Victor was not the first child of Edith. On Wednesday the 14th of February 1906, the then 18-year-old Edith had given birth to a daughter, Edith Doreen Butcher at the very same hospital. Again, the father is listed as unknown. Edith Doreen was put up for adoption.

Victor next appears in 1934, when the 25-year-old married the 26-year-old Tasmanian born, Bessie Billing, on Saturday the 6th of October 1934, at St. Marks Church in Fitzroy, Victoria.

Victor Gerald Butcher and Bessie Butcher appear on the 1943 Australian Electoral Rolls. They are listed as living at 31 Kenilworth Parade, Ivanhoe, Victoria. Victor is a machinist, while Bessie is on home duties. Living next door at 29 Kenilworth Parade, is Alexander Laurence Child and his wife, Jessica Jeanette Child.

What happened to Victor following his birth is still unknown. What we do know at this point in time, is that Edith, a young unmarried Jewish woman, gave him up. It can be assumed that he was adopted by a relative who also carried the Butcher name, as it was the surname he continued to use until the 1950’s.

Interestingly, this marriage certificate provides us with some critical information that may help us discover what happened to Victor between 1908 – 1934. His name is listed as Victor Gerald Butcher and his birthplace is listed as Sydney, New South Wales.

On Saturday the 18th of December 1943, Victor and Bessie welcome their son, John Roth Butcher. The middle name, Roth, is the same middle name as Bessie’s father, Francis Roth Billing.

In 1948, Victor Gerald Butcher and Bessie Butcher have another son, Frederick Butcher, who only lives to be a day old before passing away.

Victor and Bessie Butcher appear on the 1949 Australian Electoral Rolls. They are still living at 31 Kenilworth Parade. He is still listed as a machinist and she is still listed as home duties. Next door at 29 Kenilworth Parade, Alexander and Jessica Child are now accompanied by their grown children, Kathleen Jeanette, Thomas Henry, and Eileen Betty Mason, who is listed as working in sales.

Eileen is still married but separated to her husband, Jack Siccard Mason. Living with her, is their 2-year-old daughter, Laureena Jeanette Mason.

On Wednesday the 13th of December 1950, five days shy of John Butcher’s 7th birthday, their neighbour, Eileen Mason gives birth to a son, Christopher Victor Mason. On his birth certificate, the father is listed as unknown. However, DNA from Christopher’s son, can confirm that Victor Butcher, Eileen’s married neighbour, is the father. At this point in time, Victor is 42-years-old and Eileen is 25-years-old.

Bessie was either unaware of the affair between Victor and Eileen, or chose to forgive and forget his indiscretions, because four years after the birth of Christopher, in the 1954 Australian Electoral Rolls, Victor and Bessie Butcher are still listed as living at 31 Kenilworth Parade. Eileen Mason is still listed as living at 29 Kenilworth Parade with her parents.

What happened between 1954 and March 1956 remains mostly unknown. What we do know in this short window of time, is that Eileen falls pregnant with Victor’s child again and gives birth to Alexander Robert Mason on Friday the 30th of March 1956. By this child’s birth, Alexander and Jessica Child have moved to Foster, Victoria and Victor Gerald Butcher has changed his name to Eric James Mason, which is recorded as the father.

Born Victor Clyde Jackson Butcher, later known as Victor Gerald Butcher, he would use the name Eric James Mason for the rest of his life.

On Thursday the 15th of October 1908, Victor Clyde Jackson Butcher was born at The Hospital for Women in Carlton, Victoria. His mother was 21-year-old Edith Butcher, of Violet Town, Victoria. His father was listed as unknown.