Herbert James Button was born in Chelmsford on 13th January 1890, the eldest son of James Daniel Button and Sarah Jane Button. He was christened at St Mary’s Church, Chelmsford on the 10th January 1891. At that time his father was described as a car-man of 3 Marriage’s Square, Chelmsford. Herbert’s father had been born c1859 at Hawkwell; his mother c1858 in Broomfield. The couple married in 1888.

Herbert was joined by a younger brother, George Button, who was born in Chelmsford in 1893.

The 1891 census found four month-old at 14 Marriage’s Square, off New Street, Chelmsford, living with his parents. His father was employed as a brewer’s drayman. Five years later James was dead, having died in the Maldon District in 1896.

At the time of the 1901 census Herbert, aged ten, was living with his widowed mother (a charwoman) and younger brother at 22 Rainsford Road, Chelmsford. A decade later the 1911 census found Herbert’s mother and brother at 74 Rainsford Road. His brother was a printer’s labourer.

Herbert served in the Grenadier Guards and then joined the Essex County Constabulary from the army on 7th January 1913. He was stationed as Police Constable 522 at Dovercourt. With the outbreak of war he re-enlisted at Warley on 5th August 1914 and entered France on 12th September 1914.

The Essex County Chronicle of 16th October 1914 reported:

“Harwich Policeman in the trenches – Pc. Button of the Harwich Police, in a letter to the Inspector, says: - ‘I am quite well and alive for the present, though perhaps not very safe, As I write shells are whizzing over and bursting near, We are right in the thick of it here, and it’s hot stuff. A big battle has been going on for the last fortnight, and we are hung on in the trenches day and night. The Germans fight well in the woods, and that is where we lost a lot of men. We have lost a good many, but not so many as the Germans. A battalion of our men charged a German trench a few nights ago, but could find only 53 dead Germans, who had been killed by our artillery.

The German rifle fire is rotten, but their artillery is very good. It is their artillery that does the damage. They are up to all kinds of dodges. Some of them dress up in our uniforms, come right up and then open fire, They shoot our wounded officers and fire on the Red Cross. They are murderous cowards. I have had some narrow escapes, but have been lucky, although one never knows who may be next. Last week we were fighting in the trenches, and were up to our knees in mud and water.’”

The same newspaper of 6th November 1914 reported:

“Harwich constable in the trenches – Pc. Button, of the Harwich Police Force, who is with the Grenadier Guards at the front writes to Sergt. Borrer: - ‘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.’”

But by then Herbert had been dead for five days - killed in action on 1st November 1914 near Ypres while serving as Private 14584 in the 2nd Battalion of the Grenadier Guards. The battalion became part of the 7th Division which was ordered to aid the westward evacuation of the Belgium army. With that task completed the division entrenched in front of Ypres where it halted the advancing German army. Herbert’s death was reported in the Essex County Chronicle on 11th December 1914:

“News has been received at Harwich of the deaths at the seat of War of Police-constable Button and G.E.R. P.c. Gundry. Button was stationed at Dovercourt, and was a native of Chelmsford, his mother living in Rainsford Road, Chelmsford. Shortly before leaving to join his regiment (the Grenadier Guards) he distinguished himself by stopping a runaway horse in the main thoroughfare of the town, being dragged a considerable distance in the successful effort.”

The same day’s Essex Weekly News contained the following report:

“P.c. Button, who was a constable in the Essex Constabulary, stationed at Dovercourt, and who left to rejoin the Grenadier Guards at the outbreak of the war, has been killed in action; also P.c. Gundry, of the G.E.R. Police. who was stationed at Parkeston Quay, and was in the same company of Grenadiers as Button.”

News of his colleague’s death inspired an officer to compose some poetry as a farewell to his friend, who left behind his widowed mother at 74 Rainsford Road, Chelmsford. It was published in the Essex County Chronicle of 15th January 1915:

“The late P.c. Button of Chelmsford – The late P.c. Button, a son of Mrs. Button, Rainsford Road, Chelmsford, was stationed at Dovercourt when the war broke out. He rejoined his regiment, the Grenadier Guardsman and was killed before Ypres. P.c. Layton, of the Harwich Force, has composed some verses as a farewell to his comrade, which we reprint from the ‘Harwich and Dovercourt Newsman’:

Farewell our faithful comrade admired and loved by all;
Thou hast responded bravely to heed thy country’s call.
Your noble life you’ve given, on the field you took your place,
To maintain England’s honour and save it from disgrace.

To you we owe our safety, our freedom and our right;
For Liberty and Justice, you’ve helped us in the fight.
To keep back threatening nations from off old England’s shores,
That we might still be governed with just and righteous laws.

We never shall forget these, while we remain on earth;
Your noble courage makes us feel proud of Briton’s birth.
And now you’ve found a hero’s graves, midst the struggle and the fight;
Let’s hope again in God’s good time we shall again unite.’

On 5th November 1915 the Essex County Chronicle carried the following in memoriam notice:

“Button. - In loving memory of my dear son, Pt. Herbert J. Button, of the Grenadier Guards, who was killed in action near Ypres on Nov. 1st. 1914. ‘In the midst of life we are in death.’”

Herbert’s mother died in the summer of 1916, aged 60. His brother George was listed in the 1918 register of electors at 74 Rainsford Road.

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