Cpl Ernest Butterfield, a Lutonian serving with the Australians in Gallipoli, died on May 4th, 1915, of wounds received in action.

Born in Markyate but brought up from a young age in Luton, Cpl Butterfield, service number 79, joined the 15th Battalion, 4th Brigade, Australian Expeditionary Force. He was previously with the Royal Garrison Artillery and served during the Boer War, being in Kimberley during the siege.

After leaving the Army he worked in Luton in the straw hat trade, and in about 1908 went out to Australia to work at Murray's, a straw hat factory well known to Luton. For about three years nothing had been heard of him as he was travelling about in Australia, and then he wrote from Egypt to say he had joined the Australian Force and was in the machine gun section of his battalion.

He sent a postcard to Luton in which he said he hoped to be in action within a few days. The Luton News said he seemed to have a presentiment that he would be killed, as he wished to bid all he knew goodbye. On the day his card arrived in Luton his name appeared in the casualty lists as having died of wounds.

His widow was living in Cobden Street, Luton, and his sister, Mrs Clements, in Claremont Road.

[The Luton News, June 3rd, 1915]