'For gallantry and devotion to duty south of Fleurbaix on night 10/11th December 1916. The enemy under cover of a machine gun, artillery and Minenwerfer Barrage attempted to raid the 1st Battalion, 3rd New Zealand (Rifle) Brigade. Rifleman Butler with three other men was on duty with a Lewis gun in a front bay. During the enemy;s bombardment a "Rur Jar" landed in the way, severely wounding the three men and knocking Rifleman Butler off the fire step. Although severely shaken he immediately picked up the Lewis gun again, manned the parapet and, seeing the enemy advancing through a gap in our wire, opened fire and kept firing until his gun jammed. He was almost immediately afterwards wounded. His action undoubtedly prevented the enemy, who fled from forcing an entry into our trench, and a dead German, riddled by Lewis gun bullets, was afterwards found in our wire opposite the bay manned by Rifleman Butler.'
Source: London Gazette
Date: 19 February 1917

Regimental number	23/89
Date of birth	1 March 1890
Place of birth	Flemington, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Religion	Church of England
Occupation	Orchadist
Address	Te Kauwhata, Waikato
Marital status	Single
Height	5' 6"
Weight	140 lbs
Next of kin	Father, S Butler, Te Kauwhata, Waikato
Previous military service	Nil
Enlistment date	28 May 1915
Place of enlistment	Te Kauwhata, Waikato
Rank on embarkation	Rifleman
Enlistment status	Volunteer
Unit name	New Zealand Expeditionary Force, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 1st Battalion
Embarkation details	Unit embarked from Wellington on 9 October 1915
	1st Bn, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, left New Zealand on board five ships, HMNZT 30 'Maunganui', HMNZT 31 'Tahiti', HMNZT 32 'Aparima', HMNZT 33 'Navua', and HMNZT 'Warrimoo'. It is not possible from the Nominal Roll to determine on which ship an individual embarked.
Fate	Commenced return to New Zealand 18 March 1917
Medals	Military Medal 'For gallantry and devotion to duty south of Fleurbaix on night 10/11th December 1916. The enemy under cover of a machine gun, artillery and Minenwerfer Barrage attempted to raid the 1st Battalion, 3rd New Zealand (Rifle) Brigade. Rifleman Butler with three other men was on duty with a Lewis gun in a front bay. During the enemy;s bombardment a "Rur Jar" landed in the way, severely wounding the three men and knocking Rifleman Butler off the fire step. Although severely shaken he immediately picked up the Lewis gun again, manned the parapet and, seeing the enemy advancing through a gap in our wire, opened fire and kept firing until his gun jammed. He was almost immediately afterwards wounded. His action undoubtedly prevented the enemy, who fled from forcing an entry into our trench, and a dead German, riddled by Lewis gun bullets, was afterwards found in our wire opposite the bay manned by Rifleman Butler.' Source: London Gazette Date: 19 February 1917
Discharge date	3 June 1917
Other details	War service: Egypt, Western Front Wounded in action, 10 December 1916 (multiple gun shot wounds: severe); admitted to No 1 NZ General Hospital, Brockenhurst, England, 19 January 1917. Commenced return to New Zealand from Liverpool on board HMNZT 'Maheno', 18 March 1917; discharged (no longer physically fit for War Service on account of wounds received in action), 3 June 1917. War service: 2 years 6 days (of which 1 year 211 days was abroad) Medals: Military Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Miscellaneous details	Nominal Roll Vol. 1: /1st NZRB
Date of death	17 June 1969
Age at death	79
Place of burial	Kimikia Cemetery, Huntly, Waikato
Sources	Archives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805, File 21890727