Ancestor Details
Ancestor's Name: Alfred Button
Ancestor's date of birth: 20/11/1877
Ancestor's date of death: 09/02/1900
Cause of Death: KIA Jasfontein near Colesberg South Africa
Service and Life Before the Boer War: Born at Fingal, Tasmania, (20 November 1877) his parents later went to live at Perth, Tasmania. The Tasmanian Mail (Feb 17 1900) stated that Button lived at Evandale. Button left his situation at Mr S. Hawleys , where he worked as a gardener, to go to South Africa. He was previously in the Launceston Rifles. (Tasmanian Mail 17 February 1900). He was the son of William E. Button of Fingal. He was a lay preacher with the local Methodist Church.
Service Number: 30
Colony or State of enlistment: TAS Place of Enlistment: Launceston
Unit: Tasmanian Infantry Company / First Tasmanian Mounted Infantry
Rank attained in Boer War: PTE, Date Effective: 1899
Highest Rank attained (if served after war): Did not survive the Boer War.
Murray Page: 549 and 576
Contingent: First Tasmanian
Ship: Medic, Date of Sailing: 28/10/1899
Memorial details: Colesberg Boer War cemetry South Africa, Australian War Memorial Canberra, Launceston Boer War Memorial.
Awards/Decorations/Commendations: Queen's South Africa Medal with Cape Colony clasp.
Personal Characteristics: Modest and committed.
Reasons to go and fight: A serving sloldier.
Details of service in war: From November 1899 in northern Cape Colony. Killed in Action Jasfontein near Colesberg South Africa. First Tasmanian to die in combat.
Service and life after the Boer War: Did not survive the Boer War.
CLICK HERE for more details on Alfred Button's life.
Descendant Details
Name of Descendant: Joan Burley, Port Macquarie NSW 2444
Relationship to Ancestor: great nieceName of Descendant: Shirley Ann Linnell, Moonah TAS
Relationship to Ancestor: I am a great niece. My Mum was Pearl Venus Button. Alfred Button was Mum's uncle. Alfred Button and Charles Button (my granddad) we brothers they were the sons of william Ernest Button and Hannah Elizabeth Oakley Married 5 Sept 1877 Fingal Tasmaina.
