Henry "John" Butler

John joined the Rifle Brigade in January 1943 and transferred to the Parachute Regiment in October 1943.

He was posted to 7th Bn. (Light Infantry) The Parachute Regiment he served on D-Day and fought at Pegasus Bridge, he was wounded later on in the Normandy Campaign. At war’s end he returned to his parent regiment the Rifle Brigade and then was re-badged Kings Royal Rifle Corps in 1946, with whom he remained until the Rifle Regiments were amalgamated into the Royal Green Jackets in 1958.

During his service with the RB/ KRRC he served in Egypt, Libya, Palestine, Austria and Northern Ireland.

John also served for six years with the Kings African Rifles in Kenya, Northern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), and Malaya plus for three years with the Brigade of Ghurkha’s in Singapore and Brunei.

He retired in January ’65 a Warrant Officer, and worked in Industry for eight years before emigrating to western Canada where he was employed in the retail trade until he retired in 1990 at age 65. He went to Vancouver Island, for a retirement full of boats and fishing, accompanied always by his faithful dog, Chui. Here he died peacefully at Courtenay, BC on the 19th day of January, 2019, aged 93 years.

John was cremated and his ashes were scattered with those of Chui his beloved hound, in the forest where they used to take their daily walk.

The rest of his ashes will be spread at 1st Canadian parachute regiments memorial at Siffler Falls, on the 6th of June 2019, the 75th anniversary of D-day, along with his good friend General Herb Pitts.

John leaves a wife, Rachael and one son Boyce (Julianne). He leaves three granddaughters, Chelsea, Samantha and Hannah, two great grandsons Karson and Nathan (Ernie), and a great granddaughter Kiera.

John is predeceased by his other son John (Brenda).

For Rachael Thank you for:-

Being brave enough to marry me,

Foolish enough to remain with,

And for loving me, far more than I ever deserved.