BUTT, Thomas Hampden
23/696 Otago Regiment, attached 2nd Light Trench Mortar Battery, WW1
12995, Legion of Frontiersmen, New Zealand
CITATION
Military Medal
Gazetted 21 October 1918, p12423
Operations: British front north of Hebuterne on 19th July 1918. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During and early morning bombardment of our forward position on 19th July 1918, one shell struck a Light Trench Mortar position igniting some material within it which rapidly spread to a 75 round Dump of 3 inch Stokes shells (containing 170 lbs of ammonia) assembled for S.O.S. The ballistic augmenting rings on the shells were already burning when Private Butt, with another man rushed into the position and succeeded in extinguishing the flames. Several men were sheltering from the bombardment in the very adjacent trench and had it not been for the resourceful presence of mind and magnificent courage of Private Butt and his companion, the gun would undoubtedly have been blown to pieces and the garrison nearby severely shocked or otherwise severely casualtied.
AWARDS
Military Medal
1914-15 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
NOTES
Born 8 Nov 1890 England
Died 27 Apr 1956 Havelock North, New Zealand
Buried Hastings Cemetery, New Zealand [Plot CRG440]
