George Butterfield (1879-1917)
Olympic athlete from Darlington served with the Royal Garrison Artillery
George Butterfield was born in Stockton-on-Tees in 1879. He was a British amateur athlete who ran for the Darlington Harriers. He won the mile English championship three years running from 1905-1907. In 1906, George ‘Butt’ Butterfield ran the world’s fastest mile, and in 1908 he competed for Britain at the 1908 London Olympics. Although he came second in his semi-final heat for the 800 metres, he could not advance to the final due to a controversial decision to only allow the winner of each heat to advance. He also competed in the 1500 metres, reaching third place in his semi-final heat. The Northern Despatch recorded in his obituary that he had once raced a greyhound and won.
George Butterfield married Mary Cecilia ‘Cissy’ Calvert in Norton on 18 May 1901. They had a son, Charles Ronald on 13 October 1908 (died 1971). George Butterfield was the publican and hotel manager for the Hole in the wall Hotel in Darlington (1911 census). A plaque still there today commemorates his life.
In December 1915, George Butterfield attested under the Derby Scheme that he was willing to enlist in the war effort when necessary. As a married man, he was called up after the eligible single men, enlisting for ‘short service’ on 28 June 1916. George Butterfield served in France and Flanders as a Gunner in the Royal Garrison Artillery. He was awarded the British War and Victory Medals. George Butterfield was killed in action on 24 September 1917. He is buried in Birr Cross Roads Cemetery, Ypres. George Butterfield was one of 50 British Olympic athletes who died during the First World War.
North East War Memorials Project, page on plaque at the Hole in the Wall, Darlington:
http://www.newmp.org.uk/detail.php?contentId=10940
Civil Parish: Darlington
Birth date: 1879
Death date: 24-Sep-1917
Armed force/civilian: Army
Residence: Hole in the Wall Hotel, Darlington (1911 census)
Employment: Hotel Manager (1911 census)
Amateur athlete
Family: Mary Cecilia Calvert (Wife)
Charles Ronald Butterfield (Son)
Isaac Butterfield (Father)
Phillis Butterfield (Father)
Joseph Butterfield (Brother)
Dorothy Butterfield (Sister)
Isaac Butterfield (Brother)
Military service:
Private with the Royal Garrison Artillery
Medal(s): British War Medal
Victory Medal
Memorial(s): Darlington War Memorial Hospital
Hole in the Wall Hotel, Darlington, plaque
Gender: Male
Contributed by Jessica, Durham at War Volunteer
