Private Wilfred Ernest Butcher
Service #: 1928a
Summary
FAMILY LIFE
Wilfred Ernest Butcher aka Walter was born c1896 in Tweed District, son of Adina Jane (Butcher) Hull. His mother was not married when she had Wilfred & his father is said to have died approximately 1904. (Adina advised Base Records in a letter dated 9th November 1920 that Wilfred’s father died 16 years ago). Adina married Thomas Henry Hull in 1914.
He was single labourer, living in Crabbes Creek, eager to do his bit. He travelled to Brisbane on 21st June 1915 to complete his application which showed his next of kin as his mother, Adina. He had previous military experience with 1 year in the Australian Light Horse. His medical showed he was 19 years 4 months old, 5ft 10 inches tall (1.78m), weighed 151 lbs (68kgs), with a fresh complexion, brown eyes & black hair. His eyesight was good & he was dentally fit. Wilfred was Presbyterian and had a scar on his right knee. He was enlisted as a private into the 26th Infantry Battalion – 3rd Reinforcements with service No 1928A
26TH INFANTRY BATTALION
The 26th Infantry Battalion was originally raised in April 1915 as part of the Australian Imperial Force and was assigned to the 7th Brigade. The legacy of the 26th Infantry Battalion is deeply rooted in its remarkable contributions during both World Wars. It is remembered for its bravery and resilience in key battles
AUSTRALIAN TRAINING CAMP
Now training for the new recruits began. Firstly, the men received their vaccinations for smallpox, rabies & plague, then a recruit had to be inducted into military forms of discipline, command, and order. This was partially achieved through a program of basic training carried and, in a sense, was maintained for a long as a man was in the service.
It involved marching and drilling with the rifle, cleaning and caring for personal equipment and being supervised and inspected in ways quite different to ordinary civilian life. For example, no boots should be allowed to get in a bad state of wear but must be sent to the bootmaker without delay for repair. Men who were found with hair long and unshaven had to have a haircut and shave
Secondly, after basic training there followed the far more serious exercise of turning a man into a fighting soldier at least partially prepared for the kind of warfare he was about to experience overseas. The topics and exercises in the syllabus of training were a world away from their former lives and included daily physical training, entrenching, wiring, firing rifle grenades, firing the Lewis light machine gun, dealing with gas attack, using hand grenades, using the bayonet, and the routines to be followed in the trenches.
This training was then put into practice during what were called ‘Field Days,’ when men would practice using the skills they had acquired in mock attacks both by day and by night. How well men had learnt to use their weapons, in cooperation with each other in training, would be tested in the harsh reality of the front line. Training would take several months
On the 22nd November 1915, the recruits left Melbourne, sailing upon the HMAT Persic. They thought it was the start of a new adventure- for many it was their first time so far away from home. However, after some time at sea the biggest problem turned out to be boredom. Attempts at breaking up the boredom, apart from the regular drill, varied. Shipboard activities included regular church parades and concerts. Troops engaged in lifebelt drill; a cookhouse on deck; soldiers on fatigues peeling potatoes 'spud bashing'; going to the dentist; barber, pay day; soldiers cleaning personal equipment; medical inspection. Sports and recreation included boxing, deck quoits, draughts. Also, the commanding officer's morning inspection; kit inspections; submarine drill; recreation such as the on deck 'open air' library, deck billiards, pillow fighting and card games including Nap. As well, conditions on the ships were cramped and the risk of illness was constant. It was a foretaste of what was to come.
TAKEN ON STRENGTH 12TH OCTOBER 1915
Wilfred was taken on strength 12th October 1915. The 26th battalion fought at Gallipoli in the latter stages of that campaign before being withdrawn to Egypt in late 1915.
DISCIPLINED 20TH NOVEMBER 1915
On 20th November Wilfred was punished in that his conduct was prejudicial to good order & discipline. He was awarded 7 days Field Punishment No 2. In Field Punishment Number Two, the prisoner was placed in fetters and handcuffs but was not attached to a fixed object and was still able to march with his unit. This was a relatively tolerable punishment.
WOUNDED IN ACTION 3RD DECEMBER 1915
On 3rd December the 26th were fighting in Gallipoli and Wilfred was wounded in action with a gunshot to his scalp.
