William John Button (30 November 1903 – 10 March 1969) was a British soldier and one of the last recipients of the Empire Gallantry Medal before this award was superseded by the George Cross.
The citation read: On the morning of 18th August, 1940, Lance-Sergeant Button was ordered with his section to continue the work of excavating an unexploded bomb.
Although he knew well that, owing to the time already spent on excavation the bomb was liable to explode at any moment, he continued the work of his section with great coolness.
The bomb eventually exploded, killing five sappers of the Section, and throwing Lance-Sergeant Button a considerable distance.
Although considerably shaken he behaved with great coolness, collected the rest of his Section at a safe distance, ascertained that none of them was injured, notified the First Aid Detachment, and reported to his Section Officer by telephone.Button's award together with those awarded to fellow Royal Engineer Bomb Disposal personnel, Lt Edward Reynolds, 2nd Lt Ellis Talbot and 2nd Lt Wallace Andrews, were the last awards made of the Empire Gallantry Medal.