Mar 10, 1892

Born in Sussex, England to Ernest Llewellyn Walters and Jane (nee Purvey) Button

Nov 14, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59124 (temporary number 986)

Ø  Next of kin given as Florence Button, Sussex, England

Ø  Previous occupation given as Tanner

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

Ø  Posted to the Depot Company as a Scout

The battalion trained in the Kingston area through the winter with headquarters in the Kingston Armouries

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec

May 15, 1915

Disembarked in Devonport, England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent to continue training

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

Disembarked in Boulogne, France and the battalion proceeded to St. Omer

Oct 8, 1915

While occupying the front line C Trenches on the Ypres Salient in Belgium, Private Button received shrapnel wounds to his back and was evacuated to the No. 2 Canadian Field Ambulance for first aid before being transported to the No. 8 Casualty Clearing Station for treatment

Oct 10, 1915

Transferred via the No. 3 Ambulance Train and admitted to the No. 24 General Hospital in Etaples, France for further treatment

Oct 21, 1915

Transferred to the Convalescent Camp in Etaples to continue his recovery

Nov 2, 1915

Discharged to the Canadian Base Depot in the Rouelles Camp, Havre

Nov 6, 1915

After leaving the base depot he rejoined the 21^st Battalion

Nov 21, 1915

Rejoined the 21^st Battalion from the Trench Warfare School

Feb 29, 1916

While on a work party on the Ypres Salient, Private Button received a bullet wound that entered his left shoulder above the clavicle and exited his back near his spine.  A bullet fragment penetrated the upper part of his left lung.  He was evacuated to the No. 5 Canadian Field Ambulance and transported to the No. 1 Casualty Clearing Station for treatment

Mar 2, 1916

Transferred via the No. 17 Ambulance Train and admitted to the No. 3 Canadian General Hospital in Boulogne

Mar 19, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Jan Breydel

On arrival in England he was admitted to the St. Luke’s War Hospital in Halifax, Yorkshire

Transferred to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) for pay purposes while in hospital

Apr 8, 1916

Transferred to the Moore Barracks Hospital and complains of being weak and short of breath

Apr 12, 1916

Transferred to the Monks Horton Canadian Convalescent Hospital

Apr 19, 1916

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Woodcote Park, Epsom for 4 weeks of physical training

May 17, 1916

Discharged from hospital and transferred to the 39^th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling

Oct 14, 1916

Appointed to the rank of Acting Lance Corporal

Nov 14, 1916

Awarded the Good Conduct Badge

Dec 4, 1916

Appointed to the rank of Acting Corporal without pay

Jan 4, 1917

Transferred to the newly formed 6^th Reserve Battalion in East Sandling.  Shortly after the formation of the battalion, it was moved to Seaford to train reinforcements for the front

Feb 23, 1917

Maurice’s father Ernest LW Button was killed in action in France while serving with the 7^th Battalion, Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment.  He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France

Mar 19, 1917

Transferred to the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot

Apr 2, 1917

Attached to the Canadian Officer Training School in Bexhill

Apr 28, 1917

Transferred to the 6^th Reserve Battalion in Seaford with the rank of Lieutenant

Jun 12, 1917

Qualified 2^nd Class at the 5^th Course of Instruction at the Canadian Trench Warfare School in Bexhill

Jul 17, 1917

Transferred to the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot and attached to the 3^rd CCD (Canadian Command Depot) as Bombing Officer

Mar 3, 1918

Married to Gertrude Grace Green in Haywards Heath, Sussex, England

Sep 6, 1918

Transferred to the 6^th Reserve Battalion in Seaford

Sep 26, 1918

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Sep 27, 1918

Arrived at the CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) in Etaples, France as part of a draft of 1,000 reinforcements from England and Taken On Strength the 21^st Battalion

Sep 28, 1918

After leaving the base depot he joined the CCRC (Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp Aubin St Vaast

Oct 4, 1918

After leaving the reinforcement camp, Lieutenant Button rejoined the 21^st Battalion on the Hindenburg Support Line and was posted to the Specialist Section as the Scout Officer

Oct 11, 1918

While the 21^st Battalion was attacking in the area north-east of Iwuy, France, Lieutenant Button received a slight wound to his face, but after receiving first aid from the battalion’s Medical Officer, he remained with the battalion

Oct 20, 1918

Admitted to the 4^th Canadian Field Ambulance with an undescribed illness and was discharged the same day

Oct 26, 1918

Admitted to the No. 14 Canadian Field Ambulance with a diagnosis that reads Influenza

Oct 30, 1918

Transferred to the No. 42 Casualty Clearing Station for treatment

Nov 2, 1918

Transferred via the No. 36 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 20 Canadian General Hospital in Dannes Camiers, France

Nov 10, 1918

Discharged from hospital and posted to the Canadian Infantry Base Depot in Etaples for light duties

Nov 21, 1918

Admitted to the No. 20 General Hospital in Camiers with a diagnosis that reads Coryza, an inflammation of the nasal passage

Nov 25, 1918

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Stad Antwerpen

On arrival in England he was admitted to the Horton County of London War Hospital in Epsom and the diagnosis is changed to read Bronchitis

Transferred to the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot for pay purposes while in hospital

Dec 6, 1918

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Matlock, Bath

Dec 12, 1918

Discharged from hospital with sick leave and to report to the 6^th Reserve Battalion in Seaford on completion of leave

Mar 1, 1919

Transferred to the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot and attached to the 3^rd Canadian Convalescent Depot

Mar 31, 1919

Transferred to the 6^th Reserve Battalion in Seaford

May 10, 1919

Embarked the SS Scandinavian in Liverpool with his wife and 5-month-old son.  Their stated destination was Madoc, Ontario

May 18, 1919

Disembarked in Montreal, Quebec and proceeded to Kingston, Ontario

May 21, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Kingston

Ø  Rank on discharge Lieutenant

Ø  War Service Badge Class “A” issued

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge Madoc, Ontario

Following his discharge, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 635 Greenwood Ave., Toronto, Ontario

In 1920, Maurice Button was employed with the Grand Trunk Railway, which later became the Canadian National Railway.  He took charge of the Rail Yard in Belleville, Ontario and while living in Belleville, took on the position of Secretary-Treasurer of the 21^st Battalion Association.  He retired from the CNR in in 1957.  In 1958 he is noted as living in St. Laurent, Quebec, but had returned to live in the Belleville area by 1961.

Mar 22, 1933

Entered the USA at Niagara Falls, New York with his wife and 2 children in transit to England

Apr 21, 1933

Embarked the SS Ascania in Southampton with his wife and 2 children

May 2, 1933

Disembarked in Montreal, Quebec

Mar 20, 1957

Just a couple of months after his retirement, Maurice and his wife embarked the RMS Queen Elizabeth in New York City, USA

Maurice and Gertrude visited family in various parts of England

May 9, 1957

Embarked the RMS Queen Elizabeth in Southampton for the return voyage home to Canada

Feb 5, 1963

Maurice Bertram Button died in Belleville, Ontario was buried in the Belleville Cemetery

From the Belleville Intelligencer