Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

By Marie McAleer, Sue Tongue & Graeme Hosken,
The FFFAIF's The Digger 76:59-60

Lt Leslie William Butler MC, DCM,
9th Battalion

Lieutenant Leslie William Butler MC DCM (2557) served with distinction with the 9th Battalion in France. He later served in World War Two. His daughter, Mrs Marie McAleer of Beverly Hills, NSW, and her family, still wear his medals with pride. Marie remembers him as a private and humble gentleman who only wore his service medals on Anzac and Remembrance Days. The family were never allowed to mention his decorations in company.

Leslie Butler was born on 18 July, 1891, in Clare, South Australia. He enlisted in Brisbane on 8 June, 1915, when he was working in Queensland and gave his home town as Oakey, Toowoomba. His next of kin was his sister, Mrs Neylon, of Balaclava, South Australia. Leslie was allocated to the 8th Reinforcements to the 9th Battalion.

After war was declared in August 1914, the 9th Battalion was one of the original 1st Division infantry units raised for the AIF. In Queensland it was the first battalion recruited and it became part of the 3rd Brigade, together with the 10th, 11th and 12th Battalions. The originals of the battalion embarked on the SS Omrah on 24 September, 1914. They arrived in Egypt on 2 December and there undertook intense training.

During the ANZAC landing on 25 April, 1915, the 3rd Brigade was the covering force and the first ashore at around 4.30 am. The 9th Battalion helped to establish, and continue to defend, the front line at the beachhead. The 9th Battalion fought at Gallipoli until 16 November, when it was sent to Mudros for a well- deserved rest.

The 8th Reinforcements to the 9th Battalion departed from Australia on 16 August, 1915, and were taken on strength of the 9th Battalion at Mudros on 18 November. Prior to arriving at Mudros, Leslie suffered a bout of measles, requiring treatment at Shubra (near Alexandria). As the 9th Battalion remained on Mudros until 31 December, 1915, Leslie did not serve at Anzac but is considered to have taken part in the Gallipoli Campaign by reaching the island of Lemnos.

At Tel-el-Kebir, Egypt, in March 1916 the 9th Battalion was split in half to form the 49th Battalion (13th Brigade/4th Division) and rebuilt its own numbers from reinforcements. While in Egypt, Leslie was promoted to temporary corporal on 29 February 1916, lance sergeant on 23 March, and to sergeant the next day.

On 27 March, 1916, the 9th Battalion left for France and the Western Front. Sergeant Butler disembarked from the Saxonia in Marseilles on 3 April, 1916.

On 5 July, 1916, Leslie Butler was recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his actions south of Fleurbaix on the night of 1/2 July. The 9th Battalion was conducting a raid, led by Captain Wilder- Neligan, on the enemy line near the Sugarloaf Salient. According to the recommendation, Leslie “showed great dash and gallant leading”. When he was awarded the DCM on 30 November, 1916, the citation read:

For conspicuous gallantry when leading an attack. He assisted in bringing in a machine gun under heavy fire. After his party got back to our trenches he returned three times and brought in wounded, although exposed to continuous heavy shell and machine-gun fire the whole time.

During, or just after, this raid of 2 July, Leslie received a wound, but remained on duty.

The 9th Battalion’s first major action was at Pozieres, where it attacked on the extreme right of the line on 23 July, 1916. Leslie was wounded that day, receiving a gun-shot wound to the left arm. He was evacuated to England for treatment on 27 July and rejoined his unit in France on 5 December.

In March 1917, Sergeant Butler was sent from France to England for officer training at Keeble College, Oxford University. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in June 1917 and appointed to the 9th Battalion.

On 20 September, 1917, at Hooge in Belgium during operations in Glencorse and Polygonvelde Wood (the Battle of Menin Road), 2nd Lieutenant Butler again showed “great dash and initiative” according to his recommendation for a Military Cross. The citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He led his platoon in the attack with great initiative and good leadership. He took command of his company when all the other officers were casualties and led it to the final objective, which he consolidated and secured against counter-attack. During the advance he saved the life of a wounded man who was loaded with Very lights and bombs, whose equipment was set on fire by a shell. He showed splendid courage and coolness throughout, which did much to ensure the success of the operations.

The recommendation describes how he passed the first objective and found all other officers of his company, including his company commander, dead. By taking command, reorganising, and capturing the last
DIGGER 59 Issue 76
objective he assisted greatly with the consolidation and making the line secure. The recommendation, like the citation, cites his coolness but it also refers to his cheerfulness and marked devotion to duty.

Marie tells how Leslie was ‘ordered’ to go to Buckingham Palace to be presented with his Military Cross by the King. His record shows he had leave to go to the UK for investiture between 4 and 10 February, 1919. She has the letters that were sent from Base Records Office, Department of Defence, informing Leslie’s sister, first of his DCM, and later, of his MC.

Leslie went on leave to Paris between 26 September and 1 October, 1916. On 23 October, Leslie was appointed as a lieutenant. In November 1916 and January 1917, Leslie attended specialist schools of instruction. From 15 February to 6 March, he went on leave to the UK. From 29 March to 4 May, Leslie was away from his unit being treated for bronchitis.

The 9th Battalion participated in the great Allied offensive east of Amiens from 8 August, 1918. Leslie was wounded for the third occasion on 10 August, receiving a gun-shot wound to his right arm. He was treated in Camiers, rejoining his unit on 27 September.

After the Armistice in November 1918, members of the AIF began to return to Australia for demobilisation and discharge. Lieutenant Butler returned to Australia on the SS Borda on 11 May, 1919. His appointment as an officer in the AIF was terminated on 18 August, 1919.

Marie reports that Leslie returned to Clare in SA but suffered a lot from his wounds and from being gassed. The family had to leave Clare because the climate there did not agree with him.

His World War Two records show that Leslie enlisted in Footscray, Victoria, on 12 December, 1940, aged 49. He was a business manager living with his family at Yarraville. Leslie was promoted to captain on 6 January, 1943, and served until January 1946, with his final posting at No. 13 Murchison Prisoner of War Camp (north of Tatura) in Victoria.

Leslie Butler died of natural causes in Macleod, Victoria, on 6 December, 1975 aged 84.