Person Record

Metadata

Name

Butchart, George Webster

Othernames

G. Webster Butchart
"Web" Butchart "Wib"
Major Butchart

Born

1895

Birthplace

Owen Sound, Grey County

Places of residence

937 5th Ave. East, Owen Sound, Grey County

Titles & honors

Butchart Trophy (for figure skating)

Father

Robert Butchart

Mother

_____________ Butchart (nee Webster)

Nationality

Canadian

Education

Ryerson School (Owen Sound)
Owen Sound Collegiate Institute (O.S.C.I.)
School of Military Aeronautics (near Cairo)

Notes

George Webster Butchart was a member of the 147th Grey (Overseas) Battalion, which was raised in 1915 and trained in 1916. He was a Lieutenant at that time, and is shown on p. 12 of the UNOFFICIAL HISTORY OF THE GREY & SIMCOE FORESTERS. He survived the First World War. The 147th was broken up soon after it went overseas, early in 1917, and Butchart transferred to the Royal Air Force instead.
He had an interest in aviation. Prior to the war, he had assisted Mr. Robert McDowall with his aircraft invention, which was built in Owen Sound, Ontario, at the William Ferguson carriageworks shop. Unfortunately, McDowall's aeroplane design did not fly, just managed a couple of hops in a farmer's field in Sydenham Township. The test took place at the Riddell Farm.

A 1918 clipping from the Great War, seen in the Bruce-Grey geneaological society's microfiche surname collection mentions that Butchart was with the Royal Air Force and was then a Lieutenant, serving with Allenby's Forces in Palestine. He was previously in Egypt.

His obituary metioned that he received his pilot's wings at the School of Military Aeronautics near Cairo, and later became a test pilot at the Air Force Training Squadron at Heliopolis, Egypt. He did testing with Sopwith Pups and Bristol Scouts.

The UNOFFICIAL HISTORY OF THE GREY & SIMCOE FORESTERS (p. 24) includes him in a group portrait of The Grey Regiment's officers posed at Owen Sound in 1927. At that time, his rank was that of Major.

In 1922, Major George Webster Butchart was the manager of the Province of Ontario Savings Office on 9th St. East.

His wife, Emma Butchart (neé Danard), was born in 1905 and died 1971. They were married in 1938. The Butcharts resided at 937 5th Ave. East, Owen Sound. The Butchart gravestone at Greenwood Cemetery reads that Emma Butchart was born in 1903, and died in 1971. Mr. Butchart, describd as a "Retired Banker", had passed away in August of 1966, age 71. Their daughter Dorothy, who had married John R. Taylor, resided at Leith.

Mr. Butchart presented a trophy for the Georgian Figure Skating Club at some point to use as an award in their club. It is not known if this trophy still exists.

Archival Items at the Grey County Archives:
1960.009.001 Photograph of the 147th Battalion at Camp Borden, 1916, had formerly belonged to Mr. Butchart (he was an officer of the 147th at the time).
1984.022.213 Portrait print of Web Butchart (George Webster Butchart, formerly of the 147th and R.A.F.) and Paul Kennedy as ushers at T. K. Kennedy's wedding on June 5, 1924. Both Web and Paul served in the Grey Militia after the war in the 1920s+
1999.016.016 Photograph of officers of The Grey Regiment at Niagara includes G. W. Butchart (c. 1931).

Occupation

147th Battalion (First World War)
Royal Air Force Lieutenant (First World War)
McDowall Aircraft assistant (prior to First World War)
Grey Regiment Officer (c. 1927)
Bank Manager / Banker
Museum Supporter / Volunteer
147th Battalion Association
Royal Canadian Legion (Branch 6)

Publications

Croft, M., RENEWAL OF A CANADIAN PORT, p. 15 (re savings office)
Rutherford, T. J. (Brigadier), AN UNOFFICIAL HISTORY OF THE GREY & SIMCOE FORESTERS, p. __ (small image of Butchart as an officer of the 147th), p. 24 (Grey Rgt. Officer)

Relationships

His grandfather, James Webster, was an 1850s settler at Alvanley, Derby Township, Grey County.
Sister: Miss Pearl Butchart
Sister: Mrs. M. D. Lemon (Mrs. Morley Dalton Lemon?)