BUTTON, Albert James
| Service Number: | 1870 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 3 January 1916, 4 years Militia Victoria and WA |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1) |
| Born: | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1890 |
| Home Town: | Fremantle, Fremantle, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Hotel clerk |
| Died: | Accidental (Bomb explosion) in training, United Kingdom, 23 November 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
Codford St. Mary (St. Mary) New Churchyard, Wiltshire, England |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Fremantle 849 Memorial, Fremantle Loyal Orange Lodge "No Surrender" No 7 Honour Roll, Hamilton Hill City of Cockburn War Memorial, Spearwood War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 3 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1870, 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1), 4 years Militia Victoria and WA | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Jul 1916: | Involvement Private, 1870, 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1), --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Seang Bee embarkation_ship_number: A48 public_note: '' | |
| 18 Jul 1916: | Embarked Private, 1870, 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1), HMAT Seang Bee, Fremantle | |
| 23 Nov 1916: | Involvement Corporal, 1870, 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1), --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 1870 awm_unit: 51 Battalion awm_rank: Corporal awm_died_date: 1916-11-23 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”
Died on this date - 23rd November......Albert James Button was born in Melbourne, Victoria in 1890.
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 3rd January, 1916 as a 23 year old Hotel Clerk from Fremantle, Western Australia.
Private Button arrived in England on 9th September, 1916 for further training before being sent to the Front. He was promoted to Acting Corporal of 51st Battalion on 11th September, 1916.
Corporal Albert James Button was injured in a bombing accident at No. 4 Camp Codford, Wiltshire, England on 23rd November, 1916 & was admitted dead to No. 3 New Zealand Hospital.
An Inquiry was held on 24th November, 1916 into the death of Corporal Button.
"Inquiring into the death of a soldier in that he on 23.11.16 at Codford whilst in the Bay of a live Bomb throwing pitch was killed. The Bomb was thrown by 2264 Pte Taylor of 50th Btn now attached to the 13th Trg Btn, which struck against the top of the parapet to the head of the thrower. Owing probably to the spin of the bomb it came back & dropped on the inside edge of the next bay. All men were warned & endeavoured to reach cover, with the exception of 1870 Cpl Button A.J. 51st Battn. who seemed paralysed with fear. He remained in the bay & was found after the explosion lying across the sandbags which were placed at the entrance to prevent the Bombs which were thrown against the parapet from rolling into the open. Other soldiers were wounded by shrapnel ...."
Corporal Button was buried in St Mary's New (ANZAC) Cemetery, Codford, Wiltshire, England where 30 other Australian WW1 Soldiers & 66 WW1 New Zealand Soldiers are buried.
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/codford---st-marys.html
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