Samuel Buckland

Samuel Buckland

Personal Information
Date of Birth	Not known
Place of Birth	Canning District, Perth, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	28 years, 8 months
Description	5'9" (1.m) tall ; 155lbs 70.307 kg ; fresh complexion ; blue eyes ; light brown hair
Occupation	Mill hand
Religion	Methodist
Address	403 William street, Perth
Next of Kin	Wife , Mrs Beatrice Buckland
Military Information
Reg Number	30
Date of Enlistment	25 Aug 1915 & 10 Jan 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	44th Battalion, A Company / 11th Brigade, 3rd Division
Date of Embarkation	6 Jun 1916 ‒ 21 Jul 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A29 Suevic
Date of Return	16 Feb 1918 ‒ 8 Apr 1918
Ship Returned On	SS Llanstephan Castle
Fate	Returned to Australia
Monument	Gosnells Road Board Honour Roll Gosnells Ward Honour Roll
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

Initial enlistment lasted from 25 Aug 1915 until 13 Sep 1915 when he was discharged as medically unfit, without having been allocated to a unit. His medical records described it as a deformed foot caused by an axe when wood cutting. Samuel re-enlisted 5 months later when he entered Blackboy Hill camp. On 1 Feb 1916 he was allocated to 'A' Coy of the 65th Battalion, but this changed on 12 Feb 1916 to the Medical Corps, and then 5 days later on 17 Feb 1916 to 'A' Company of the newly formed 44th Battalion, part of the 3rd Division then being raised in Australia. The battalion undertook its training in England rather than at Northam and travelled aboard [[HMAT A29 Suevic}, departing Fremantle on 6 Jun 1916 and arriving in England on 21 Jul 1916.

On 29 Aug 1916 he was admitted to the Fargo Military Hospital with chronic appendicitis, before being discharged on 8 Sep 1916. Samuel was AWOL from midnight 3 Nov 1916 until 1:45 pm 5 Nov 1916, for which the penalty awarded was 2 days Field Punishment No. 2 and forfeiture of 4 day's pay. On 26 Nov 1916 the 44th Battalion including Samuel left Larkhill and proceeded overseas to France through Southampton for le Havre. A day after their arrival they entrained for Bailleul, and then marched to their billets at Steenwerck.

On 23 Mar 1917 Samuel was charged with Failing to appear at the place of Parade appointed by his Commanding Officer on 22 Mar 1917. He was awarded 6 day's Field Punishment No 1 and required to forfeit £1/10/- ($3 or 5 day's pay). On the same day another charge against him was heard - When on Active Service disobeying a lawful command given by his superior officer on 18 Mar 1917. For this crime he was awarded 3 days Field Punishment No. 1, and forfeiture of 15/- ($1.50). On 4 Jul 1917 he presented ill to the 9th Field Ambulance who sent him on to the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station on 9 Jul 1917. Found to have a herniated leg he was sent to the 53rd General Hospital in Boulogne, and after 5 days treatment he was released to the Base Depot. However, on 24 Jul he was placed in the 40th Stationary Hospital for another 4 days treatment, but declined an operation. On 18 Aug 1917 in Rouelles, France he was charged with having been drunk the previous day, while on Active Service. Punishment was for him to forfeit 12 day's pay.

Samuel proceeded to England on 20 Sep 1917 and marched into No 4 Command Depot Codford. Samuel was returning to Australia for discharge due to the hernia in his left leg and an old injury to his right foot, making him unfit for further war service. On arrival back in Australia Samuel was admitted to the 8th Australian General Hospital from 9 Apr to 30 Apr 1918 for treatment to his injuries. He was then discharged by the 5th Military District on 14 May 1918.