Charles Philip BUTLER DSO, MiD

BUTLER, Charles Philip

Service Number: 23
Enlisted: 1 April 1916, Adelaide, South Australia
Last Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Last Unit: 43rd Infantry Battalion
Born: Adelaide, South Australia, 16 July 1880
Home Town: Adelaide, South Australia
Schooling: St Peter's College, Adelaide, South Australia
Occupation: Soldier and Agricultural journalist
Died: Emphysema/Parkinson's, Repat Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, 25 September 1953, aged 73 years
Cemetery: AIF Cemetery, West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide, South Australia
Section: KO, Road: 9, Site No: 53
Memorials: Hackney St Peter's College Honour Board, Prospect Roll of Honour A-G WWI Board, Prospect St Cuthbert's Church Honour Board, Wandearah East Broughton Plains Region War Memorial
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Boer War Service

1 Oct 1899: Involvement Corporal, 23, 2nd South Australian Mounted Rifles

World War 1 Service

1 Apr 1916: Enlisted AIF WW1, Major, Adelaide, South Australia
9 Jun 1916: Involvement AIF WW1, Major, 43rd Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: ''
9 Jun 1916: Embarked AIF WW1, Major, 43rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Afric, Adelaide
6 Feb 1917: Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant Colonel, 43rd Infantry Battalion
7 Sep 1920: Discharged AIF WW1, Lieutenant Colonel, 23, 43rd Infantry Battalion, HQ 4th Military District, Keswick Barracks, South Australia.

The Forty-Third - The Story and Official History of the 43rd Battalion A.I.F.

Chapter II - The Original Officers and NCO’s

Major C.P Butler joined the South Australian Machine Gun Battalion in 1898, remaining with them until he went to the South African War, where he served with the South Australian Mounted Rifles as a Corporal, and later gaining his commission in the Canadian Scouts. He was commissioned in the Light Horse in 1904, serving in Western Australia and remained in that branch of the service until enlisting in the A.I.F. in March 1916 and being posted as Second in Command of the 43rd Battalion.

During the South African War he qualified for the Queen’s medal and six bars, and the Kings Medal.

From “The Forty-Third” The Story and Official History of the 43rd Battalion A.I.F. by Capt. E J Colliver MC & Lieut. B H Richardson Rigby Limited 1920. Page 2

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Biography contributed by Kathleen Bambridge

In 1923 CP Butler DSO stood as a liberal candidate in the Federal Elections for the Newcastle District in the House of Assembley.  He is the son of Sir Richard Butler who has represented the Barrossa District for over quarter of a century. Born in 1880 he was educated at St. Peter's College.  After leaving school he spent some time on his fathers farm at Mallala.  He later joined the staff of Elder Smith Co. Ltd., and has since been engaged in the stock and station business; Butler, Hoggarth and  Edwards, Butler, Shannon and Co, Butler and Sons and the SA Farmers' Co-operative Union Ltd.  This knowlegde gained from his work will enable him to serve the Newcastle district.    He served in the Boer War and again in the Great War and is well known among the returned soldier in the State.  For over five years, three as Vice President and two years as President of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers' Imperial League of Australia.

Enlisting as a private Soldier he gained a commission in the field during the Boer War.  As a citizen Officer he left South Australia as second in command of the 43rd Battalion, and shortly after he arrived in France he took command of the unit. For his gallant conduct at the Battle of Passchendale he was awarded a DSO. His ill health compelled him to return to Australia.  Directly following the restoration of his health he was vigrously recruiting for the the "Butler 's 500", but before they could embark the Armistice ceased the war. He was appointed ADC to His Exellency the Governor General of the Commonwealth. The was awarded a VD decoration for his long and faithful service in the Citizen Forces. He was a member of the State War Memorial Committee; the United Services Trust Fund; the Soldier's Children Education Trust Fund.  AFI Cemetery Trust; RSL Club Building Trust; Poopy day Trust Fund and Chairman and Director of the Army and Navy Stores.  When Charlie resigned form the President of the RSL South Australia he also resigned from all his other public positions.  He reired to live on his farm.

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Biography

Served two years Machine Gun Corps.

When the second contingent returned he remained in South Africa and took a commission with the Canadian Scouts.

Commanded the 43rd Battalion, AIF in WW1, awarded DSO and Mentioned in Despatches.