Is this a 'long shot' too far?

[Mogsmum]

I'm trying to fill a hole for my great uncle. 

Born Frederick Butcher in Marden in 1878, he would have been about 36 at the outbreak of WWI.   He died in 1935.  His wife and children have since died, his grandchildren claim to know nothing about him.

I had hoped that he and his brother might have joined up together, but recently discovered the brother had died in 1902.

I've had a look at documentsonline - discovered just how many Frederick Butchers there were and decided he could probably be any one of them.

Is the long shot of finding him, a long shot too far?

[Rena]

I had something similar with the surname Fleming.  I've looked on genuki and see that there are two places called Marden; one in Wiltshire and the other in (hmm senior moment) I think it's Herefordshire.  If you do the 'advanced search' for the full name of Frederick Butcher with the keyword being the county you'll see there is only a choice of 3 Frederick(s) in Wiltshire and with any luck they'll all be on the same card (there's 6 names to a card).  The Fleming I'm researching was a year older than your man.  This age group were called up in the latter stages of the war.  Due to Fleming being a common surname I also did a bit of web research to see what sort of Battalions were stationed in local barracks which eliminated countless Flemings who were in Scots Guards, West Yorkshire Brigade, etc.
Another angle is that many towns had 'Pal' regiments - a famous one was 'Accrington Pals' - with any luck the area you're interested in could have a local historian who has published a list of the members of those Pals online.

Good Luck,
Rena

[Mogsmum]

Thanks Rena,

That must make 3 Mardens then - since mine is Marden, Kent.   So parochial am I, I never even thought of any other.    No doubt something to do with 200-odd years of Ag.Labs behind me - we don't get about much 

I'll do as you suggest with the 'keyword' though - I suspect Kent was full of Fred Butchers knowing my luck!

[Rena]

  Three Frederick Butcher's seems to be the vogue!

if your Frederick was from East Kent then you're laughing - I don't know the significance of the 'G/' service numbers.


Best of luck,
Rena

[accypete]

I had something similar with the surname Fleming.  I've looked on genuki and see that there are two places called Marden; one in Wiltshire and the other in (hmm senior moment) I think it's Herefordshire.  If you do the 'advanced search' for the full name of Frederick Butcher with the keyword being the county you'll see there is only a choice of 3 Frederick(s) in Wiltshire and with any luck they'll all be on the same card (there's 6 names to a card).  The Fleming I'm researching was a year older than your man.  This age group were called up in the latter stages of the war.  Due to Fleming being a common surname I also did a bit of web research to see what sort of Battalions were stationed in local barracks which eliminated countless Flemings who were in Scots Guards, West Yorkshire Brigade, etc.
Another angle is that many towns had 'Pal' regiments - a famous one was 'Accrington Pals' - with any luck the area you're interested in could have a local historian who has published a list of the members of those Pals online.

Good Luck,
Rena

Hi Rena
I saw this post and wandered if you are looking for Fleming's from Accrington? I have been trying to find information on these Flemings ,I believe they may have lived in Bolton prior to Accrington. Ellen /Elizabeth fleming married my great great grandfather Thomas Flynn in Accrington/Church St Oswalds RC Church Hyndburn Road.

[Rena]

I'm really sorry accypete but we don't have a connection;  mine originated in Germany as "Flamme" and anglicised that to "Fleming", they didn't leave Yorkshire and were Ev. Lutheran religion not RC.

Good luck.