Raymond Butler

6th Battalion, 20th Engineers, Headquarters Detachment
PHOTO	Suellen Littleton Grandniece
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	Raymond Charles Butler - New Richmond, Wisconsin Army Rank: Private (1918). Assigned Unit: 6^th Bn., 20^th Engineers, Headquarters Detachment Army Serial Number: Inducted: Army Discharge: ETERNAL WATCH Remarks: Overseas Jan. 24, 1918 – KIA Torpedoed on the Transport Tuscania Feb. 5, 1918 Contracted measles aboard the Tuscania, placed in lifeboat Address: New Richmond, St. Croix Co., WI (1900) Address: Arch St., New Richmond, WI (1910) Fathers Name: Charles E. Butler (b. 1851 NC)(d. 1925) Mothers Name: Lillian E. Johnson (b. 1859 WI)(d. 1952) Marriage: Dec 26, 1890 St. Croix Co., WI Sister: Mary B. Butler Born: April 8, 1897 New Richmond, WI Died: Feb. 5, 1918 At Sea, Coast of Scotland Buried in Kilnaughton, Islay Feb. 9, 1918 Body was exhumed and relocated to New Richmond, WI in 1920 Cemetery: New Richmond Cemetery, St. Croix Co., WI 1 block South of 6^th Street and Green Ave. Internment Date: Oct. 20, 1920 Plot:
Suellen Littleton is my partner. She is an American living in England. Her mother's uncle was killed in the sinking of the Tuscania off Islay in 1918. His name was Raymond Butler, he was serving in the 6th Battalion of the 20th Engineers. He was one of the contingent that joined the Battalion on 1 January 1918. He was offered a desk job in the States, but turned it down because some of his friends were going to France and he wanted to go with them. On the Tuscania, Raymond Butler contracted measles and was laid up in bed. So sadly they put him on one of the lifeboats. Apparently he died when the lifeboat smashed on the rocks. After spending some time in Trench 1, Grave 15, at Kilnaughton, his body was repatriated to New Richmond, Wisconsin, where they named a hall after him. He is said to have been the first US Boy Scout to be killed in World War I. I gather that Raymond's sister was killed in a tornado the following year, so Suellen's grandmother lost two siblings in tragic circumstances. Julian Smith & Suellen Littleton June 1st, 1999