Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War M.C. group of three awarded to Captain C. D. O’Brien-Butler, 6th Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment, who was killed in action at Wytschaete in June 1917

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed, in its official case of issue; British War and Victory Medals (Capt. C. D. O’Brien-Butler.) these two additionally privately inscribed after the name ‘M.C. Rl. I. Regt.’, extremely fine (3) £1000-1200

M.C. London Gazette 18 June 1917:

‘Capt. Capel D. O’Brien-Butler, R. Ir. Regt., Spec. Res.

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when in command of a raiding party. He led his men in the most gallant manner, and was largely responsible for the success of the raiding party.’

Captain Capel Desmond O’Brien-Butler was killed in action on 7 June 1917, aged 27. He was the son of Major Pierce O’Brien-Butler, late 60th Foot, and brother to Captain Charles Paget O’Brien-Butler, R.A.M.C., attached 5th Lancers, who died of wounds on 31 October 1914.

The following account of the attack on Wytschaete on 7 June 1917 is taken from the regimental history:

‘At 3.10 a.m. on the 7th, when the attack was to be launched, nineteen large mines were to be fired under the German trenches. One of these was under Macdelstede Farm immediately in front of the battalion, and this meant that very careful plans had to be made to ensure that the battalion did not lose direction or leave a gap in the attack. Their final objective was the village of Wytschaete.

The leading companies, A and B, secured the first objective of the battalion. C and D then passed through them to seize Wytschaete village and “mop up” the Bois de Wytschaete. The Germans in their concrete machine gun posts in the wood put up considerable opposition and here another gallant officer, Captain O’Brien-Butler, fell at the head of his men storming one of these posts. At the scheduled hour the battalion had secured all their objectives, but had lost Major W. Redmond, M.P., Captain C. D. O’Brien-Butler, 2nd Lieutenants M. T. Wall, R. E. T. Hewitt and 27 men killed.’