Shaftesbury Friends War Memorials

News: Charlie Butt BEM 9th February 1920 – 2nd May 2014

Charlie Butt BEM 9th February 1920 – 2nd May 2014
A very moving and dignified Service at St Peters Shaftesbury, 16th May 2014 in memory of Charlie Butt BEM well supported by family and friends a Service conducted by The Reverend Clive Thomas, where appropriate reference to Charlie’s life from 1 Corinthians - Chapter 15.
Charlie was born in Bourton, where he joined the Wincanton Brass Band age 8 years, later under his guidance others benefitted from has tuition and did well in Music, to note the Last Post was played by Dennis Bye. Shaftesbury Town Silver Band sat attentively in the congregation in their impressive uniforms. A Band where Charlie became Bandmaster in 1975 and for seventeen more years.
A Military feel to this Service was most evident 8 Standard Bearers “The Devon and Dorsets” “The Rifles” from throughout the County stood 4 aside solemnly and respectfully during the Service.
Testimony to Charlie’s time in the Army some 7 years, a Normandy Veteran, bodyguard to CO 4th Dorsets and Bugler, when he sounded the advance of the crucial Battle Hill 112 where he was later wounded. One of the intriguing duties Charlie told me he held the post of Battalion Chiropodist then a less mechanised Army. Military Serve aside, most of his working life was with the SEB, where he became Foreman Linesman and before formal retirement he joined STC as grounds man, gardener.
Sadly Charlie became a widower twelve years ago where spent his last years at the pleasant Chubbs House, Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury manager Pam Bell. A great-grandfather and gentleman very much a Soldier of a Generation we owe so much he will be missed and well remembered. RIP
William R Sherriff RE

Charlie Butt BEM.
Charlie Butt BEM took part in the Normandy Campaign, but died unexpectantly less than a month before the “D” Day Celebrations at the age of 94.
With Charlie unable to receive the Campaign Commemorative plaque, Commemorative Crown and other items, kindly donated by Bill Sheriff Shaftesbury, they were presented to Charlie’s daughter Shirley Hall.
The presentation was made by Mike Davis-Sellick on behalf of the Devon & Dorset Regimental Association, Gillingham Branch. He said it was an immense privilege, but nonetheless humbling to be asked to make the presentation to someone who took part in this Historic Event.
Charlie played a large part in the Battle for Hill 112 Caen in 1944 and served with Cliff Lloyd who featured on the front page of Blackmore Vale Magazine earlier.

Dear Mr Sheriff
Re: Charlie Butt BEM.
Thanks for your recent letter and the enclosures.
Things moved rather quickly in respect of the presentation to Shirley Hall (Charlie’s Daughter)
The Association left it right to make the presentation before its AGM (25th June) so that this could be acknowledged at that meeting. Therefore the presentation was made on Tuesday evening by Mike Davis-Sellick. Mrs Hall was most appreciative and will treasure the items. She intends to eventually give them to her grandson on her son’s side, and he will keep them with other items of Charlie’s.
It was a most generous gift on your part and T am sure that the Gillingham Branch appreciates your generosity.
I enclose a photograph of the presentation to which I will be sending to Blackmore Vale together with a small article to accompany. will need to get approved by the Branch this evening and will then send you a copy.
Many thanks Yours sincerely
Leo Williams

1940s themed D-Day Dance!

Limited Tickets Available
As part of the 80th Anniversary D-Day Commemorations Programme, The Keep Military Museum is delighted to be hosting this special 1940s themed evening dance!
Invoking the spirit of 1940s Dorchester, join us at the Army Reserve Centre, Dorchester, next door to the Museum to swing and shimmy the night away with live music from The 1940s Big Blitz Band. This swinging band features exceptional musicians with a varied repertoire, whose 1940s wartime costume add to the authenticity and experience of this magical evening.
Tickets are limited so book now to avoid disappointment!

Date: Saturday 25th May 2024
Times: 18:30 to 22:30
Tickets: £20
Venue: Dorchester Army Reserve Centre

Book Your Tickets Here!

