British War Medal to 251654 Corporal Ernest A Buttle, 2/6th Durham Light Infantry
Ernest Arthur Buttle was born in Orssett, Essex, circa April-June 1892. He was resident at 53 Stanley Road, Grays, Essex on enlistment and was a seaman by trade. His next of kin was given as his father, Mr Walter Buttle, according to the 1911 census a dock labourer employed at the Port of London. It is possible that he is the same Ernest Buttell who was a ship's steward aboard the SS Mesaba in 1915, though it should be noted that the birthplace recorded in BT 99/3113/27A (Gravesend) does not agree with that in the 1901 census. Ernest stood 5' 9" tall and his chest measurement was 36".
He enlisted 1 March 1916, aged 24, and was posted to the Army Reserve the same day. Curiously, he was mobilised on 28 March, but then posted to the Reserve again within two days, on 30 March. He was then mobilised again on 18 September.
His attestation was approved on 19 September 1916, and he was posted to the 6th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry in Catterick, possibly under the service number 3813. In the course of his training he would have moved with the Battalion to Andover at the end of November 1916, when along with its sister 2/7th and 2/8th battalions it became part of 214th Brigade of 71st (Home Service) Division, and then again to Colchester in March 1917.
He was appointed Paid Lance Corporal with 2nd/6th DLI on 22 June 1917 whilst still stationed at Colchester. On 20 March 1918 he was with E Company of the Battalion at Frinton-on-Sea (whence it had gone in September 1917, joining 226th Brigade), with a case of dental caries (tooth decay). Although his overall condition and state of health is not recorded in the surviving papers, at some point he was examined by the Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist at the Military Hospital, Tidworth who identified him as suffering from chronic Laryngitis particularly affecting the vocal cords and ordered him back in three weeks, after he had given his voice complete rest. The possibility of Tuberculosis was raised although presumably later ruled out.
Given the battalion's role in supplying drafts of fit men to the parent 1st/6th DLI, it is probably reasonable to suppose that he was in grade Bi or Bii, and thus considered unfit for frontline service. This position crumbled, however, in light of the manpower demands of the Western Front and the 1100-man strong Battalion was finally sent overseas, to Calais, on 1 or 6 May 1918 (sources vary) as a Garrison Guard Battalion, moving to Hestrus, 25 miles north-west of Arras, and then joining 177th Brigade of 59th (2nd North Midland) Division shortly thereafter. 59th (2nd North Midland) Division, had been reconstituted as a B Division following its rough handling during the Battles of the Somme and Lys during the German Spring Offensive.
Corporal Buttle is recorded as having gone overseas on 5 May 1918, which would agree with the later of the two reported dates, and was once again appointed Paid Lance Corporal the following day, 6 May 1918. At this time the battalion was en route to Le Vielfort, Hestrus, arriving on 10 May and remaining there for about a month working on the BB defensive line.
During June and July 1918 the 59th was trained to enable it to hold a sector of front line again and took over a sector on 25 July 1918 under the command of Third Army, the Battalion having dropped its "Garrison Guard" title on 16 July. The battalion incurred its first battle casualty on 26 July and fatalities on 28 August, with its first significant action taking place at Huits Maison Post 4 days later, on 1-2 September.
After taking part in an attack on Ablainzeville on 21 August, the 59th then held the front line for three attacking divisions during the Battle of the Scarpe. During the latter (Battle of Albert) phases of the Second Battle of the Somme the division was used to follow up attacking units, consolidate positions held, and provide working parties. Mr Buttle, presumably still with the Battalion, was promoted to full Corporal on 21 September 1918.
By early October the Division was operating in the River Lys area once again as part of Birdwood's 5th Army, advancing towards Lille as part of the general final advance in Artois and Flanders (2 October – 11 November 1918), with the Battalion taking part in the recapture of Lille on 16 October 1918. Following hard fighting on the Scheldt, when a unit of the Division was first to cross the river, on 23 October it was close to Valenciennes, ending up close to Tournai at the Armistice.
On 14 February 1919, after 286 days' active service, he was posted home to the DLI Depot and then to the 3rd Battalion on 31 May. Corporal Buttle was discharged via a Medical Board sitting at Winchester on 11 June 1919 under para 392.xvi of King's Regulations and Army Order 29/19. He was noted as suffering from chronic bronchitis and laryngitis due to service and was awarded a pension of 6 Shillings for 52 weeks from 12 June 1919 in consideration of 20% disability. His character on discharge was described as very good.
Corporal Buttle was awarded the Silver War Badge, badge number B280319, on 17 September 1919 and his King's Certificate on 28 January 1920. His full entitlement was the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Ernest Arthur Buttle married Amy V Tricker in West Ham in the third quarter of 1929 and died at home in Orsett in the third quarter of 1929.
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