GEORGE H. BUCKLEY 

Weaverham St. Mary’s “Roll of Honour” records four lads named Buckley including a G. H. (George Henry) Buckley, George is also named on the “Fallen” Memorial, G.H. Buckley Pte. George’s brother, Arthur Buckley, not listed on the R.o.H. also enlisted with the A.I.F. returning to Australia when the war ended. The other three lads are brothers from Acton Bridge, F. (Fred) Buckley, H. (Harry) Buckley and J. (John) Buckley “Fallen.”

George Henry

C.W.G.C. record 539 service personnel named Buckley killed in WW1. Using the initials G.H. the records bring up just 4 lads. Two of these lads are with Australians and they have the Christian names George Henry. One lad was with the 20th Bn. A.I.F. (Australian Infantry Force) with the Service No 3756, this lad died on the 5th Aug. 1916. The second lad was with the 54th Bn. A.I.F. with the Service No 4407, he died on the 14th July 1919. No family details are specified for either lad.

The third lad from the C.W.G.C. data was named Gilbert Henry, he was with the Kings Own Scottish Borderers and includes his family details which has his wife at Reigate, Surrey and his parents at Derby. The fourth lad was a G.H. Buckley, killed 17th Nov. 1915, he was with 1st Bn. East Yorkshire Reg’t. No 3/7651, unfortunately there are no family detail for this lad.

Trying to follow the UK G.H. Buckley lads first was not proving to successful so I tried following the two Australian lads, one lads service records showed he had family in Weaverham. This was the George Henry Buckley with the Service No 3756 who had been born in Weaverham. His father was William Buckley of 36 High St. W/ham. George had enlisted on the 29th Oct. 1915, he had been living in New South Wales, and working as a farm labourer.

C.W.G.C. remember a George Henry Buckley at VILLERS-BRETONNEUX MEMORIAL, France. George does not have a grave and is remembered on the memorial. Died on the 5th Aug. 1916, fighting with the 20th Bn. Australian Infantry A.I.F

Australian Service Records; The army records for George are 40 pages in number, a good number of pages are repeats or are typed documents of the hand written records. George was 23yr 1m when he enlisted on the 29th Oct. 1915. (Therefore born c1892. Cheshirebmd records a George Henry Buckley birth 1892, Northwich.) He stood 5ft 7in, weight of 9st 9lb, with blue eyes, brown hair and ruddy complexion. George’s religion is recorded as Congregational. George’s travel log had him disembarking from H.T. “Runic” at Alexandria on the 26/2/16, this was only 4 months after enlisting. He embarked again at Alexandria on the 18/3/1916 and disembarked at Marseilles on the 25/3/16. The travel log then records George was wounded in action (in France) on the 5th Aug. 1916. On the 3/10/16 he is reported as wounded missing with the “Date of Casualty” as 5th Aug. 1916. A further date 29/9/17 “Court of Enquiry” records “Previously reported Wounded and Missing now reported Killed in Action. He was with the Anzac Section, 3rd Echelon G.H.C. British Expedition Force. Page 16 states no report of burial so George was no grave and is named on the memorial.

The records go on to show his home address in Australia as C/O Mrs M. Rankin, Balgowie, Oswell St. Campsie, N.S.W. George’s Service enlistment was Pte. George Henry Buckley, 9th Re-enforcements, 20th Battalion, 5th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Australian Division, Australian Infantry Force.

George’s property, his Identity Disc, Postcards, Letters, Photos, Note Book, Battalion Colours & Wallet were returned to his family, care of his father, Mr. William Buckley, 36 High Street, Weaverham, Northwich, Cheshire, ENGLAND. The next document is a letter returning George’s Effects to his father, 2 brushes, Pipe, Polishing Pad, Military Book, Hankerf. (No obvious date to the letters.) but page 21 records his father Willian Buckley had received George’s effects 12th Feb. and 10th March 1917 whilst still living at 36 High Street, Weaverham.

George’s service records also have a later address for his family in the UK. No 2 South View Cottages, Heatley, Lymm. This has a date of 16/12/24 and may relate to the C.W.G.C. collating their information. Page 35 of 40 mentions a brother, George left a Will to his brother, Arthur Buckley, who had also enlisted. The two brothers had enlisted together as Arthur’s Service No was 3755, the one before George. Arthur’s service records are also available. See image of the front sheet for George’s service records.

George was awarded the 15 Star, British and Victory Medals.

No Northwich Guardian article found on George, there had been over 12 months between George reported wounded and missing and then declared “killed in action”. Having said that it would appear they must have feared or accepted the worse to issue his personal property and effects in the new year of 1917. Anyway no article found or I have just missed the article!

Research Bob Heaton