Charles E.W. Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/55/1 August 1916 pt13

145
8


146

7
August 21 Mond evening. 3rd Bde attacked near Mouquet.
1916      21 { 4.30 a.m. Casey & I went up to line.
Tues 22  { 9. p.m. Leo hit. 2nd Div going in (6^th Bde).
Wednes 23 Leo brought in to hospital
Thurs 24 Leo buried
Frid 25 {Went with Butler to line
              {Went to see Angus - Word abt Leo Father
Sat 26 {6^th Bde attack
             {4^th Bde going in to line. Wet.
Sund 27 4^th Bd  Very wet.
           28 to go with Brookes to get photos.

 147        148
heart. It has been a wonderful joy to us to know
he & Gus & some of his old friends were with
Leo when he was laid to rest - I am afraid
This is a miserably selfish letter full of my own
sorrow but I know you will forgive me. It all
seems so fresh I can think of little else - Good
bye dear, God bless & keep you safe & bring you home
to the dear ones. With much love from us both
Your affection Aunt
Avery Butler
 [*tor and his devoted soldiers risked
their lives in bringing him in."
As he lived—so he died. The Great
Umpire had called "Over." *]

7/145
I have left these
letters in the diary
because they show
the way in which a
chance scrap of iron
flung at random on
the hillside in front of 
Mouquet claims its
wounds & pain course
right through to the
furthest end of the world.

7/145                    No. 50.
No. 49 was posted Oct 13
Yours of Aug 27. & 31 (about Leo) arrived Oct 16.
Belgaum 
Sandy Bay
Hobart
Fr. Oct 20. 1916
My dear Charlie,
An American mail is made up tonight & Mother
is (in spite of weak eyes) writing you both & Aunt Katie 
letter cards. Our last news of you was your cable of Oct 18 
on occasion of your visit to the fleet. It is very comforting to know 
that you were probably well, and at least safe, two days ago.
These short cable grams are especially welcome to us.Your letters about Leo were a great treasure to his parents - and
they appreciate the thoughtful care with which you give them all 
essential particulars - How few of the bereaved are able to learn 
so much of their departed ones! Uncle Ted & his family have 
been away at Swansea, & were able to read your letters in quiet retirement.   
He will return in 10 days or so, and is looking much stronger 
for the change: but it will be a trial to come back to the surroundings 
which always remind him of his dear boy. The mother will probably 
never be the same, nor Uncle Ted for that matter - though Time 
may deaden the pain. I wish that they had the vivid sense of the 
survival & presence of the spirit body that some of us have - As to the 
spiritualism of the spiritualists, it seems to me to be more of a 
mystery than ever. One would think that, if ever, now is the time when 
there should be thousand fold evidence of spirit return - but the records 
in Light are more than meagre - There must be some obstructing 
conditions - one can only wait & hope for more light.

[*P.S. I hope you will be careful of your health - 
if you want extra clothing, write to Jack Quinnell who 
has always a cash balance  of mine of £70. against 
Emergencies - I should live at Head Qrs. now very cold & wet weather.*]

[*On Mother's next birthday we come into possession
of the new house - now called Hinemoa - 
We propose to call it "Brentwood" - Its number 
is 81, High St., Sandy Bay - we leave this house 
on Feb 28.*]

7/145
Over here, as you probably know, we are on the verge of a
tremendous crisis - next Saturday is Referendum Day, and things
look very black. The Labour leaders, those at least who favour
Compulsory foreign service, have been cast out by their various Unions -
mob orators are working on the emotions of the crowds in the Domains
& public parks, and if returned soldiers attempt to speak they are
hustled - even wounded men. New South Wales & Queensland seem
to be terrorised by rowdies, and the I.W.W have been causing fires
in the Sydney shops & warehouses. The weak spot seems to be
the Women's vote, for the agitators appeal to their emotions - "Are
you going to send another woman's son to be butchered by the Huns? "
Another cry is " Why not have a Conscription of Wealth, and make the
rich people hire blacks & Russians to fight the Huns, instead of seizing
the poor man's ewe lamb?" All kinds of lies are disseminated -
"See how in England they have forced poor women to till the fields and
make ammunition against their will!"
Tomorrow I am to go to Bruny Island to speak to the
timber men of Adventure Bay - & yesterday I was on the platform
of the Church Association of Women Workers. I shall do my best
of course, but am not good at popular speaking, nor used to being "heckled" -
I wish I had a touch of Sir George Reid's gifts in that respect - well
I'll write next mail and say how things went.
Mother is gradually getting back into normal health - Today
she did a little gardening & walked to M^rs. Garth's to pay a bill.
Everything is getting dearer, & must I suppose continue to do so -
and the next ten years, even if the Allies do all they hope to, will be
years of scarcity and upheaval -
With love,
Your affectionate Father
Edwin Bean -

