Died: at 30 Balliol Road, Welling, from suffocation
Address / Local links: 30 Balliol Road, Welling
Family / Relatives: Wife of Harry Leslie Butts
Although the London Blitz was nearing its end by April 2nd 1941, the war was not going well – German and Italian forces were pushing the British out of Libya, and Lord Haw-Haw’s broadcasts were becoming more gleeful (his identity as William Joyce was confirmed today)…
For the family of Gladys Elizabeth Butts, however, the day’s news could hardly have been worse.
The Borough Register of civilian deaths lists Gladys as dying of ‘suffocation’ after a bomb destroyed her home at 30 Balliol Road.
Gladys had been born in Woolwich in 1906, the daughter of Thomas and Sarah Elizabeth Pizzey. In 1932 she had married Harry Butts at St. Margaret’s in Plumstead – they had one daughter, Gillian, born in 1938. Harry worked as a clerk at a cartridge factory at Woolwich Arsenal.
Poignantly, the Civilian Deaths Register lists some final details about Gladys –
RECORD OF CIVILIAN DEATHS (From Bexley Archives)
PARTICULARS PENDING IDENTIFICATION – “5ft 9ins tall, brown hair, grey eyes, Roman nose”…”body identified by brother, George Thomas Pizzey of 14 Balliol Road”
INVENTORY OF PERSONAL EFFECTS – “silk stockings, silk scarf, brown & white dress, white vest, blue knickers, print pinafore, pink corsets”…”yellow metal wedding ring, third finger left hand…Bangle (white metal)”
BURIED BY LOCAL AUTHORITY – St. Michael’s Churchyard, 25th April 1941
Gladys was 35 years old.
Our Bexley Archives images show East Wickham Churchyard, and Balliol Road in more peaceful post-war times.
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If anyone is able to add any extra information, provide more family details, or suggest any corrections, please let us know – also, if anyone has any more photos of this individual listed on our memorials, please get in touch. Thank you.
Commemorated
This story has been researched by volunteers. We have taken every effort to ensure its accuracy. If you are related to Gladys Elizabeth Butts, Gladys Elizabeth, or if you have any further information, please do get in touch.