Anthony Button

Private 3297 & 200660

4th Bn. Cameron Highlanders

Name and Rank: Private Anthony Button

Service Number: 3297 & 200660

Served with: 4th Battalion, Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders

Killed in Action: 26 September 1915

Commemorated on local memorials at: St. Matthias, Bolsterstone, Clock Tower, Deepcar St. John

Commemorated at: Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais; he has no known grave

Anthony was born in 1893 and was the son of Timothy and Jessie Button. When the census was taken in 1901 they were living at Orchard Street, Deepcar. His father died in 1906 and by 1911 Jessie and the family were living at 53 Haywoods Park and Anthony was working as an apprentice moulder in Fox’s. He enlisted in Sheffield and for some reason had two service numbers, 3297 and 200660. Anthony went to France on 9 September 1915 and was believed to have been killed in action on 26 September 1915 during the second day of the Battle of Loos. A notice appeared in the local paper on 30 October 1915 that Anthony was fighting in France, but that nothing had been heard of him for a month. His name is on the Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais, meaning he has no known grave. He was awarded, posthumously, the Victory and British medals, as well as the 1915 Star Medal, the latter being issued to men who saw service in any theatre of war between 5 August 1914 and 31 December 1915. All three medals were sometimes irreverently referred to as Pip, Squeak and Wilfred.

A marble memorial tablet commemorating Anthony was dedicated in Deepcar church on Sunday 3 June. A large congregation attended. The memorial was the work of David Brearley, a local stonemason, and bears the following inscription: - “To the glory of God, and in memory of Anthony Button, 4th Cameron Highlanders, killed at Loos, Sept. 26, 1915. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Anthony had been a member of the church choir, and the tablet was erected by his fellow choristers.

A memorial notice was printed in the local newspaper in September 1919: “In Loving Memory of Private Anthony Button, Cameron Highlanders, killed in action September 26th 1915. Just when his days were brightest, Just when his hopes were best, He was called from this land of sorrow, To a home of eternal rest. – Phyllis”

Anthony Button

Anthony Button and the Cameron Highlanders

Anthony, 2nd left, at Fort George, Inverness, during training. There is an officer hiding at the back, far right corner by the door. They don’t appear to have enough regimental sporrans. Photo Credit: from Richard Smith, his great-nephew

Memorial tablet in Deepcar St. John's church

Button family headstone at Bolsterstone

“… sacred to the memory of our dear son Private Anthony Button, 4th Cameron Highlanders, killed in action at Loos Sept 26th 1915 aged 23 years. His Sacrifice” Photo credit: Sally Jowett

Dud Corner Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery at Loos

Anthony is commemorated on the Panels on the Walls; he has no known grave. The Loos Memorial forms the side and back of Dud Corner Cemetery and commemorates over 20,000 officers and men who have no known grave, who fell in the area from the River Lys to the old southern boundary of the First Army, east and west of Grenay. Source: CWGC

Antony Button's name on the Loos memorial

Commonwealth War Graves Commission certificate

Anthony Button with his family

Photo credit: Richard Smith

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