HOSPITALISED DECEMBER 1915 & CONVALESCENCE JANUARY 1916
He was admitted to the Field Ambulance which was a mobile front line medical unit (it was not a vehicle), manned by troops of the Royal Army Medical Corps. From there was transferred to the clearing station, admitted to the 1st Australian General Hospital in Heliopolis and lastly to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital in Heliopolis. On 4th January 1916 he was admitted to the Helouan Convalescent Depot. Here he would convalesce but continue with drilling & training as the technology and techniques were rapidly changing and soldiers had to be up to date when they were ready to rejoin their units.
HOSPITALISATION WITH MUMPS 10TH FEBRUARY 1916
He returned to his unit on 5th February and admitted to hospital with mumps on 10th February. Mumps is a viral illness that spreads easily from one person to another, especially in the crowded ranks of soldiers. It commonly causes fever, tiredness and swelling of the salivary glands and there was no vaccine at that time. He was admitted to the 7th Field Ambulance in Ismailia and returned to his unit on 19th February.
EUROPE 1916
In mid-1916, the 26th joined the British Expeditionary Force & was sent to Europe where it served in the trenches of the Western Front in France and Belgium. The 26th arrived in France in March 1916, taking its place in the trenches along the Western Front the following month. In early June, alongside the 28th Battalion, they took part in the first raid undertaken by Australians in France, attacking German trenches around Bois Grenier.
BATTLE OF POZIERES JULY- AUGUST 1916
Their first major battle came around Pozières between July and August, after which the battalion was sent along with the entire 2nd Division to a quieter sector in Belgium having suffered over 650 casualties. On 5th August Wilfred was wounded in action with a gunshot wound to the pelvis. This was in the Battle of Pozieres (23 July – 3 September 1916) which took place in northern France around the village of Pozières, during the Battle of the Somme. The costly fighting ended with the British in possession of the plateau north and east of the village, in a position to menace the German bastion of Thiepval from the rear. The Australian official historian Charles Bean wrote that Pozières ridge "is more densely sown with Australian sacrifice than any other place on earth".
On 13th August he was invalided to England and admitted to the 3rd General Northern Hospital. On 13th October he was discharged & granted furlough. On 20th October he was marched into No.4 Command Depot at Wareham which received men who will be fit for duty in periods ranging from 3 weeks to 3 months. Here he would convalesce but continue with drilling & training as the technology and techniques were rapidly changing and soldiers had to be up to date when they were ready to rejoin their units.
On 12th March 1917 he was still convalescing in Wareham and absented himself from parade without permission and was awarded 24 hours detention. On 26th March he was transferred to the 69th Battalion but transferred back to the 26th on 11th March 1917.
BATTLE OF BROODSEINDE SEPTEMBER 1917
On 15th September he rejoined his unit. On 7th October Wilfred was wounded in action in the Battle of Broodseinde Belgium with a gunshot wound to the right knee. The battle began on 4th October near Ypres. The battle was the most successful Allied attack of the Third Battle of Ypres. Using bite-and-hold tactics, with objectives limited to what could be held against German counter-attacks, the allies devastated the German defence, prompted a crisis among the German commanders and caused a severe loss of morale in the 4th Army. This was the third occasion he had been wounded in action. He was admitted to the 16th General Hospital in Le Tréport.
KILLED IN ACTION NOVEMBER 1918
He rejoined his unit on 9th November and on 18th July 1918 he was killed in action in France. He is buried in the Adelaide Cemetery, Villers-Bretonneux, France, Plot 1, row C, gave 14.
FOR HIS SERVICE
For his service, John was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal. His name is recorded on the Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial No 107 among almost 62,000 Australians who died while serving in the First World War.
His will, dated 1st July 1917, left his personal estate to his sister, Linda Butcher. Wilfred’s effects were returned to his sister on 12th March 1919 and consisted of his wallet, cards & a photo. His memorial scroll was delivered to his mother on 21st September 1921 & his victory medal on 1st February 1923.
If you have any additional information about this individual, we invite you to email us at rsl@msmc.org.au.
Memorial Location
Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial No 107
Buried Location
Adelaide British Cem Plot 1 RowC Grave 14
