Joseph Asquith Butler (SN 1795) was a 29 year old storeman from Crompton Street Ballarat North when he enlisted on March 31st 1916. He trained in Ballarat before embarking on the Orontes on August 16th 1916. In February 1917 he joined the 39th Battalion in France. On October 4th 1917 he suffered an accidental gunshot wound to the scalp and both knees, although an enquiry found ‘soldier not to blame’. He was evacuated to the Guildford Army Hospital in England and did not rejoin his unit until May 1918. At war’s end, while awaiting return to Australia, he married Florence Roberts on June 10th 1919. He returned to Melbourne on the Demosthenes, arriving on September 14th 1919. He died on November 28th 1953 at the age of 66.

His brother John also served in the AIF and is honoured with a tree in the Avenue.