Arthur Hart BUCK
Surname: BUCK Christian Names: Arthur Hart Date & Place of Birth: 18th May, 1891 Kingscote KI Service Number: 6966 Service Unit: 10th Battalion ‘C’ Company Date & Place of Enlistment: 6th October, 1916, Adelaide Profession prior to Enlistment: Farmer Date of Return to Aust. & Date of Discharge: N/A Nature of Casualty: Date KIA: 8th October, 1917 Place KIA: Celtic Wood Next of Kin (NOK) Address
Father: Samuel William James Buck (1850 – 1928)
Mother: Elizabeth Buck (nee Chapman) (1854 – 1934)
Siblings: 1. Elizabeth Jane (Lil) later Bates (1877 – 1964)
2. William Chapman (1880 – 1881)
3. Bertie Henry (1883 – 1952)
4. David Robert (1885 – 1961)
5. Charles Edward (1888 – 1963)
6. Arthur Hart
For descendants of Samuel William James BUCK, click here
Service:
France: Yes
Campaign Medals: 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Bravery Awards, Citations, MID:
Kingscote Honour Board Yes
Kingscote Monument Yes
Penneshaw Honour Board Yes
http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/Imagine.asp?B=3152626 plus an additional 54 documents
KI Connection: Born & bred KI
Resolved to be placed on Fallen Soldiers monument at Kingscote. District Council of Kingscote. (1925, September 19). The Kangaroo Island Courier (Kingscote, SA : 1907 - 1951), p. 2. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article191554635
BUCK Arthur Hart
He was wounded while in a demonstration at Celtic Wood near Polygon Wood, Ypres by a machine-gun bullet. We could not go out for him till the evening. He was quite conscious but I do not remember what he said. Buck died while we were carrying him back. I assisted to bury him just behind a trench about 250 yards behind the wood. We put his burial disc on a stick and erected it on the grave as we had no cross.
F.A. Wood Temp, Sgt. 2240, Dartford 22nd July, 1918
Kleinig Ref: {1460}
ANZAC Feature. The Islander, Thursday May7, 2015. Page 12-13
Killed in action in France
Arthur Hart Buck.
Arthur Hart Buck service number 6966
Battalion: 10th Battalion, 23rd Reinforcements
Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Arthur Hart Buck was born in 1891 to Samuel and Elizabeth (nee Chapman) at Point Marsden (Bay of Shoals). He was the youngest of their six children and at the age of 25 when he enlisted, he was a labourer.
Upon completion of his training, he embarked for France aboard the “Berima” from Adelaide on December 16, 1916. Private Buck’s war service records simply record “Killed in Action” France October 8, 1917 having re-joined the Battalion from being sick October 5.
The Buck family - mother father and siblings.
The war diaries fill in the dreadful details of the ensuing battle that was to claim his life.
The trenches occupied by “C” Company in the vicinity of Celtic Wood were water logged and had been under heavy enemy fire for the past week. Their objective was straight forward; to charge the Wood for 30 minutes in an effort to convince the Germans that it was a full on assault.
A signal flare was to be deployed and they would pull back. The Germans were on high alert after a previous rush on their positions and had fortified their holding with more machine guns. All was in motion to establish a feign for the true objective, the substantial British advance.
The 10th Battalion went over the top pre-dawn into no-man’s land in readiness to attack the German positions 200 yards away. The signal was sounded and the 10th were in action. Cover fire to protect them was lighter than they had hoped for and they scrambled for the cover of the remnant woods (depleted by previous months of constant shelling).
Outnumbered two to one, a fierce struggle ensued. When the German artillery opened up, the men of the 10th found themselves cut off.
In the wash up, the account from Battalion commander Lieutenant-Colonel Maurice Wilder-Neligan stated “A few wounded have passed through the dressing stations but up to the present I am only able to account for 14 unwounded members of the party”.
The commander continued “Some of the wounded crawled back into shell holes on the Western edge of the wood. Every effort was made to get these men. Stretcher bearers with white flags were attempted, but the bearers were shot. After nightfall those that could be found were brought in.”
