with the Canadian Army.                              Sisters            Mrs Gladys Bernard of St Marys.                                                                                                                             Mrs. Hazel Forman of St Marys

Lawrence was born in St. Marys on January 18, 1918. He was raised Presbyterian and would have attended St Marys Presbyterian Church and St Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Stratford. He would have taken his schooling in St Marys at Central Public School. He left school at the age of 13 and had his Grade VIII. After his schooling he was employed in farming and then he was a cheese maker for 2 years.

Canada
                                                                                                                                                                              He enlisted into the Canadian Army in Stratford on October 30, 1940. When he enlisted he stood 5' 8" and weighed 159 pounds. He had a ruddy complexion with blue eyes and brown hair. He was then Taken on Strength with the Highland Light Infantry of Canada in Stratford.                                                                            Very early in 1941 he was posted to Cove Field Barracks in Quebec City which was a holding area for soldiers preparing to go overseas. On February 18 Private Butters travelled to Camp Debert near Halifax and prepared to go overseas. He then trained here for 5 months.

Overseas

On July 20 Private Butters was Struck off Service with the Canadian Army in Canada and that day embarked from Canada for the United Kingdom. The following day he was Taken on Service with the Canadian Army overseas. He disembarked in Gourock - Scotland on July 29. He was Taken on Service with the Highland Light Infantry of Canada. Early in November he was posted to the 3rd Canadian Division Infantry Holding Unit and then admitted to No. 14 Canadian General Hospital based at Crowthorne - Berkshire where he remained until November 25. He then returned to his unit.                                                                                                              Private Butter's training continued through all of 1942. From January 7-18, 1943 he was a patient at No. 1 Canadian General Hospital based at Marston Green - Birmingham - West Midlands. In March takes a course on the 3" mortar. His training continued throughout the remainder of 1943.                                                              For the first half of 1944 the Highland Light Infantry of Canada continued on with their training.. 

In the Field

Private Butters and his regiment embarked from England on June 4 and two days later on D Day came ashore at Juneau Beach in Normandy.                                                                                                                              On June 21 the regiment moved to south of Colomby sur Tharon and Anguerny and later in the day the HLI moved to Villon les Buissons. "D" Company moved into position in the village. "B' Company was to the west of the village and "A" Company was astride Caen - La Mere road and "C" Company was north east of Le Vey. In the evening the Germans began shelling from Galmanche and Buron. At 10 pm "D" Company was heavily shelled from Galamanche and suffered two casualties.                                                                                            The next day was June 22 at 2:40 am the HLI came under heavy fire from enemy 6" guns located near Carpiquet and there were 4 casualties. They were in a very poor position and were under the cover of trees. When the enemy shells struck they exploded sending shell fragments and tree fragments flying.                Private Butters was wounded at 3 am on June 22 and immediately moved to No. 22 Canadian Field Ambulance. He received fatal wounds to his leg and died later that day.

At some point his father received the Memorial Cross and this was followed at a later date with the medals that had been awarded to Lawrence. These included the 1939-1945 Star, the France-Germany Star, both the Defence and War Medals along with the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with clasp.

Lawrence is honoured and remembered on the Memorial Plaques of St Marys Presbyterian Church and possibly St Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Stratford. He is honoured and remembered on the St Marys Cenotaph and on the Virtual Canadian War Memorial.