Four members of the 13th Battalion at Ribemont, opening packages of gifts from the Australian ...

Four members of the 13th Battalion at Ribemont, opening packages of gifts from the Australian Comforts Fund. Left to right: 3260 Signaller (Sig) Reginald Ralph Bamford; unidentified; 2922 Private (Pte) Steve Alfred George Waller; 2113 Lance Corporal (L Cpl) William Thomas Butler. Sig Bamford was an accountant from Tamworth, New South Wales who embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Port Lincoln for Egypt. He also served on the Western Front, France, and returned to Australia for discharge in March 1919. Pte Waller was a carpenter from North Sydney, New South Wales prior to enlistment and embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Argyllshire on 30 September 1915 for Egypt. He subsequently served on the Western Front, France and returned to Australia in November 1917 for discharge as medically unfit. Pte Butler was a labourer from Bendigo, Victoria, who embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Wandilla on 14 June 1915 for Gallipoli. He was hospitalised due to illness and was evacuated to Egypt. In June 1916 his battalion relocated to the Western Front, France, where he was wounded in action on the first occasion in August 1916. In October 1917 he was awarded the Military Medal for his actions near Zonnebeke on 26 September 1917. He was appointed L Cpl on 22 December 1917. L Cpl Butler was wounded in action a second time near Villers Bretonneux on 4 July 1918 and died of these wounds the same day. He was aged 24 years. His brother, 6718 Pte Henry George Butler, 8th Battalion, died of wounds received in action on 11 August 1918. He was aged 26 years.