Dawn of the Legend

Graham Butler

On 25 April 1915, a medical officer, “Gertie” Butler, was in one of the first boats ashore. Carrying all his gear, it was said that he “stepped out on the beach dressed like a veritable Christmas tree”. He quickly climbed the hills to set up an aid post close behind the front line to treat casualties.

Butler was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his work over the first few days. “Without sleep or rest of any kind, Captain Butler continually attended the wounded both in and out of the front line from the morning of the 25th April until the evening of the 28th. He was constantly under shrapnel and machine gun fire.” He later served in France and Belgium. When the war ended he was commanding the 3rd Australian General Hospital at Abbeville.

In 1923 Butler agreed to write the history of the Australian medical services in the war. The writing of this three-volume history was a huge undertaking. It took him 20 years, and only the official war historian, Charles Bean, wrote more about the Australian soldiers’ experiences of the war.

Graham Butler D00079

A distinguished doctor's medals
Captain Graham Butler took part in the landing as the medical officer with the 9th Battalion. He was one of the first officers ashore. His tireless efforts attending the wounded during the first days of the campaign earned him the Distinguished Service Order. RELAWM14957.001-005