BUTLER, James William
| Service Number: | 6712 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Gundagai, Gundagai, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 14 April 1918, age not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Gundagai Anzac Grove War Memorial, Gundagai War Memorial, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France) |
World War 1 Service
| 8 Nov 1916: | Involvement Private, 6712, 3rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: SS Port Nicholson embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Nov 1916: | Embarked Private, 6712, 3rd Infantry Battalion, SS Port Nicholson, Sydney |
Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
James William BUTLER, (Service Number 6712) was born on 11 September 1898 at Dubbo. He commenced working for the NSW Railways as a junior clerk at Narrandera in November 1915 and then moved to Cootamundra, where he enlisted on 11 July 1916.
He left Australian through Sydney, aboard HMAT ‘Port Nicholson’ on 8 November 1916 and arrived at Devonport, UK, on 13 January 1917. During the sea voyage he spent two weeks in isolation with VD. After a period of further training he proceeded overseas to France on 9 July through Le Havre and was taken on the strength of the 3rd Australian Infantry Battalion. In December he was attached to the 1st Brigade Signal School, and in December the 1st Anzac Corps School.
He was killed in action on 14th April 1918 near Strazeele by a direct hit from a high explosive shell. Witnesses were unsure if he was buried, and some reported that he had been blown to pieces.
Since he has no grave, or its location is lost, his name is recorded on the Villers-Brettoneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France.
(NAA B2455-3176222)
Submitted 13 May 2023 by John Oakes