First World War memorials

Herbert James Button - Essex County Constabulary.
Served from 7th January 1913. Killed 1st November 1914.

Born in Chelmsford on 13 December 1890 to James David Button, a carman, and his wife Sarah Jane of 3 Marriages Square in the town. He was baptised at the church of St Mary, St Peter and St Cedd (now Chelmsford cathedral) on 10 January 1891.

Button joined the Essex County Constabulary from the army on 7th January 1913, and was stationed at Dovercourt, where just before the outbreak of war and his return to his regiment on 5 August he managed to halt a runaway horse that had bolted along the local high street, but only after he had been dragged a considerable distance.

Guardsman 14584 Button of the 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards rejoined his army comrades on 5 August 1914, and was soon writing to his Inspector in Harwich (Essex Weekly News, 16 October 1914):

“I am quite well and alive for the present, although perhaps not very safe. As I write, shells are whizzing over and bursting near. We are right in the thick of it here, and its hot stuff…I have had some narrow escapes but have been lucky, although one never knows who may be next.”

Button fell in action just two weeks after his letter was published, making another letter, this time to Police Sergeant Borrer and published by the Essex County Chronicle on 6 November, equally poignant.

“We are having a lively time, been engaged in a battle here for a month. My first time under fire, a poor fellow in front of me got a piece of shell through his stomach that would have had me… I hope I may be lucky and come back again. They are fighting hard now, but are a dirty lot. They dress in our uniforms and come right up to our trenches and hoist the white flag and when we go to fetch them they open fire. Our battalion have lost heavily, my company alone has lost 180 now.”

News of his colleague’s death inspired Pc Layton of the Harwich Force to compose some poetry as a farewell to his friend, who left behind his widowed mother at 74 Rainsford Road, Chelmsford.

Herbert Button is commemorated on panels 9 and 11 of the Ypres (Menin Gate) memorial, at Ieper in Belgium and on a memorial inside Chelmsford cathedral to all parishioners who fell in the war.

Police Constable 522. Serial Number 2773.

Alfred is also commemorated by the Chelmsford War Memorial

September 21, 2004 - Article updated with additional information compiled by Mr. Adrian Jones. Additional information taken mainly from the Essex County Chronicle and Essex Weekly News.

October 23, 2009 - Article updated with link to additional information provided by www.chelmsfordwarmemorial.co.uk

Essex County
Constabulary

Southend Borough
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Colchester Borough
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First World War memorials

Essex County Constabulary

Southend Borough Constabulary

Colchester Borough Constabulary

Essex County
Constabulary

Southend Borough
Constabulary

Colchester Borough
Constabulary