Stanley George Butterfield was killed in action on 8 July 1916. He was born at Welwyn in 1894 and was the son of James and Eliza Butterfield, who were married at Eliza’s home village of St. Paul’s Walden in 1884 and are buried in the old churchyard. He was baptised in this church on 23 September 1894, when his parents were living at Digswell Hill. He enlisted at Welwyn.
In 1901 the family were living in one of the White Hill cottages, and were therefore at that time neighbours of the Harwoods and Days. The 1911 census informs us that Stanley George was known as George and was working in the brickyard. He was then aged 16 and living with his widowed mother and a brother and sister at what is now 9 Ayot Green.
George’s father James Butterfield died on 5 November 1910 aged 53 and his widow Eliza died on 9 March 1945 aged 90. They are buried in the old churchyard and on their footstone are inscribed these words: ‘Stanley George, son of the above, died in action 8 July 1916 aged 21.’ At the time of his death George was serving with the 13th Bn., Royal Fusiliers. The day of his death was a Saturday, at the end of the first week of the Battle of the Somme. He is another of the tens of thousands commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.