Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Henry Buchanan (known as Harry) was one of the first Queenslanders to enlist and embarked from Australia with the first contingent during 1914. After training in Egypt he left Alexandria with the 9th Battalion for Lemnos Island on 2 March 1915. He was wounded on the day of the Gallipoli landing, evacuated to Egypt, rejoining his unit at Gallipoli during June. He suffered further illness, and was then transferred to the 49th Battalion during the reorganisation of the AIF in Egypt in early 1916. He was promoted to Corporal, later reverting to ranks, sailed for France in June 1916 and was wounded in action during the very heavy fighting at Mouquet Farm on 5 September 1916. He was promoted to Sergeant soon after and awarded the Military Medal for “bravery in the field”.

“I brought to your notice the conduct of this N.C.O. during a previous engagement, and I again desire to bring his actions during the last engagement 3rd/5th September, 1916, under your notice. This N.C.O. was in charge of the stretcher bearers and personally conducted them through heavy shell and rifle fire to the front line before communication was established to evacuate the wounded. During one of his trips in searching a dug out for wounded he came across 2 Officers and 11 other Ranks Germans whom he took prisoners and marched to the rear. My front line and support line were kept free from wounded, and it was entirely due to the N.C.O. in charge of the stretcher bearers that it was so. When one considers that during the two days fighting over 300 casualties evacuated from y sector the work done by the stretcher bearers will be fully appreciated. I beg to recommend Corporal Buchanan for some distinction.”

He was later wounded in action on 17 November 1916 (gunshot wound to the left hand), and he was hospitalised in various locations in England until May 1917. The hand failed to heal and he was discharged medically unfit on October 20, 1917. Harry Buchanan also served in World War II as an instructor.