Harvey James BUCKBY

BUCKBY, Harvey James

Service Number: 2345
Enlisted: 5 May 1915, Charters Towers, Queensland
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 9th Infantry Battalion
Born: Sandy Creek, Queensland, Australia, October 1894
Home Town: Charters Towers, Charters Towers, Queensland
Schooling: Black Jack State School, Queensland, Australia
Occupation: Stockman
Died: Killed in Action, France, 22 July 1916
Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Charters Towers Black Jack State School Roll of Honour, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France)
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World War 1 Service

5 May 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2345, Charters Towers, Queensland
20 Aug 1915: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2345, 9th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Shropshire embarkation_ship_number: A9 public_note: ''
20 Aug 1915: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2345, 9th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Shropshire, Sydney
22 Jul 1916: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2345, 9th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières

Help us honour Harvey James Buckby's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Chris Buckley

Harvey (and his twin Joseph) was eighth of thirteen children of William Charles Buckby (born 1856 in Brisbane, QLD) and Charlotte Mary O'Sullivan (born 1862 in Tipperary, Ireland). Charlotte arrived in Brisbane, QLD in April 1869 on board the Young Australia. William - a Labourer and Wood Carter - and Charlotte married in Charters Towers in 1880 and settled there to raise their family.

Harvey was working as a Stockman in Charters Towers, QLD when he enlisted in the AIF in May 1915. He served as a Private (Service No:2345) with 7th Reinforcements 9th Battalion 3rd Brigade and was KiA at Pozieres, France on 22 July 1916. Harvey's effects included a writing pad, Book of Views, belt, kit bag handle, wallet, cards, photos and a badge (National Archives Australia - Service Records). His mother Charlotte wanted the words 'The midnight stars are gleaming, On a grave I cannot see, Where sleeping lies my brother, In a grave I cannot see' but was informed that the inscription was too long. The final inscription on Harvey's headstone reads 'Though lost to sight, To our memory dear'.

Harvey's twin, Joseph (David) Harvey (Private; Service No: 903) and brothers Patrick Dennis (Private; Service No:5336), James Alfred (Private/Shoeing Smith; Service No:250), Edward (Ned) Arthur (Private; Service No:52976) also served in WWI.

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