| Regimental number | 5979 |
| Place of birth | Co Kilkenny, Ireland |
| School | Catholic School |
| Age on arrival in Australia | 24 |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Occupation | Farm labourer |
| Address | Oaklands, New South Wales |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 29 |
| Height | 5' 8" |
| Weight | 172 lbs |
| Next of kin | Mother, Mrs B Butler,Wildfield, County Kilkenny Ballyfoyle, Ireland |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Cootamundra, New South Wales |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 1st Battalion, 19th Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/18/4 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A18 Wiltshire on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 1st Battalion |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Miscellaneous details (Nominal Roll) | *Given name William James |
| Age at death | 30 |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 30 |
| Place of burial | Tyne Cot Cemetery (Plot XLII, Row A, Grave No. 4), Passchendaele, Belgium |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 28 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Son of Mrs Bridget BUTLER, Wildfield, Ballyfoyle, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland. Native of Tullabrin, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland |
| Other details |
War service: Western Front Embarked Sydney, 22 August 1916; disembarked Plymouth, England, 13 October 1916. Proceeded overseas to france, 13 December 1916; taken on strength, 1st Bn, 18 December 1916. Wounded in action, 4 May 1917 (gun shot wound, right arm and right leg), and admitted to 5th Field Ambulance; transferred to 3rd Casualty Clearing Station, 4 May 1917; to 1st Australian General Hospital, Rouen, 5 May 1917; to No 2 Convalescent Depot, 7 May 1917; discharged to Base Details, 10 May 1917; rejoined unit, 21 May 1917. Missing in action, Belgium, 3 October 1917; Court of Enquiry, 22 March 1918, determined fate as killed in action. Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, BUTLER William James |