BOTTEN, Richard Thomas
| Service Numbers: | 3258, V9315 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 7 July 1917 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 46th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Carisbrook, Victoria, Australia, 18 August 1899 |
| Home Town: | Carisbrook, Central Goldfields, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Euroa, Victoria, Australia, 24 July 1968, aged 68 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Euroa Cemetery, Victoria |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 7 Jul 1917: | Enlisted | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Feb 1918: | Involvement Private, 3258, 39th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Wiltshire embarkation_ship_number: A18 public_note: '' | |
| 2 Feb 1918: | Embarked Private, 3258, 39th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Wiltshire, Sydney | |
| 5 Jun 1918: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 46th Infantry Battalion, Transferred to 46th battalion A.I.F from 39th battalion A.I.F Location: England | |
| 20 Aug 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3258, 46th Infantry Battalion, Taken on strength with the 46th battalion on the 20th of August 1918. The 46th were in the front line near Lihons during this time. When the 46th were being relieved on the night of the 24/25th, the battalion experienced their most severe gas attack of the whole war. | |
| 18 Sep 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3258, 46th Infantry Battalion, Breaching the Hindenburg Line - Cambrai / St Quentin Canal, The 46th battalion's last action of the war. This is the battle where it is believed Richard's pocket bible stopped a German bullet from entering his chest. |
World War 2 Service
| 14 Nov 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, V9315 |
|---|
Dick's story
Richard Thomas Botton (Dick) was a baker by trade. After ww1 he became a bricklayer /stone mason. He married Nellie jane Asquith and had two sons and five daughters.
He built a home in Saxon st Euroa Which had a small patio at the front door with a comfortable chair where he used to sit in his later years roll his own tobacco and view the Strathbogie rangers across the paddocks. The patio was his space to be alone and contemplate his memories of which Im guessing he had many. Including his four brothers that all served.
He was a keen fisherman and hunter of rabbits which from memory where on the menu a lot of the time.
He was considered to be one of the better brick layers in the area and in the 1930's was contracted to build the Furlong memorial which after ninety years is still standing strong along with the stone fence that is at the entrance.
He also had a sawmill in Euroa.
Submitted 12 December 2023 by wayne clarke
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