William ‘Willie’ Harcourt Butler

BUTLER, William -‘Willie’ Harcourt- – – SPC 1903-1905

DoB:– – 1889, Broadwater, VIC

Father:- – George Butler, Byron Street Hamilton, VIC

Mother:- – Kate, nee Abbott

Willie Butler was a boarder at St Patrick’s from Hamilton in Western Victoria. He was a keen footballer, hurdler and athlete, and was on the committee for organising the rowing regatta in 1905. Willie was also a prize winner in the Commercial Class.

Service No:- 106

Rank:– – Private

Unit:– – 11th Light Horse Regiment

Willie Harcourt joined up on the 30 December 1914 aged 25 years and five months. He was living at the time in Queensland, and working as a Station Hand. He had a fair complexion, with blue eyes and brown hair. He embarked from Australia on 2 June 1915, proceeding to Gallipoli.

By December 1915 he was suffering from pleurisy and was transferred first to Alexandria, and then to Heliopolis for treatment for this serious illness. By February 1916 he was discharged back to duty. From this time he remained in the Middle East, serving in Egypt and Palestine. He was admitted to hospital with malaria in 1918, and after a short time on leave in Moascar in January 1919, he rejoined the 11th Light Horse Regiment.

Lance Corporal Butler returned to Australia on the Morvada, disembarking on 25 August 1919. He was discharged after almost five years of service, on 24 October 1919.

In 1931 Willie married Ida Bertha Gallas and they lived in Welshpool, Gippsland, as farmers. Willie died on 23 October 1973 at the age of 84, of a heart attack. He is buried at the Welshpool Cemetery.

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