BUTTSWORTH, John Edmond
| Service Number: | 3765 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 10 November 1915, Enlisted at Liverpool NSW |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 30th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Cessnock, New South Wales, Australia , 1893 |
| Home Town: | Bourke, Bourke, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Lawson Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France , 8 April 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
St Pierre Cemetery Plot IX, Row D, Grave 5 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Bourke & District War Memorial, Sydney NSW Post Master General's Department Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 10 Nov 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3765, 30th Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Liverpool NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Aug 1916: | Involvement Private, 3765, 30th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Anchises embarkation_ship_number: A68 public_note: '' | |
| 24 Aug 1916: | Embarked Private, 3765, 30th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Anchises, Sydney | |
| 2 Mar 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 30th Infantry Battalion, Promoted in the field, in France | |
| 12 Apr 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 30th Infantry Battalion, Promoted in the field, in France | |
| 10 Aug 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Sergeant, 30th Infantry Battalion, Promoted in the field, in France | |
| 30 Sep 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 30th Infantry Battalion, Promoted in the field, in France | |
| 8 Apr 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Sergeant, 3765, 30th Infantry Battalion, Sustained severe shrapnel wound to abdomen. Died of wounds later that day at 9th Australian Field Ambulance. | |
| 8 Apr 1918: | Involvement Sergeant, 3765, 30th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3765 awm_unit: 30th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Sergeant awm_died_date: 1918-04-08 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Karan CAMPBELL-DAVIS
John "Jack" Edmond BUTTSWORTH was born in 1892 in Cessnock, NSW, to parents Ebenezer Ernest and Fanny BUTTSWORTH. He attended the Lawson Public School in the Blue Mountains, NSW.
Engaged to Millicent WALKER, and a 23 year old clerk at the time, Jack enlisted as a Private in the Australian Imperial Force at Liverpool on 10th November 1915. Allocated the regimental number 3765, he completed his recruit training at Liverpool before being assigned to the 9th reinforcements of the 30th Infantry Battalion.
On 24th August 1916, Jack embarked with his Unit aboard HMAT "Anchises" in Sydney, for active service overseas. On 6th November, he commenced further training at the Musketry School Tidworth, in Hurdcott England, with the 8th Training Battalion. Jack then proceeded to France aboard the S.S. "Golden Eagle" on 17th December 1916, arriving in Etaples the following day. He was taken on strength of the 30th Infantry Battalion in the field, on 23rd December.
On 2nd March 1917, Jack was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal. This was the first of 4 promotions in 6 months, due to the rate of attrition, with him being appointed Sergeant on 30th September. Over this period, the 30th Battalion had taken part in the second Battle of Bullecourt, and the Battle of Polygon Wood.
On 8th April 1918, the 30th Infantry Battalion were in Blangy-Tronville, a village on the banks of the Somme River, about 5km East of Amiens, in the North of France. According to the Battalion War Diary entry for that day, they were holding the right sector of the Corps Line, but "...the posts were simply hastily dug lengths of trench, sited to give a good field of fire. No shelters of any description were available in the Company posts, and as it rained heavily throughout the night, the conditions were miserable. During the day a supply of trench shelters were obtained, and the conditions in the posts thereby improved. Beyond hostile shelling throughout night, nothing unusual occurred". The Diary entry for 8th April 1918 shows that 1 Other Ranks (OR) soldier was killed in action, 1 OR evacuated wounded, and 1 OR evacuated sick. That wounded soldier was Sgt John "Jack" Edmond BUTTSWORTH.
Jack was acting Sergeant Major for 'A' Company, 2nd Platoon, who were in a reserve trench to the rear of his Battalion's position, closer to Villers-Bretonneux. About 7.30am on 8th April 1918, he was distributing the rum ration to the men in his Platoon, when he was hit by a piece of shrapnel from an Artillery shell. He sustained a severe wound to the left side of his abdomen, and was evacuated to the 9th Australian Field Ambulance. A statement from the soldier who administered first aid, Pte P. COSTELLO, stated that Jack, "was practically dead before they took him away", and stretcher bearers reported that he never regained consciousness. He died from his wounds a short time later, on the same day. He was 26 years old. Jack was buried in the St Pierre Cemetery in Amiens, France.
Lest we forget...
Compiled by Karan CAMPBELL-DAVIS from historical records kept by the National Archives of Australia (Service Dossier), and Australian War Memorial (30th Australian Infantry Battalion Unit War Diaries and Red Cross Missing & Wounded file).
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