William Buck

William Buck

RSL Virtual War Memorial
Personal Information
Date of Birth	1883
Place of Birth	Perth, Western Australia
Death	17 Mar 1943
Place of Death	Bedford Park, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	31 years, 3 months
Description	5'6½" (1.69m) tall ; 138 lbs 62.596 kg ; sallow complexion ; brown eyes ; black hair
Occupation	Timber hewer
Religion	Roman Catholic
Address	Albany road, Armadale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife , Mrs Clara Ellen Buck
Military Information
Reg Number	936
Date of Enlistment	13 Jan 1915
Rank	Trooper
Unit/Formation	10th Light Horse Regiment, 5th Reinforcement, A troop, C Squadron / 3rd Light Horse Brigade, ANZAC Mounted Division
Date of Embarkation	26 Apr 1915 ‒ ??May 1915
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A20 Hororata
Date of Return	17 Aug 1916 ‒ 16 Sep 1916
Ship Returned On	HMAT A30 Borda Port Suez to Fremantle
Fate	Wounded in Action 29 Aug 1915 at Hill 60, Anzac Cove Returned to Australia
Monument	none at present
Medals	1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Married Clara Ellen Ashworth during 1910 in Katanning district.

War Service

On enlistment William was assigned to the 5th reinforcement draft for the 10th Light Horse Regiment and travelled with them to Egypt. There he was taken on strength of the 10th Light Horse proper on 13 Jul 1915 at Gallipoli having embarked from Alexandria.

At 1 am on 29 Aug 1915 the 10th Light Horse Regiment attacked enemy positions on Hill 60. The enemy counter attacked three times before 5:00 am with an estimated 3 to 4 thousand bombs (hand grenades) thrown during the attacks, and casualties were described as "heavy, but good work was done".

Buck's injuries were gunshot wounds to his fingers and he was seen by 16th Casualty Clearing Station before being evacuated to the 24th Casualty Clearing Station at Mudros on 11 Sep 1915. He was moved again, to the 1st Australian Stationary Hospital also at Mudros on Lemnos island. From here he was evacuated on 26 Nov 1915 aboard HMHS Carisbrook Castle to Alexandria where he arrived on 30 Nov 1915. On arrival he was admitted to the 2nd Australian General Hospital at Ghezireh on 1 Dec 1915 before being released to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital on 9 Dec 1915, also in Ghezireh. William was discharged to duty on 11 Dec 1915 and rejoined his unit at Heliopolis when it returned from Lemnos on 20 Dec 1915.

Later, after the return of all of the troops to Egypt he was admitted to hospital from 14 - 26 Jan 9116 suffering from shock. Bill was transferred to the 3rd Light Horse Brigade's Reserve Regiment on 6 Mar 1916, and on 26 Apr 1916 Bill was admitted to the 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital at Tel-el-Kebir with ulcers on his legs. The next day he was placed on Ambulance Train No.4 and transported to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital. Following treatment he was released to duty at the Police Barracks Tel-el-Kebir on 14 May 1916. Three days later he rejoined his unit.

On 9 Jun 1916 he was treated by the 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital for eczema to both ankles and the next day transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Abbassia. Bill was released to duty at Tel-el-Kebir on 14 Jun 1916. On 18 Jul 1916 he was admitted to the 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital in Tel-el-Kebir and then transferred the next day to the 3rd Australian General Hospital and treated by them until he boarded HMAT A30 Borda in Port Suez for the journey home to Australia.

Discharged by the 5 Military District on 22 Nov 1916 due to recurrent ulcers on his legs.

Post War

Living in Yalgoo in 1922, a railway fireman; In 1925 at Newdegate, farming. In the 1936 and 1937 Electoral Rolls, William is living in East Perth with his family and is described as a labourer, but in 1943 they have moved to Maylands and he was a war pensioner.

BUCK, (William) At Perth Repatriation Ward (late of 10th Light Horse) and of 117 Grand Parade, Bedford Park, beloved husband of Clara, father of Olga (Mrs Ingham)[b.1911], Frank (AIF)[William Francis b.1914], Allan (RAN), Robin (AIF), father-in-law of George and loved Poppa of Billy; aged 59 years.

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Memorial