Richard Butler

Lieutenant-General Sir Richard Harte Keatinge Butler (28 August 1870 – 22 April 1935) was a British Army general during the First World War. He was Chief of Staff to First Army for much of 1915, then Deputy Chief of Staff to the BEF from the end of 1915 to the start of 1918. For much of 1918 he commanded III Corps in the front line. Early life and career Butler was the son of a colonel. He was educated at Harrow and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, Butler was commissioned into the Dorset Regiment on 29 October 1890. He was promoted to lieutenant on 29 October 1892. In March 1896 he was appointed adjutant of the 2nd Dorsets. He was promoted to captain on 6 April 1897. He served in the Second Boer War in South Africa, including the Battles of Spion Kop (January 1900), Vaal Krantz and Tugela Heights (February 1900); he rescued a wounded man from the River Tugela during the retreat from Spion Kop. He took part in the Relief of Ladysmith in March 1900. He then served in the Transvaal (June 1900), and in Orange River Colony (June 1900), distinguishing himself in the storming of Alleman's Nek in June 1900. For his war services he was mentioned in despatches, received the Queen's South Africa Medal, and was appointed Brevet Major on 29 November 1900. By now in the Mounted Infantry, he was severely wounded at Fort Itala in September 1901. He was again seconded for service in South Africa in April 1902, when he was appointed in command of the 10th Regiment Mounted Infantry.