Butcher, John William

On December 26, 1943, P/O John William (Jack) Butcher, 22, joined the ranks of those immortal R.C.A.F. heroes who gave their lives in driving the Nazi from the skies over Europe. And as a result of his death Brantford lost one of its finest potential citizens. Because P/O Butcher, son of Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Butcher, 7 Hilda St., was one of those, who, having been born and educated here, planned to spend his adult life in Brantford. As a boy he was already preparing to take his place in the community, belonging to the Boy Scouts, taking an interest in the activities of his church, Grace Anglican, and its Sunday

School. He was one of those energetic youngsters who swam in the pool and played on the gymnasium floor of the Y.M.C.A. Later, as he attended Collegiate Institute and Vocational School, he proved to be a good student, competent in his classes, able on the athletic field and enthusiastic as a member of the school clubs. While he played rugby and at one time was on the Alerts ball team, his first sporting love was hockey, and he was on the winning Lions "B" team when it captured the 1940-41 Ontario Junior Hockey Association Championship in one of the most memorable play-offs the Province had seen. His aptitude as a student made him particularly fitted for the navigator's course when he enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force in June, 1942, and upon graduation at Crumlin he was granted his commission. Immediately following this he went overseas in September, 1943. He now lies buried at Chester, England. Besides his parents, P/O Butcher is mourned by his young wife, who before her marriage was Miss Betty Jeffrey.

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