News: Shaftesbury & District Branch Royal British Legion

Remembrance Events - Agreed by Shaftesbury Town Council for 2024

ANZAC Day - Thursday 25 April
VE Day - Wednesday 8 May
D Day - Thursday 6 June
VJ Day - Thursday 15 August

The Battle of Britain arrangements for Sunday 15 September under RAFA

Celia Diblee, Nee Packe - War Time Memoirs in Shaftesbury

I was just coming up to my 22nd birthday, the age with VADs were considered responsible enough to be posted overseas. I had plenty of nursing experience and many of my hospital friends were already in Italy and Belgium. Their letters were full of ecstatic tales and I dreamed of Italy. But it was not to be. I fell seriously ill and was sent back to Shaftesbury. I was slow to recover and was then medically downgraded. You had to be A1 to go overseas, so that was that.
The following winter and spring were difficult and I was very depressed. The war was going badly in Europe and my own life seemed to have ground to a halt. But youth is very resilient. By April 1945 things were going much better in Europe, the Rhine had ben crossed and the German army had started to crumble. Here are some extracts from my diary:
May 1st At 10.30pm hear the incredible news that Hitler is dead. What a great day indeed.
May 2nd Today Italy is completely finished and on top of that Berlin surrenders its garrison of 70,000 troops.
May 4th At 9pm on the news, hear that the German armies in Holland, Denmark and N. Germany have all surrendered. There is a good Company dance in our Mess.
May 5th Wild V Day preparation. Collect about 50 slings from the wards and some old bandages. With the use of red and blue dye we are going to make bunting. Have a Mess Committee to organise things. But oppositition from some people who say "We shouldn't celebrate anything until the Japs surrender." What rubbish!"
May 6th We make the bunting and I borrow a huge Union Jack from the mortuary.
May 7th The GREAT NEWS comes at last. We hear it in the College Arms over some home brewed cider. Dash back to the hospital on bicycles carrying 10 pints of Dorset cider and collecting greenery on the way to decorate our Mess. Put up the Union Jack over the front door and climb on to the roof to nail up the red, white and blue bunting.
May 8th What a terrific day! The Premier speaks at 3pm, announcing the surrender of Germany. Off to the Officers' Mess at 6.0pm for a drink. The King speaks to the nation at 9pm. Then we go up Melbury and light the beacon.
It was a wonderful walk to the foot of Melbury. There were about 100 of us. We collected dead branches from the hedgerows and dragged them with us. We laughed all the way up the steep climb to the summit and we mingled with half the population of Shaftesbury, whose ancestors must always have done this at such a time. The bonfire was huge, it was to be lit at midnight. We added our own contribution, then I stood by myself and marvelled at the scene. I'd been up this beautiful hill so often and was quite in love with it and the tremendous view. There across the valley was Shaftesbury town, high upon its own hilltop. How wonderful to see it a blaze of lights, with all memory of blackout completely forgotten. The church bells were ringing a wild celebration, their use as a warning of enemy landing now a thing of past history. And down in the valley between Melbury and Shaftesbury town was the dear old hospital, with its own lights switched on and its curtains undrawn. I felt this was my home and was deeply grateful for the extraordinary experience of having lived there.
Then I joined in the exuberant singing of the huge crowd and the wild dancing round the unlit bonfire. 'Doing the Hokey-Cokey', the 'Palais Glide' and 'The Lambeth Walk'. At midnight the bonfire was lit. It blazed high up into the night sky and in the distance we could see on other hilltops other bonfires being lit. We cheered, we laughed, we kissed each other and we cried. We cried because after five years of war in Europe, we were free at last.

The Legacy - the newsletter of the Shaftesbury & District Branch Royal British Legion.
The April 2024 edition is now available for download here.

The Yeomanry Badge in Stone

News 25.04.2024: Remembering the Anzacs at Shaftesbury War Memorial, Lester Dibben & Bill Sherriff attended on Behalf of the Friends of The Rifles War Memorials.