Current Information:

Age-19

49, Darien Road, Battersea

7th Division, which included the 2nd Scots Guards battalion of 20 Brigade, had been heavily involved in the fighting associated with the First Battle of Ypres in October-November, 1914 but on 5th November they were withdrawn from there and sent further south to Sailly-sur-la-Lys in France where they remained for the rest of the year, either in the front line or in support or reserve.

On 18th December, 1914, in support of a French offensive near Arras, they had launched an attack in which they lost half of their number after which the survivors had moved back to billets in Sailly. On 23rd December they left these billets and returned to the front line where they remained until relieved on 28th December. Walter Butler was killed on this date, probably during the relief which were always times of extra danger, but the Battalion Diary gives no further details.