Alexander Henry (Alex) BUCKLEY VC

BUCKLEY, Alexander Henry

Service Number: 1876
Enlisted: 3 February 1916, Dubbo, New South Wales
Last Rank: Corporal
Last Unit: 54th Infantry Battalion
Born: Warren, New South Wales, Australia, 22 July 1891
Home Town: Armatree, Gilgandra, New South Wales
Schooling: Private tuition at home
Occupation: Farmer
Died: Killed in Action, Peronne, France, 1 September 1918, aged 27 years
Cemetery: Peronne Communal Cemetery Extension
Grave ref: II. C. 32., Peronne Communal Cemetery Extension, Peronne, Picardie, France
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Coonamble Municipality and Wingadee Shire HR, Coonamble War Memorial, Gulargambone War Memorial, Keith Payne VC Memorial Park, Nevertire Roll of Honour, North Bondi War Memorial, Winchelsea WWI Memorial
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World War 1 Service

3 Feb 1916: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1876, Dubbo, New South Wales
23 Jun 1916: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1876, 54th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1,

--- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Barambah embarkation_ship_number: A37 public_note: ''

23 Jun 1916: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1876, 54th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Barambah, Sydney
1 Sep 1918: Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 1876, 54th Infantry Battalion, Mont St Quentin / Peronne,

--- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 1876 awm_unit: 54th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Corporal awm_died_date: 1918-09-01

2 Sep 1918: Honoured Victoria Cross, Mont St Quentin / Peronne, "For most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice at Peronne during the operations on the 1st/2nd Sept., 1918. After passing the first objective his half company and part of the company on the flank were held up by a machine gun nest. With one man he rushed the post shooting four of the occupants and taking 22 prisoners. Later on reaching a moat, it was found that another machine gun nest commanded the only available footbridge. Whilst this was being engaged from a flank Cpl. Buckley endeavoured to cross the bridge and rush the post, but was killed in the attempt. Throughout the advance he had displayed great initiative, resource and courage, and by his efforts to save his comrades from casualties, he set a fine example of self-sacrificing devotion to duty."

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Biography contributed by Robert Kearney

Buckley, Alexander Henry (1891–1918)
by Lionel Wigmore

Alexander Henry Buckley (1891-1918), soldier and farmer, was born on 22 July 1891 at Warren, New South Wales, fourth child of James Buckley, selector, and his wife Julia, née Falkanhagan, both of whom were Victorian-born. He was educated at home by his parents and later farmed with his father on Homebush, a property near Gulargambone.

On 3 February 1916 Buckley enlisted as a private in the Australian Imperial Force and embarked for England in June with reinforcements for the 54th Battalion. He joined the battalion at Flers, France, on 17 November, served on the Somme in the winter of 1916-17 and in 1917 fought in the battles of Bullecourt, Polygon Wood and Broodseinde; he was made temporary corporal in November. Next April his unit moved into the Villers-Bretonneux sector and in August took part in the Battle of Amiens.

Read More - https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/buckley-alexander-henry-5415 (adb.anu.edu.au)

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