Actions

John Arthur Butcher

From Our Contribution

Revision as of 20:24, 27 January 2019 by Linton (talk | contribs)
John Arthur Butcher
Unknown.png
Personal Information
Date of Birth c1895
Place of Birth West Perth, Western Australia
Death 4 Aug 1979, aged 84
Place of Death Bassendean, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment 20 years, 8 months
Description 5'8¾" (1.75m) tall ; 126 lbs
57.153 kg
; dark complexion ; brown eyes ; black hair
Occupation Bush carpenter
Religion Church of Christ
Address NOK Maida Vale, Western Australia
Next of Kin Father , Mr John Robert Butcher
Military Information
Reg Number 5062
Date of Enlistment 10 Jan 1916
Rank Driver
Unit/Formation 16th Battalion, 16th Reinforcement transferred to the Camel Corps and later to 2nd Field Squadron Engineers
Date of Embarkation 31 Mar 1916 ‒ 24 Apr 1916
Ship Embarked On HMAT A9 Shropshire Fremantle to Egypt
Date of Return 26 Jul 1919 ‒ 22 Aug 1919
Ship Returned On HMT Burma
Fate Returned to Australia
Monument Kelmscott Congregational Church Honour Board
Medals British War Medal
Victory Medal



Pre War

War Service

After about 10 weeks of basic training in the 42nd Depot Company at Blackboy Hill camp, John was allocated to the 16th reinforcement draft for the 16th Battalion and travelled with them to Egypt, where on 24 Apr 1916 he entered the 4th Training Battalion.

On 5 May 1916 he was transferred to the Anzac battalion of the Camel Corps at Tel-el-Kebir, and a fortnight later he was allocated to their 2nd Company, and embarked in Alexandria for El Salloum on the western border of Egypt where his unit were dealing with pro Turkish Senussi tribesmen. In late 1916 they were transferred to operations in the Sinai Desert. John remained with them until 17 Jun 1918 when he returned to Moascar and in July joined the Central Training Depot before being re-assigned to the Engineers 2nd Field Squadron.

He spent a week with the Engineer's training unit from 17 - 23 Jul 1918 before joining the 2nd Field Squadron proper on 25 Jul 1918 at Jericho where it was repairing bridges and constructing defensive positions. On 3 Sep 1918 he was appointed a Driver, before a short stay in hospital with malaria from 10 - 18 Oct 1918.

Back in Australia his only blemish was an AWOL charge from 10:30pm on 20 Sep 1919 until 10:30 pm 21 Sep 1919, for which he forfeited a day's pay. Discharged by 5th Military District on 12 Aug 1919.

Post War

During 1922 John married Annie Elizabeth Winch. Annie died on 1 Oct 1968 in Bassendean.

Electoral Roll entries - 1921 - 1977 at 51 Ida street West Guildford, trainee carpenter and then from 1925 a joiner

Notes


External Links