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Butler-S-L-M-Pte-2212 (redirected from Butler S L M Pte 2212)

Page history last edited by Lenore Frost 9 years ago

 

Volunteers of Essendon and Flemington, 1914-1918

 

Butler S L M    Pte    2212    Stanislaus Leo Marie (known as Stan)     10 ASC    21    Driver    Single    R C       

Address:    Essendon, Morton St, "Shadbrook"

Next of Kin:    Butler, John, father, Morton St, Essendon   

Enlisted:    8 Sep 1914       

Embarked:     A26 Armadale 20 Oct 1914   

Re-enlisted as R6471 and re-embarked

 

Butler S L    Pte   R6471   Stanislous Leo         5 Inf Bn     21 Contractor Single         R C

Address:  Essendon, Morton St

Next of Kin:  Butler, Sarah, Mrs, mother, Morton St, Essendon

                                                       7 Richardson St, Essendon

Embarked: A71 Nestor 2 Oct 1916

 

Relatives:

Butler A J Driver 2213 brother

Butler J F Pte 421 brother

 

 

Essendon Gazette 22 July 1915

 

OUR SOLDIERS

Extracts from a letter from Driver
S. L. M. (Stan.) Butler. 10th Army
Service Corps:—-
Alexandria,
May 28th 1915.


Dear —-——-,
"Don't go grey over me, I’m having a ripping time here. I suppose you wonder what I am doing back in Alexandria, but we are the 7s a day tourists; we do nothing but eat and sleep and go in for a swim whenever we like. We left Cairo on April 12th, landed in Alexandria by train, and had to unload our horses and waggons and tie our horses to the railing of a shed on the wharf, as our boat was not in; it put in about 7 o’clock, and after breakfast (bully and biscuits), we worked hard up to tea time, loading our horses and waggons. About 5.30 p.m. next day, we went about three miles out and dropped anchor.

 

On 15th we made another start. On 17th, we sighted a cruiser which came alongside and escorted us a good distance; then she left, and we met a torpedo boat destroyer. We travelled with all lights out, as it was reported that a German torpedo boat was in the Adriatic Sea. On 18th, we dropped anchor in the harbour of Lemnos Island. A French submarine passed within 60 yards of us; also two battleships, and about six torpedo boats and destroyers. A hydroplane flew over us a couple of times. The Queen Elizabeth was lying about half a mile from us. I had a good view of her, as I have a very good pair of field glasses. We were now 35 miles from the bombarding at the Dardanelles, and we have seen pretty well everything in the kind of naval warfare.

 

On 19th, we were still in Lemnos waiting for orders. We were allowed to go in for a swim whenever we liked. There were a few sharks; but we didn’t care-—the water looked too tempting. Six more troopships arrived in harbour on 22nd. There were nearly 170 troopships all told in the harbour with us, two of which were hospital ships, the Sicilia and the Gascon. On 24th, the Triumph got orders to go to the Dardanelles; then the "Queen" sailed out past us. My word, she is a lovely ship. On 26th, one of the crew—an Egyptian- swam ashore (about a mile). The skipper of our boat lowered a lifeboat and a crew of our lads went after him and brought him back. On Tuesday. the boats were still leaving for the Dardanelles, and we got word that the Australians had landed and done good work.

 

On May 1st  we received orders to go to the Dardanelles. When we got there we could see hundreds of troopships; also a  number of warboats. We could hear reports of the big guns on the land. There was a big dirigible in the air, and all the warboats were giving the Turkish forts H—l. There were a few shells bursting round us, but they didn’t do any damage. They were the first shells we had seen from the enemy. We dropped anchor about five miles from the Peninsula of Gallipoli. A British hydroplane was flying over us, and the Turks started firing at him, but could not hit him, as he was too high up. That night all the searchlights were at work, and we stayed up nearly all night watching them and the guns. On 3rd, the lighting was very heavy, and a few shrapnel shells burst near us that night. Next day a German aeroplane flew over us, and our boats fired at him; he was too high for our chaps to hit, but our guns soon chased him away. Then the enemy’s big guns started firing at us, and our fleet had to move away a couple of miles. An old collier got hit on the bow, but no one was killed. We could see the troops landing all day in the pontoons, and the wounded coming back from the shore to the hospital ships.

 

Tuesday, 4th.——We were still in the same place, and the Queen Elizabeth was still bombarding the Dardanelles, but there was very little fighting on land.

 

Wednesday, 5th.— We pulled up anchor and went alongside the troopship Hessan to get water, as we had run short; there were only a few Indian troops on board. The Sihks treated us with "jinnie cakes" and curry—a great change to bully and hard biscuits. We stayed there all Thursday night, and then went back to our old place. The Queen Elizabeth and the Queen were still bombarding the forts; but the fighting on land seemed to be getting further back.

 

On Friday, 7th, things were very  quiet; we got a mail, and we even had a change of diet. We got a quarter loaf of bread each (Oh, it was such a change); only a month since we had the last bit. A German aeroplane flew over and dropped two bombs within 50 yards of us. The boat that had the hydroplane on board had three shots at him, and nearly caught him with the first. There was great excitement on our boat after the first shot, as to whether the next would hit him; but it fell short, and he made off without getting hit.

 

On Saturday, 8th, a lot of  bombarding was done. The pontoons were very busy carting the wounded to the hospital ships. Sunday, 9th, we were still anchored there and things were getting pretty stale, exercising the horses all day. We only had the iron  deck to sleep on, and very little room at that. The boat we were on was only a captured German cargo boat 16,000 tons, fitted up for horses, not for troops. We were not allowed to wash in fresh water, only salt; but it was good  enough for the 10th A.S.C. Monday, 10th, we started to take steps in reference to going ashore. One of our officers said he would take 50 of us; but they would not let us. Our major said he was very pleased to see that. he had such good men in his corps, but it was impossible for us to go ashore and fight, as we had horses to look after; but he said our turn would come soon enough.

 

Tuesday,11th.-A torpedo destroyer captured a sailing vessel with a Greek flag flying. It had about 50 Turks and a big quantity of ammunition, and a few machine guns on board. They were going to a coaling station but they never reached there. They were taken on board the Queen. Wednesday, 12th, we left the Bay of Gaba Tepe at about 5.30 a.m. About 17 other boats left at the same time for Alexandria. They told us that we couldn't land, as our horses were no good; the country is too rough for them.

 

Thursday, 13th.-Our major gave us a bit of a lecture on drinking and eating fruits that you can't peel, as we might get poisoned. He also told us to keep up our good reputation that we had when we were in Alexandria before. After he had finished, we had a concert.

 

On Saturday, 15th, we drew in alongside the wharf at Alexandria at about 8 o'clock. Sunday, 14th.-We unloaded. No. 1 Section unloaded first, and then we went to find the camp. We got lost, and went to the wrong one; but stayed there that night, and after breakfast started off to find our right camp, which is beside the beach; so we can go in for a dip whenever we like. I was in town the other day, and met Willie Jones; he looks well, like the rest of us. I suppose you heard about Frank getting wounded. I had a letter from him the other day, and he is getting on well. The only thing I wish is that I was in the Infantry, among the boys.

 

 

War Service Commemorated

Essendon Gazette Roll of Honour Wounded               

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