7/145
Saturday
Sept 2^nd
Belgaum
L.S. Bay
Hobart
[*Leo*] 
Darling Eldest
It is seven & I am
waiting for the aunts to come in to 
dinner, so will start my letter to you. I have
just come back from Uncle Ted's & he &
little Jim walked back with me. They are
better now, & I found them walking
arm in arm round their little garden
They love to show us the letters they
have received over 400 since Monday
last from people of all ranks, some perfect
strangers to them, one wrote from "Sam the
old bus boy, now station master at Glenora"
another "Sir I write to express regret &
sympathy for the passing away of Leo"
this man they had never heard of. Children,
old people, middle aged men, labourers
Salvation Army, Golf Club, universally bear express

7/145
regret, & sympathy. The clerks at the office
have asked for a memorial service at the
Cathedral, it is to be at 5 at t on Wednesday
next. Uncle Ted has been to office the
last few days in the mornings, & I am glad
he has though meeting people is trying.
Both of them are so very grateful to you
Chas dear, & think you have been so
thoughtful - it has been the greatest comfort
to them knowing all you cabled about, also
knowing Jock & Guy Bailey were with him.
Dear old Leo must have been a very fine
fellow, & had a sweet sunny nature.
One poor lame lad, son of his old nurse, is
ill dying, & when he heard about Leo
said, "I do not mind now Mother, for 
Mr Leo will be there to meet me." They nearly all
call him Leo. 

7/145
Sunday afternoon
Sept 3^rd
Belgaum
L. Sandy Bay
Hobart
[*Your loving 
Mummy*]
My darling Son
I like to think of you & dear Chas
near each other. About 5 here & I suppose 
about 7 Sunday morning with you.
I am alone in the house sitting at the drawing
room window looking out on the river
where yachts & a few small fishing boats
pass every now & then. It has been a
lovely Spring day except for some September
wind & dust - We are so thankful this
week has been fine for poor old Uncle
Ted & Aunt Amy's sake, she goes into the
garden & veranda & Uncle Ted goes to Ashfield
& to office in the mornings, & walks up
here. Jim Clark & the little niece who lives with
them, with him. Yesterday I ran down for
an hour before late dinner, & they showed 
me some more of the letters - Uncle Ted

2  7/45
told m  said to me. "I have been feeling such
a feeling of peace to day, quite happy, I feel
almost ashamed of myself but I think Leo must
be near me." I said there is no reason to feel
ashamed Ted dear, I am glad you do feel happy,
what is natural is right, & probably, almost
certainly, Leo is with you both & is glad to
see you happy. Dear Uncle Ted is so simple
& natural & outspoken, almost like a child.
Aunt Amy is much calmer, & both of them now
can feel comforted & glad that you & Guy Bailey
were with him, & that Charlie was there to 
see about things & to cable to them, & such
a thoughtful cable too. It makes me so happy
to know my dear sons think for others, & “are
a strength to those around them" My constant prayer
for them. Leo must have had a singularly
kind gentle nature, for all Hobart is sharing
his parents loss, rich & poor old & young,
& this has been a comfort to them.

7/145
Ancenne
Sandy Bay
Hobart
Nov 8^th
Dearest Jack
Just a few lines to thank you
with our whole hearts for what you did for
us in our Great Sorrow. I can never tell you
what a comfort your letter was to us, & I just
love to think that one of his own people saw
him just before he fell asleep - & to know that
he did not suffer much & was not long ill has
been oh, Such a relief - Jack dear I need not tell
You you will understand what his death
means to us, he was just the whole world to us
Son & daughter in one & we always thought
when the time came for either Uncle Ted or
my self to go he would be here to comfort &
help the one that was left. He was such 
a good boy & never in his whole / life has he
given us even the moment's worry or anxiety
(Angus has been the same).  Some how I have
always felt certain that he would never bex
spared to come home, but I did not think he
would be taken so soon. only five months to the very

