Private 102.57643 , 2nd Regiment de Ligne Belgian Army.
Killed in action on Tuesday 18th August 1914 at Neerlinter, near Tienen, Belgium, age 22.
Buried at Sint-Margriete-Houtem Military Cemetery, Tienen, Belgium, grave no. 138.
Former student of Textiles.
Gustave was born on 18th February 1892 to Julia Mathilda Vandemaele (1860-1941) and Victor de Boutte (1844-1915), Fabricant, Ingelmunster, near Courtrai, Belgium.
When he came to Manchester in 1909-10 and registered as 1st year student in Textiles, he resided at Xaverian College, Victoria Park, Manchester, and described his employer as: De Boutte de Mathe, Manufacturer of Tapestries in Belgium. He returned in 1910 for a second year as a ‘Textile Special Student.’
The Belgium Defence state that he was conscripted in 1912, was mobilised on 30th July 1914 and on 18th August 1914 was killed in action defending Belgium for which he was awarded posthumously: the Cross of Knight in the Order of Leopold II with palm; the War Cross with palm; the Victory Medal and the Commemorative Medal of the War 1914-1918.
He is the first on the University’s Roll of Honour to die in the Great War.