4/1240 - Sapper

Matthew

BUTLER

Main Body - Section No.1

Timeline


1915

1915

21 September

Enlistment

Auckland Military District

1915

11 October

Initial training

Avondale, Auckland

1915

18 December

Transfer to England

S.S. Ruapehu

1916

1916

3 February

Marched in to the Company Training Camp, Falmouth

1916

6 March

Admitted to hospital with venereal disease

1916

16 March

From the Front

The Company joined the underground warfare in the North of France

Chantecler, Sector of Arras

1916

27 March

Marched in to NZ Depot, Hornchurch

1916

3 June

Embarked for France

1916

6 June

Joined the Company

1916

2 August

Admitted to hospital

1916

20 August

Rejoined the Company

1916

16 November

From the Front

The Company began the operations to connect old underground quarries in Arras in order to accommodate thousands of soldiers for an upcoming battle

1917

1917

17 January

Detached to Mine School

1917

27 January

Rejoined the Company

1917

9 April

Battle of Arras

British Offensive


From the Front

The Company was employed to rebuild a major road leading to the Front during the battle

Arras-Cambrai Road

1917

5 May

From the Front

The Company moved to Monchy, ten kilometres east of Arras, to work on the fortification of the new front line

The Billets in Monchy

1917

15 May

Detached to Mine School

1917

21 May

Rejoined the Company

1917

3 July

Detached to Mine School

1917

8 July

Rejoined the Company

1917

10 December

Granted leave

1917

28 December

Rejoined the Company

1918

From the Front

The Company was still carrying out the digging of underground premises and defences on the Front near Arras

The Workshop in Arras

1918

21 March

Spring Offensive

German Attacks


From the Front

The Company was engaged in the defence of Arras by digging new trenches and dug-outs under constant enemy shellfire

1918

7 August

Detached to No.1 NZ Engineers Field Company

1918

8 August

100 Days Offensive

Allied Attacks

1918

17 August

Rejoined the Company

1918

27 September

From the Front

The Company experienced its newly reconversion in bridge construction

In front of the Havrincourt Bridge

1918

5 November

Granted leave to United Kingdom

1918

11 November

Armistice

Cessation of Hostilities


From the Front

The Company continued to build bridges to reconnect a fragmented territory

Over the Sambre River, Maubeuge

1918

16 December

Rejoined the Company

1918

27 December

Discharged

1919

1919

1 January

Embarked for England

1919

2 January

Marched in to NZ Sling Camp, Bulford

1919

1 February

Transfer to New Zealand

S.S. Hororata

1919

14 April

Final discharge

End of Service

Decoration

Distinguished Conduct Medal
Distinguished Conduct Medal

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On the occasion of the explosion of the end of a sap across “No Man's Land” he showed the greatest gallantry in continuing to open up the sap in spite of heavy shelling. He has done previous fine work of a similar nature.

British War Medal
British War Medal

Victory Medal
Victory Medal

Sources and bibliography

  • Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga, AABK 18805 W5530 27/0021171, Military Personnel File: Matthew BUTLER - 4/1240.
  • Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira, Online Cenotaph He Toa Taumata Rau: Matthew BUTLER.
  • London Gazette, 26 July 1917, p. 7663.
  • Nominal Roll of New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 1915. New Zealand Engineers Tunnelling Company, Wellington, Government Printer, 1916, p. 1.

How to cite this page

Anthony BYLEDBAL, “Matthew BUTLER (4/1240)”, New Zealand Tunnellers, 2024 (2009). Accessed: 29 March 2024. URL: https://www.nztunnellers.com/roll/details.php?id=91