1914-15 Star : Private T A Butler, 3 Light Horse Regiment, AIF

1914-15 Star. Impressed reverse with recipient's details.

Thomas Arnold Butler was born in Gumeracha South Australia. Occupied as an iron worker at Port Pirie, Butler enlisted early in the war, on 14 September 1914 at Morphettville South Australia. He was allotted to the 3rd Light Horse Regiment. No record exists of his voyage to Egypt, but unusually Thomas Butler was discharged on 28 January 1915 at Maadi camp, on grounds of ‘indifferent character’. He had served only five months and was returned home by HMAT Kyarra on 3 February 1915. In November 1915 Butler re-enlisted under the name Richard Butler, stating his occupation as carpenter. Both attestation documents record the presence of snake and eagle tattoos on the soldiers arms. His second enlistment was made at Adelaide; Butler recorded a different town of birth, and did not mention his dishonourable discharge from the 3rd Light Horse. He was allotted to the 15th Reinforcements of the 9th Light Horse as a gunner. Butler embarked again, on 16 March 1916. In Egypt he was transferred to 5 Division Artillery and posted to the 49th Battery, marching into France with the 13 Field Artillery Brigade on 15 April 1916. On 18 November 1917 he received a gun shot wound to the hand and was evacuated to England for treatment. He rejoined his unit on 1 May 1918. Butler was awarded a Military Medal for rescuing a wounded soldier under exceptionally heavy fire on the 29 September near Bellicourt. The citation in part reads ‘Gunner BUTLER by his coolness and utter disregard for personal safety was of great assistance in getting the guns into action…he was conspicuous by his cheerful manner and example…a splendid example of courage and devotion to duty’. It appears that the promulgation of this honour tipped off Headquarters to his initial dishonourable discharge. However Butler's Military Medal recommendation is confirmed and in due course the three campaign medals entitled to Butler are distributed to him.