Button, Albert James
No.1870 – Corporal Albert James Button – 51st Battalion AIF
Albert James Button was born in Melbourne Victoria in 1892. He was educated in Melbourne and after leaving school became a clerk. Albert served for 1 year in the Army Militia in Victoria and for three years in the Australian Field Artillery, however he was granted a release from his service when he moved to Western Australia.
With his wife Gladys Button, they set up home at 58 Stirling Street Fremantle; (later renumbered to 18 Stirling St). Albert was working as a Hotel Clerk during this time.
On the 9th December 1915 Albert offered his services to the AIF. He was accepted and the medical examiner found him to be 5 feet 8 inches in height; weight of 129 lbs; chest measurement of 33-35 inches; fresh complexion; blue eyes and fair hair. His religious denomination was Church of England.
Albert spent January 1916 at No.40 Depot, but on the 1st February 1916 was allotted to the 10th Reinforcements to the 28th Battalion. He trained with this group until the 28th March when he was sent to the 44th Battalion with the rank of Sergeant. On the 16th April Albert was transferred to the 3rd Reinforcements to the 51st Battalion with the rank of Acting Sergeant. This group embarked from Fremantle on the 20th July 1916 and sailed for England, arriving on the 9th September 1916.
After arrival the men were sent to the 13th Training Battalion at Codford on the Salisbury Plains. After arriving in camp, Albert reverted to the rank of Corporal. The next few months would be spent training in preparation for service in France. On the 23rd November 1916 while undertaking bombing practice, a grenade exploded, fatally wounding Albert. He was taken to the New Zealand Hospital at Codford but had died by arrival, a piece of the grenade having passed through his brain. He was buried at St Mary’s Churchyard in Codford in Plot 47.
A court of enquiry took place and those present at the time of the accident were required to give evidence. Lieutenant Swann stated that;
“a bomb was thrown by 2264 Private Taylor. T – 4th Reinforcements 51st Battalion attached to 13th training battalion. It was thrown against the top of the parapet to the rear of the thrower. It passed in front of the wire netting, and owing, probably, to the spin on the bomb, came back and dropped at the adjoining bay about 2 feet from the inside edge of that adjoining bay. 4543 L/Sgt. Brown R.P. 4th Training Battalion was acting as instructor. This NCO has a Lyndhurst certificate. The men in the adjoining bay and 2nd Lieut Maunder D.S. were immediately warned by me, and endeavoured to reach cover with the exception of 1870 Cpl Button A.J. 3/51st Battalion who seemed paralysed with fear. Corporal Button remained in the bay, and was discovered after the bomb had exploded lying across the sandbags at the entrance, which are placed there to prevent bombs which are thrown against the parapet from rolling into the open. The other men were wounded by the shrapnel effect of the Mills Grenade as they did not fall down flat when at some distance from the grenade but continued to run. The bomb in my opinion was not a 5 second bomb, but exploded in about 3 seconds. My position was at the observation bay, about 10 yards in rear of the throwing bay. Orders to throw and general discipline were given by me. In my opinion the accident was due to nervousness on the part of the thrower who held on to the bomb too long.’
After hearing all the evidence, it was ruled as an accident and no blame or punishment was apportioned to Private Taylor who threw the grenade.
Lt John Swann who was the officer in charge of this course later returned to the 45th Battalion and died at Messines on the 7th June 1917. Private Thomas Taylor who threw the grenade that killed Button, went and joined the 51st Battalion and was wounded in August 1917 and was invalided back to Australia at the end of 1917.