Alfred Pennyworth but Thomas refused to allow threats to keep him from enjoying his weekly movie night with Martha and Bruce. Later that night, Alfred was called to the police station. Thomas and Martha had been killed by a mugger outside the theatre and Bruce had been orphaned. To Alfred's shock, he discovered that Thomas and Martha had named him Bruce's legal guardian some time ago. Unsure of himself, Alfred still made it his mission to look out for Bruce as he grew up. When Bruce took on his costumed persona of Batman and began his war on crime, Alfred reluctantly took
Alfred Butler eventually rising to the rank of Captain. While a temporary Second Lieutenant, he was awarded the Military Cross. The citation reads: At the age of 17, Butler became a clerk to Henry Burke, then Somerset Herald. In 1919, on Burke's promotion to Garter Principal King of Arms, Butler became his secretary, and continued in this post until Burke's death in 1930. Burke specialised in genealogy, and Butler learned a lot from him, eventually being regarded as the foremost genealogist of his generation. During this time Butler also edited Burke's Peerage, from 1922 – 1926. Butler became an officer of arms