John Buckland
From Our Contribution
Personal Information | |
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Date of Birth | not known 1896 |
Place of Birth | Jarrahdale, Western Australia |
Death | 7 Jul 1917 |
Place of Death | Messines area, Belgium |
Age at Enlistment | 19 years, 2 months |
Description | 5'11½" (1.82m) tall; weight 146 lbs (66.2 kg); fresh complexion, brown eyes, brown hair. |
Occupation | mill hand |
Religion | Methodist |
Address | Jarrahdale, Western Australia |
Next of Kin | Father Sylvanus Thomas Buckland |
Military Information | |
Reg Number | 320 |
Date of Enlistment | 8 Jan 1916 |
Rank | Private |
Unit/Formation | 44th Battalion B Company / 11th Brigade, 3rd Division |
Date of Embarkation | 6 Jun 1916 - 21 Jul 1916 |
Ship Embarked On | HMAT A29 Suevic |
Fate | Killed in Action 7 Jul 1917 Messines area |
Monument | Jarrahdale |
Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
War Service
Ten days after entering camp, John was allocated to B Company of the 44th Battalion that was being raised in WA at the time. While with the 44th Battalion, training in England, Joh was AWOL on 18 Oct 1916. Awarded 1 day's field punishment and loss of 2 day's pay. On 25 Nov 1916 the unit proceeded by train to Southampton and during the night embarked for France, disembarking in Le Havre at 6:30 am on 26 Nov 1916, before moving into reserve positions at Steenwerck.
During the night of 5th/6th July the battalion relieved the 42nd battalion in the front lines in the Messines sector. On 7 Jul 1917 there is mo mention of casualties, so it is unknown for sure how John received his wounds. The lack of a body indicates that he may have been a victim of what was described in the war diary as"During digging operations in front of centre company, two very large explosions were heard and a quantity of earth thrown up near strong point, apparently land mines."
Memorialised on the Menin Gate Memorial (Panel 27).
Pension awarded to his mother Margaret of 40/- fortnightly from 18 Sep 1917. His father was awarded 30/- per fortnight from 30 Mar 1918.