Henry William Buckland

Henry William Buckland

Personal Information
Date of Birth	not known 1898
Place of Birth	Canning Mills, Western Australia
Death	31 Mar 1919
Place of Death	8th Australian General Hospital Fremantle, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	18 years, 1 month
Description	5'4" (1.63m) tall ; 128lbs 58.06 kg ; fresh complexion ; brown eyes ; light brown hair
Occupation	Dairyman
Religion	Church of England
Address	Gosnells, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr Henry William Buckland
Military Information
Reg Number	6550
Date of Enlistment	2 Oct 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	28th Battalion, 19th Reinforcement
Date of Embarkation	29 Jan 1917 ‒ 27 Mar 1917
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A28 Miltiades
Date of Return	25 Jan 1919 ‒ 3 Mar 1919
Ship Returned On	HMAT A40 Ceramic
Monument	Gosnells Road Board Honour Roll Gosnells Primary School Honour Roll Gosnells Ward Honour Roll Australian War Memorial
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Henry William Buckland was born in 1898 in Canning Mills, Western Australia and his parents were Henry William Buckland whose occupation was as a labourer, and Annie Matilda Buckland (nee Capron) who were married in 1884, in Jarrahdale, WA. Henry attended the Gosnells State School, Western Australia and when he left school he was employed as a dairyman.

War Service

Henry entered camp on 2 Oct 1916 and a week later on 9 Oct 1916 he was allocated to the 23rd reinforcement draft for the 16th Battalion. A week later, on 16 Oct 1916 he was transferred to the 6th reinforcement draft for the 44th Battalion, and on 2 Dec 1916 yet another move this time to the 18th draft for the 27th Battalion. He was then ill with measles requiring a spell in the 8th Australian General Hospital Fremantle, from 23 until 28 Dec 1916. Finally on 3 Jan 1917 Henry joined the 19th draft for the 28th Battalion, and travelled with them to England, leaving Fremantle on 29 Jan 1917 aboard HMAT A28 Miltiades arriving in Devonport on 27 Mar 1917.

On arrival they were sent to the 7th Training Battalion in Rollestone. From 22 Apr until 11 May 1917 Henry was hospitalised in the Parkhouse Military Hospital with mumps. On 24 May 1917 he was found guilty of having been AWOL from midnight 21 May until 2:00am 22 May 1917. Late back from a leave it would appear. Cost was 2 day's pay and one day of extra duty. On 9 Jul 1917 he proceed overseas to France through Southampton, and was taken on strength by the 28th Battalion on 31 Jul 1917 at Cassels where it was rebuilding after a period in the front lines. Back in the front lines on 20 Sep 1917 the 28th Battalion was a part of the Australian, 2nd Division attack on high ground south west of Zonnebeke near Polygon Wood. During the action the Australians took heavy casualties, Henry amongst them, being wounded by shrapnel in the left leg and left hand.

Henry rejoined the battalion at Aldershot Camp where they were again rebuilding on 29 Nov 1917, one of two men returning that day from having their wounds attended to. From 4 - 11 Mar 1918 Henry was hospitalised with trench fever, and on 10 Jun 1918 he was wounded a second time at the battle known as Third Morlancourt. On this occasion his injuries resulted from a bullet wound to his left knee causing a slight fracture. Seen by the 20th Casualty Clearing Station, and evacuated to England, he entered the City of London General Hospital on 17 Jun 1918. It was not until October that he was well enough to be granted leave. He did, however, extend his leave with two periods of AWOL before embarking on HMAT A40 Ceramic for Australia. The cumulative penalty was 29 days Field Punishment No 2, and the forfeiture of 44 day's pay.

Henry did not recover from his second wound, being sent home to recover. Ill during the voyage home, he was in the Ceramic's sick bay from 15 - 21 Feb 1919. Soon after arrival in Fremantle he was admitted on 29 Mar 1919 to the Army's 8th Australian General Hospital at Fremantle with appendicitis where he died from cardiac failure brought on by the pain on 31 Mar 1919. Henry is included in the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour as he died within the mandated period, and as such should be considered for adding to the Gosnells War Memorial.

Notes

For more information about the history and heritage of the City of Gosnells, please contact the Heritage Coordinator on 9391 6011