7/45
day he left here & his career as a soldier lasted
Just one year - such a little time - since hearing
all particulars of his wounds we would not have things
different - it would have been terrible for Leo & he of
all people so full of life & energy to be such a 
cripple & be maimed. I am sure he would only have
wished to live for our sakes: All the letters we had
from his old friends speak so lovingly of him & of 
his ifs wonderful courage & cheerfulness after he was
wounded. As one of the doctors in writing said
"Leo was such a magnificent figure of a man
& his pluck & courage when he was lying
there wounded unto death would have made
you proud of him as you ever were. A great
heart to the end" - It some times seems hard
to understand why such a good young life &
one so useful should have been taken so soon
but God knows that: & he was wanted for better
work else where. We feel very proud parents when
we hear from all Classes how he was loved & adored,
If you could only have seen some of the letters from
your men who have said what a good influence
Leo has had on their lives. One & all say how
they loved him. We have had nearly 700 letters &
Cards & the praises are still coming in. All classes
have written & from all the colonies. Such a number
of the news papers had such charming notices
even the Sydney Bullitin, it ended its letter notice
by saying there was six feet three of Leo Butler

7/145
& every inch a man" I am sending you one letter
cutting it is so beautifully written & I loved the little
part about cricket. it sounds so peaceful & happy
& so far removed from all this misery & strife of
this world as it is now - Uncle Ted has been so brave
a patient but it is harder on him than any one
Leo was the apple of his eye & he always looked
forward to the time when he could hand things
over to him at the office and take things easy. Now
he will have to go on to the end- poor old Angus
it has been a bitter blow to him & that they never
met will be one of the greatest regrets of my life. 
They were so longing to xx met after four years. They
have always been such devoted brothers. He writes
so bravely never thinks of him self all his thoughts
are for us We cant help feeling terribly anxious
about him really at times its all seemed more
one can stand but not try not to worry. Dear mother
has been so sweet & loving to us in our trouble, it
was a terribly hard  taks  task for her & Father to come
down and tell us the sad news - I have always felt
so dreadfully sorry for them & they were so sweet. It
was a terrible time - Mother would come to Evening
Church with me last Sunday & I was so glad to have
her as I was feeling very sad & down. It was the first

7/145
service I had been since the day before the news came.
The last time our dear boy was in Church with
us was one morning when Father was holding
early Service. Leo took round the plate & as
he walked down the isle he looked such a fine
man in his uniform. I did feel so proud. I some
times wonder if I was too proud of him but how
could I help it when he was so dear. I have
written to dear Charlie. He was so good telling
us all particulars. His letter was so beautiful
& I have read it so often I nearly know it off
by heart. It has been a wonderful joy to us to know
he & Gus & some of his old friends were with
Leo when he was laid to rest. I am afraid
this is a miserably selfish letter full of my own
sorrow but I know you will forgive me. It all
seems so fresh I can think of little else- Good
bye dear God bless & keep you safe & bring you home
to the dear ones. With much love from us both
Your affection Aunt
Avery Butler

147  148
[*for cake
milk for
coffee stall*]
7/145 Lieut. Leo. Butler.
KILLED RECENTLY IN FRANCE
WHILE FIGHTING FOR HIS
KING AND COUNTRY.
A FEW MEMORIES.
One recalls the kind and sympathetic
soul of the man, the happy smile, the
cheery word, the pleasure to meet and
to talk with him. A man of many
friends, and warm friendships, made
in all circles of life. "Leo" was a 
household word - his tall, rather stooping,
figure, a well-marked sight- in the
daily round of our city. To those who
knew him more intimately there was
the humble Christian spirit, the deep
affection for his parents, the love of
children and animals - the many kindly
actions and charitable deeds which go
to make the clean and manly life.
One recalls bright sunshine & a
world of peace - the green turf and the
white clad figures on the Top Cricket
Ground. The field spreads out, the
leather comes crashing to the pavilion,
or bounds over the ropes. "Leo" is
batting, and the soul of the great game
is astir!
One recalls a voyage to Sydney, and
a draft of troops destined to join up in
New South Wales - a rough trip and
some desires of the few to break bounds.
Do they remember the kindly restraining
hand of the tall officer in charge -
their prompt "Yes, Lieutenant." That
detachment heard high praise from
those in authority when handed over.
One last memory can be conjured up
from the brief cabled words:-
"Leo. Butler, after splendid work
in battle, mortally wounded; the doctor
and his devoted soldiers risked
their lives in bringing him in."
As he lived - so he died. The Great
Umpire had called "Over.”