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When he died in 1951, ‘Alick’ Buckley was described in his obituary in the Manly Daily as “one of Manly’s most popular citizens”.

Born in 1880, Buckley was the son of Joseph and Isabella Buckley of Manly, New South Wales. His father had passed away during 1914. He was known to all as ‘Alick’ Buckley.

A brilliant young rugby union player, when the Manly Football Club was invited to play in the first-grade competition for the first time in 1906, Buckley was a member of the team and was the first Manly player to be profiled in one of the metropolitan newspapers.

Buckley was selected to play in a combined Sydney team that played against a visiting New Zealand university team in 1908 and in the same year was selected to play for a Sydney metropolitan team against Western Districts at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

In 1909 he was picked in the Sydney team to play a prominent Auckland team that was touring Australia and in 1910 was again selected to play for City against Country.

The pinnacle of Buckley’s career in football was reached the following month when he was selected to play for NSW against Queensland. NSW won both games.

Between the first match Manly played in 1906 after being admitted to first grade and the suspension of the grade competition at the end of the 1914 season due to the outbreak of World War I, the Manly team played 112 matches and Alick Buckley played in every one of them.

Alick arrived on Gallipoli only a few days after his younger brother, 2116 Pte. Leslie James Buckley 3rd Battalion AIF, had died of gunshot wounds to his legs, hit during the desperate fighting at Lone Pine during August 1915. Leslie was buried in Egypt, aged 26.

Alick fought on Gallipoli until the evacuation and was promoted to Lance Corporal. He was wounded in action at Pozieres, shrapnel wounds to his left forearm, and evacuated to England.

Alick earned a Military Medal for Pozieres, the recommendation stating, “Has been with the Battalion since leaving Australia. On Gallipoli his work was excellent. At Bois Grenier was a scout and worked as such for three and half months, during which period his consistent good work assisted greatly in gaining the upper hand in No Man’s Land. On 27/28 July 1916 at Pozieres, he was conspicuous in his gallant work as a voluntary stretcher bearer and after carrying for 24 hours continuously, was severely wounded. He has always been one of the first to volunteer for any dangerous work. His constant cheerfulness at all times is a great example to his comrades.”

He rejoined the 19th Battalion on the Western Front during December 1916 and was again nominated for a Military Medal, the recommendation stating, “For conspicuous work during and prior to the advance on Grevillers to the Chalk Pit on 17 March 1917. He was one of a patrol which went out in daylight to enter enemy’s trench. Although sniped at from rear lines they entered German trenches and found them deserted. He was slightly wounded early in the advance, but carried on as a scout during the operations. He then went out with patrols to Favrieul and Sapignies and gave valuable information regarding enemy’s movements.” He was given a Mention in Despatches.

Alick was involved in heavy fighting around Lagnicourt in France when he was again severely wounded by shell fragments in his right arm on 20 April 1917. He was removed to hospital where the fragments were removed but gangrene set in and his right arm was amputated above the elbow, which meant the end of his war.

After being treated in England he was returned to Australia on 18 October 1917. He never married.

The Manly Daily gave him a glowing obituary,

“One of Manly’s most popular citizens and a renowned sportsman, Alick Buckley, died at Concord Repatriation Hospital…

As a rugby union forward for Manly he was unsurpassed, with safe handling, tricky sidestep and able to kick accurately with either foot. He represented for NSW Rugby Union on two occasions. On the cricket field, deceased was a great fieldsman.

One of the first to enlist for World War I, Alick Buckley lost his right arm, while his left arm was also mutilated. He also underwent an operation for the extraction of a cartridge that was embedded near his heart.

Major Hunter Kirke, of Manly, now a planter in New Guinea, who served at Gallipoli with Alick Buckley, stated that when the daily and nightly call came out for volunteers to relieve the guard at outposts such as Quinn’s Post, which were being constantly shelled, Buckley’s hand was always raised. He was a brave man and did not know what fear was.

Deceased was a life member of the Manly Swimming Club and Manly Rugby Club.”