Ottiwell Hastings Stanhope Butler

Ottiwell Hastings Stanhope, known as Stanhope, was the son of William Stanhope Butler and his second wife, Adairine (Ada) Mary Smith (née Tisdall or Tisdell). No record has yet been found of his parents registrations of birth and their ages on the census records are inconsistent. His parents variously used the surname Stanhope and Butler on census and registration records. His father William was born in Dublin, Ireland, the son of Robert Butler, a silversmith. but, like Ottiwell's mother, William married first Frances Harly in Dublin in May 1865 and they had a daughter, Lucy Jane, in 1866. Fanny died the same year aged 18 and her daughter in 1871. Ottiwell's mother was also born in Dublin, the daughter of Thomas Tisdell (also Tisdall) whose occupation was given as 'gentleman' on the certificate of marriage to William Butler. Adairine, home address Randagh Road, Dublin, married first Henry Dunthorne Smith in July 1869 (reg. Poole). The notice of their marriage in the Belfast Newsletter gave her husband's name as 'Henri Dunthorne' of Cavendish Square London. In 1871, the couple were living at College Avenue, London. Henry (Dunthorne) was an 'operatic artiste' and although Ada had no occupation on other records she was described as an actress (stage name Ada Tisdall). The couple separated in the 1870s and Henry died in 1883 (registered Reading Berkshire, 'Henry Dunthorne'). William Stanhope Butler, occupation comedian, and Adairine Mary Smith were married at St John, Hoxton, Hackney, London, in March 1884. Although Ada described her status as widow, William gave his status as bachelor. The couple were living at 106 Pitfield Street, but this may have been an accomodation address as they were living in Birkenhead in 1881, their fifth child was born in Birkenhead later that year, and in 1891 they were living in Toxteth Park, Lancashire. William and Ada had five children, three of whom were born before their marriage, and two of the children died in infancy. Their children, who were born in either Birkenhead or Liverpool, were: William George Stanhope (Butler) b. 1878 bap. West Derby St Jude October 1878 d. 1878. Marianne Ada/Adairine (Stanhope) b. 1880 bap. Liverpool St Peter April 1880. Ottiwell Hastings Stanhope (Butler) b. 1882 (O/N/D) bap. Birkenhead St Mary 18 February 1883. Marie Violet Stanhope (Butler) b. 1884 bap. Birkenhead St Mary October 1884 (age 2 days) d. 1884. Robert Normanton Stanhope (Butler) b. 1886 bap. Birkenhead St Mary July 1886. William and Ada, using the surname Stanhope, were recorded in Birkenhead, Cheshire, on the 1881 and 1891 Census. William's occupation was given as 'dramatic author' in 1881 and 'theatrical manager' in 1891, and his wife's as 'actress' in 1881 but in 1891, when the couple had three children and there was also a lodger (an actress) in the household, no occupation was given. The family had moved to Upper Hill Street, Toxteth Park, by 1901. Ada (Butler), a furniture dealer, was head of household, and her three children were in the homeon the night of the census: Ada no occupation, Ottiwell a shipping clerk and Robert who was at school. William has not yet been traced on the 1901 Census. However, by 1911 both William (Butler), an actor, and his wife were living at 17 River Avon Street, Smithdown Road, Liverpool. Only Marianne, an actress, and Robert, a clerk, were in the home on the night of the census. Ottiwell has not yet been traced on the 1911 Census, but may already have moved to Nottingham where the Nottingham Hippodrome had opened a few years earlier and of which he became an assistant manager. Ottiwell's mother, Adairine Mary (Butler), died at Liverpool in December 1914 and was buried in Anfield Cemetery. Her Will (proven Ireland) named her husband and daughter as beneficiaries. According to a newspaper report of Robert Butler's death in action in 1917, William was living in Paisley, Scotland. However, his death in 1921 was recorded in the Toxteth Park Lancashire registration district. (William Stanhope Butler). Ottiwell married Martha Ann Bean in 1914 (reg. Nottingham) and they had a daughter, Marianne in March 1917. Martha Ann was born in Sheffield in 1888 (bap. All Saints, Brightside October 1888), the daughter of George, a tailor, and Eliza Bean. She was living with her parents in Manchester in 1901 but by 1911 had moved to King's Meadow Road, Meadows, Nottingham, where she was living with her married sister, Florence (b. 1882 Lincoln) her husband Thomas Richard Dawn (m. 1900 Lincoln) and a niece, Mary Bean (3 b. Manchester). Martha was employed as a domestic housemaid. Ottiwell and Martha lived initially at Chaucer Street, Nottingham, but later at 18 Auburn Terrace, Goldsmith Street, Nottingham, which was close to the Hippodrome where Ottiwell was assistant manager. His widow was awarded a pension of 20 shillings and 5 pence (£1 5d) for herself and their child with effect from 17 June 1918. The WW1 Pension Ledgers record names Martha (incorrectly giving her year of birth as 1886) and her daughter Marianne. Ottiwell's possessions, which comprised letters, photographs, wallet, pipe and safety razor, were returned to Martha in August 1918. Martha and Marianne were still living at 18 Auburn Terrace in 1921 and were at the same address the following year when Martha received the plaque and scroll. Martha has not yet been traced after this date, but her daughter probably married Donald P Lewis in 1941 (reg. Newbury Berkshire) and died in 1991. Ottiwell's brother Robert was also killed in the war (see 'Extra information'). Marianne Ada probably survived her brothers as there is a record of a Marianne Ada Stanhope on the London (City of Westminster) electoral roll of 1939. She died at St Bernard's Hospital in Southall in April 1953.

1901 - shipping clerk (Liverpool). Later assistant manager of the Hippodrome, Nottingham. Occupation on enlistment in 1915 given as music hall and theatre secretary.

