No.36538, Private, Edmund Laurence BUCKLE
Aged 19
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Edmund Laurence BUCKLE was born in Rougham (Thingoe Q101898 4A:818), baptised in St Mary's Rougham on 23rd January 1898, son of John and Susan BUCKLE (née WATSON).
1901 census...Aged 3, he was at The Cottages, Rougham with his father John BUCKLE [41] a yardman on farm; his mother Susan [46]; brothers Thomas [15] farm labourer, John [8] and Bertram W [8 months] and sister Ellen [8]. He had an elder brother Henry [1885] and sister Priscilla [1889]. They were all born in Rougham, but hte 1911 census has his mother as born in Bardwell. 1911 census...Aged 13, a scholar, he was at Camois Hall Farm, Woodditton with his parents (father now cow man) sister Ellen and brother Bertram. This farm still exists, on the Stetchworth Road, Woodditton, although the Hall itself was demolished in the 18960's. His mother died in Rougham in September 1919. Three brothers, Thomas, Henry and John appear to have emigrated to Australia since they inserted an "in memorium" notice for Edmund in the Sydney Morning Herald. It also seems this father and brother Bertram joined them after the war. The John Buckle from Rougham who died on the 1st day of the Somme was the son of George and Laura Buckle, NOT Edmund's brother It has so far been impossible to ascertain when the family moved to Gazeley. |
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He enlisted in Cambridge in October 1915. The battalion war diary has :- On 3rd May 1917 his battalion were in Reserve trenches between Neuville St Vaast and Wancourt waiting to the attack which went in at 03:30. They moved out at 11:00 to a sunken road west of Cojeul between Heninel and Wancourt. Then at 16:00 moved forward through heavy German barrage to trenches in N.30. b & c. Casualties in moving through barrage 15 killed, 23 wounded 2 missing. Battalion HQ was at N:30:b.5.2. Now in close support to 55th Brigade whose attack had failed and had withdrawn to the old British front line Quiet night Scene of the action, the Bn HQ marked as shown in war diary photo of his mother's headstone, next to the CWGC grave markers in Gazeley churchyard
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
