Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Joseph Butler a coal miner, born 1852 in Barlestone, Leics., and his wife Mary Arabella, born 1852 in Worthington, Leics. Edgar Henry was born in 1886 in Ellistown, Leics., he had one sibling, a sister Bertha, born 1888 in Ellistown, Leics., in March 1901 the family home in which they were residing belonged to his widowed maternal grandfather, William Dodd, born 1820 in Worthington, Leics., and was at 23, South Street, Hugglescote and Donington, Ellistown, Leics. His family later resided at 72, Midland Road, Ellistown, Leics. Prior to enlistment Edgar had been a Farm Labourer. His medical examination gave the following information, he was 5 foot 5 ½ inches in height, he had a chest measurement of 32 ½ to 34 ½ inches, his weight was 10 stone 4 pounds, his teeth and eye sight were good. He embarked from Melbourne aboard HMAT A32 Berrima on the 22nd December 1914.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday June 18th, 1915

KILLED IN THE DARDANELLES

WELL-KNOWN ELLISTOWN SOLDIER

Within the last few days, Mr Joseph Butler, of 72, Midland Road, Ellistown, formerly a banksman at Ellistown Colliery, but who has been ill for some months, received official intimation that his only son, Pte. E. H. Butler has been killed in action in the Dardanelles.

Butler, an old Baptist School boy, went to Canada a few years ago and after being there two years returned home and then left for Australia, being also for some time in Egypt. He joined the army on the outbreak of war and went to Egypt with the Australian Contingent, thence to the Dardanelles. From Egypt he sent his mother as a gift, a table cover of oriental design. In the last letter received from him he wrote of the wonderful sights in Egypt. He also told his parents that whatever happened to him they were to “keep smiling.”

Coalville Times article - Friday July 2nd, 1915

Mr and Mrs Butler, of 72, Midland Road, Ellistown, have this week received an official letter stating that her son, Pte. E. Butler, of the Australian contingent, recently reported killed in the operations in the Dardanelles, has been wounded. It is to be hoped the latter report, rather than the first, may be true. Further enquiries are being made.

Coalville Times article - Friday July 23rd 1915

Ellistown Soldier Killed

“Sir, I write to ask if you will please publish in your paper that my son, Private E. H. Butler, is officially reported killed. Unfortunately the news I received that he was wounded was not true and as I meet so many friends who ask me how he is, it is painful to have to tell them he has passed away. Yours truly.”

M. A. Butler
72, Midland Road, Ellistown.
July 20th, 1915.

Research undertaken and submitted (including photograph from the Coalville Times) by Andy Murby 5/9/2017