Enlisted in Nottingham.

'A' Company, 1/28th (County of London) Battalion The London Regiment (Artists' Rifles) The Artists' Rifles originated in May 1860 as a corps of rifle volunteers formed by an art student from members of the artistic professions. The Artists' Rifles became the 28th Bn. The London Regiment when the Territorial Force was formed in 1908 and second and third battalions were formed on the outbreak of war in 1914. The 1/28th Bn. was mobilised in 1914 and served with the BEF France from October the same year. It came under order of the 190th Brigade, 63rd (Royal Naval) Division. Ottiwell Hastings Stanhope Butler attested on 10 December 1915 aged 31 years 94 days and was transferred to the Army Reserve the following day. He was mobilised and posted to the London Regiment on 21 October 1916. He served at home until March 1917 and was then posted to the BEF France, embarking Southampton on 19 March 1917 and disembarking the next day. He joined his unit in the field on 1 April. Ottiwell was admitted to 149th Field Ambulance on 31 July 1917; the cause of his admission is not clear from the record, but was probably the result of illness or disease rather than injury or wounds. He was discharged to duty (own unit) a week later on 7 August. The battalion probably took part in the Second Battle of Passchendaele (26 October 1917-10 November 1917), a phase of the Third Battle of Ypres (1917) which took place in the Ypres Salient in and around the Belgian village of Passchendaele. Ottiswell was reported missing in action on 30 October 1917 and his death on that date later presumed. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium (Panel 153). 'The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.' (www.cwgc.org) Ottiwell had served for 1 year 325 days. He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Tyne Cot Memorial (extract): ''The Tyne Cot Memorial is one of four memorials to the missing in Belgian Flanders which cover the area known as the Ypres Salient. Broadly speaking, the Salient stretched from Langemarck in the north to the northern edge in Ploegsteert Wood in the south, but it varied in area and shape throughout the war. The Salient was formed during the First Battle of Ypres in October and November 1914, when a small British Expeditionary Force succeeded in securing the town before the onset of winter, pushing the German forces back to the Passchendaele Ridge. The Second Battle of Ypres began in April 1915 when the Germans released poison gas into the Allied lines north of Ypres. This was the first time gas had been used by either side and the violence of the attack forced an Allied withdrawal and a shortening of the line of defence. There was little more significant activity on this front until 1917, when in the Third Battle of Ypres an offensive was mounted by Commonwealth forces to divert German attention from a weakened French front further south. The initial attempt in June to dislodge the Germans from the Messines Ridge was a complete success, but the main assault north-eastward, which began at the end of July, quickly became a dogged struggle against determined opposition and the rapidly deteriorating weather. The campaign finally came to a close in November with the capture of Passchendaele.' (www.cwgc.org)

His brother, Robert Normanton Stanhope Butler, served with the 12th Bn Manchester Regiment (44209 Private) and was killed in action on 8 February 1917 aged 30. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. (CWGC 7366078) Robert, professional name Stanhope Butler, was actor/stage manager with the repertory company at Her Majesty's Theatre, Walsall, before he enlisted. He married Hettie Jones in November 1915; there were no children of the marriage. Walsall Observer, 17 March 1917: ‘Private Robert Butler Stanhope who will be better known to Walsall people and more especially to the patrons of Her Majesty’s Theatre, by his stage-name of Stanhope Butler, we regret to hear, was killed on February 8 while in action with the Manchester Regiment in France. From June 1914 to Christmas 1915 he acted as stage manager to the Repertory Company at Her Majesty’s. ‘He was a good and conscientious actor, and a real good fellow’ was the verdict of Mr John B. Linton, the chief of the company. Private Stanhope was the youngest son of Mr Butler Stanhope, an actor of the old school, who was a great favourite, especially in the South Lancashire district. The veteran actor is now resident at Paisley. His son followed in the footsteps of his father and was an able actor. Private Stanhope, who was only (-) years of age, was married (-) months ago to Miss Hetty Jones (Miss Kitty Hewitt) at the Holy Trinity Church, Warrington. Prior to the official announcement, Mrs Stanhope received a letter and photograph of herself which had been picked up on the battlefield so that the worst was feared. Mrs Stanhope’s three sisters are also in the dramatic profession and needless to say, much sympathy is felt for the widow and family in their bereavement. Private Stanhope’s mother was at one time a member of the Italian Opera Company. The deceased soldier’s only brother is now a cadet in the Artists’ Rifles.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, 'Roll of Honour', 22 December 1917 (abridged): ‘Butler. Private Stanhope Butler, late assistant manager Hippodrome, Nottingham, killed in France October 30th 1917. Wife and baby.’ Nottingham Evening Post, 22 December 1917: ‘Local Casualties. Missing. London Regt. Butler 762930 (Nottm).' Nottingham Evening Post, 25 April 1918: ‘News Items. Popular artists from the Hippodrome and Empire, Nottingham, appeared this afternoon at a matinee performance given at the first-named house on behalf of the widow and child of the late assistant manager, Mr Stanhope Butler, killed in action.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) The Nottingham Hippodrome, a variety theatre on Goldsmith Street, was designed by theatre architect Bertie Crewe and built for Thomas Barrasford who had a chain of ‘Hippodromes.’ It opened in in the early 1900s but was converted to a cinema in the 1920s and later renamed The Gaumont. The Gaumont closed in 1971 and was demolished the following year for redevelopment. The Hippodrome was in close proximity to the Theatre Royal and the variety theatre, The Nottingham Empire, which had been built adjacent to the Theatre Royal in 1898. The Empire closed in the 1960s and demolished for redevelopment. The Royal Concert Hall now stands on the site.