But that’s not how his grandson Don Butler remembers him.
Butler was at Monday’s public meeting of Corner Brook city council to hear official word that a new hiking trail in the city will be named after Maj. Butler, the Royal Newfoundland Regiment’s most decorated soldier.
The new trail will link West Street to the existing Three Bear Mountain Trail network on the plateau overlooking West Street below. The entrance will be in the area behind the Ultramar gas station.
Don Butler lived with his grandfather for 25 years before he died in 1970 and war-like is not how he would ever describe him. In fact, he said his grandfather would be horrified at all the war stories and articles written about him for dispatching the enemy in the heat of battle — something so many soldiers were never proud to have been asked to do.
“He was a young man and they all did what they thought they were supposed to do when they were called to go,” he said.
“They stood up, they did the job and they came home. It was a small segment of their life and he was a very non-violent man.”
He remembers a peaceable man who would read Charles Dickens to him at the age of five. He remembers the lover of nature who could identify just about every bird and plant around.
He recalls the avid angler who spent virtually all summer long fishing for mighty salmon on the Humber River. He recalls the grandfather who put so much tender loving care into the old Dormston Farm owned and operated by the paper mill in Corner Brook.
He knows Maj. Butler would appreciate a nature trail being named in his honour.
“That was one of the reasons why the family and I thought it was very appropriate,” said Butler.
Even more fitting is the fact Maj. Butler used to live in the Park Street neighbourhood and the nearby Three Bear Mountain area would have been his proverbial stomping ground in Corner Brook.
“This is an entirely appropriate site because it ties in with his environment, his goals and the things he liked – the outdoors and nature,” said Butler.
Construction of the trail is expected to start next spring.
“We thought it would be quite fitting to do this at today’s meeting, ahead of Remembrance Day,” Said Corner Brook Mayor Charles Pender.
But that’s not how his grandson Don Butler remembers him.
Butler was at Monday’s public meeting of Corner Brook city council to hear official word that a new hiking trail in the city will be named after Maj. Butler, the Royal Newfoundland Regiment’s most decorated soldier.
The new trail will link West Street to the existing Three Bear Mountain Trail network on the plateau overlooking West Street below. The entrance will be in the area behind the Ultramar gas station.
Don Butler lived with his grandfather for 25 years before he died in 1970 and war-like is not how he would ever describe him. In fact, he said his grandfather would be horrified at all the war stories and articles written about him for dispatching the enemy in the heat of battle — something so many soldiers were never proud to have been asked to do.
“He was a young man and they all did what they thought they were supposed to do when they were called to go,” he said.
“They stood up, they did the job and they came home. It was a small segment of their life and he was a very non-violent man.”
He remembers a peaceable man who would read Charles Dickens to him at the age of five. He remembers the lover of nature who could identify just about every bird and plant around.
He recalls the avid angler who spent virtually all summer long fishing for mighty salmon on the Humber River. He recalls the grandfather who put so much tender loving care into the old Dormston Farm owned and operated by the paper mill in Corner Brook.
He knows Maj. Butler would appreciate a nature trail being named in his honour.
“That was one of the reasons why the family and I thought it was very appropriate,” said Butler.
Even more fitting is the fact Maj. Butler used to live in the Park Street neighbourhood and the nearby Three Bear Mountain area would have been his proverbial stomping ground in Corner Brook.
“This is an entirely appropriate site because it ties in with his environment, his goals and the things he liked – the outdoors and nature,” said Butler.
Construction of the trail is expected to start next spring.
“We thought it would be quite fitting to do this at today’s meeting, ahead of Remembrance Day,” Said Corner Brook Mayor Charles Pender.