The fate of Private Buck was reported to the Red Cross by the stretcher bearer who brought him in:
“He was wounded while in a demonstration in Celtic Wood near Polygon Wood Ypres, by a machine gun bullet. We could not go out after him ‘til the evening. He was quite conscious but I do not remember what he said. Buck died while we were carrying him back. I assisted to bury him just behind a trench about 250 yards behind the wood. We put his burial disc on a stick and erected it on the grave as we had no cross.” (Sargent F.A.T Wood 2240 - Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau files)
Arthur Buck's name recorded at the Menin Gate.
Private Frank Wood (the stretcher bearer in the above report) earned a Military Medal and was promoted to sergeant following events on this day and his commitment to bringing his wounded Lieutenant and others back into the fold.
In being recommended for the Military Medal, the citation reads “During a raid made by his Battalion on Celtic Wood east of Ypres on the morning of October 9, 1917, Corporal Wood led his section with great brilliancy and during hand to hand fighting, his courage was admired by all who witnessed his work. Later, when returning to the front line, he carried in his officer (2/Lt Laurie) who had been badly wounded. This was done under heavy enemy artillery and rifle fire.”
Despite the effort and account of Private Buck’s final resting place by Sergeant Wood, in due course his grave site could not be located. Private Buck is remembered at Ypres (now Ieper), Province of West Flanders. The Memorial is situated at the eastern side of the town. Each night at 8 pm the traffic is stopped at the Menin Gate while members of the local Fire Brigade sound the Last Post in the roadway under the Memorial’s arches.
The grand-daughter and other family of Sergeant F.A.T Wood travelled to the Menin Gates and Celtic woods in 2013. The connection to Private Arthur Buck was so strong in their minds they photographed his commemoration on the Menin Gate.
Frank Wood survived the war, but by all accounts, was not the same man as when he left home shores at 19 years old. He was not spared entirely from the consequences of war. Frank had signed up with his older brother William (21 years) and were at Gallipoli together when on the beach, Frank witnessed his brother’s death.
The Celtic Wood wasteland.
Three months on from the death of her son, Mrs Buck addressed a heart wrenching letter to Major Lean, Officer in Charge, Base Records, Victoria Barracks, Melbourne, January 7, 1918.
“Dear Sir, Can you give me details of my dear son’s death who was killed in action on October 8th 1917 in France. No. 6966 Private A H Buck C Company 10th Battalion Australian Imperial Forces. I would like to know how my dear boy fell and in what battle and where fought. He was such a good son to me. Will the military send me his kit and all belongings to him or will I have to ask for it. I will be very grateful Major Lean if you can give me full particulars. Yours faithfully, Mrs Elisabeth Buck.”
Mrs Buck received a dutiful reply to the effect that “...I have to state the only available information regarding him to date, is to the effect that he was killed in action on October 8, 1917. It is confidently anticipated later official advice coming to hand will contain more particulars, and on receipt of these you will be promptly communicated with”. Further to this was added “Needless to say that should any information come to hand regarding your son’s burial, his father will be promptly advised.”
As to his kit, that remained the property of the AIF, however, authorities from the Front selected items of sentimental value of the deceased soldiers and returned them to the next-of-kin. The selected items for young Private Buck were letters, cards, photo, wallet, Masonic book, two note books and two religious books.
Private Arthur Hart Buck was a very much loved part of a large, warm family and broader close knit Kangaroo Island Community.
BUCK. - Killed in action, October 8, in France, Private Arthur Hart Buck, No. 6966, C Company, 10th Battalion, beloved brother of Dave Buck. “So dearly loved, so sadly missed.” (The Advertiser, Adelaide, November 21, 1917)
Late Private A. H. BUCK.
Private Arthur H. Buck, who was killed in action on October 10, enlisted from Kangaroo Island, and was attached to the 23rd Reinforcements for the 10th Battalion. He was admired by a wide circle of friends. Great sympathy is felt for his parents Mr. and Mrs. S. Buck, of Point Marsden, K.I. (Observer (Adelaide) December 15, 1917)
Because of the selfless acts of bravery men such as Sergeant Wood performed, Private Buck was not abandoned and alone in his greatest hour of need.
Menin Memorial Gate.