Albert Arthur Buck

A Sergeant with the 7th Battalion, Albert died on 8th of February 1917 at the age of 29. 

Albert was born at Lowestoft on 1 March 1890, a son of James and Alice Buck. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church on 16 August 1891, and his family lived at Oulton Corner. In 1901 his family lived at Hall Lane, Oulton. By 1911 his family were living at 3 Hall Lane, Oulton. By 1911 Albert was lodging with William Hunton, and family, at the Farm, Thornton Hill, Easingwold, Yorkshire.

For reasons unknown, when Albert volunteered and enlisted in the Army, at Northallerton, he gave his first name as Alfred, hence all military records give that as his first name. He joined the Yorkshire Regiment, service number 12615. Albert was already a Corporal when he arrived in France on 12 August 1915. It I unclear which battalion he served with initially: medal rolls state the 11th Battalion, but this battalion did not serve in France. At some point he was posted to the 7th Battalion. Albert was wounded at the Somme in July 1916 and his name appears in the War Office Daily List of 20 August 1916.

On 8 February 1917 the 7th Battalion were at Sailly-Saillisel. At 7.30 a.m. they began an attack on the German position opposite them. The attack was a complete success. The supporting artillery barrage was very effective, but some shells fell short and caused losses in C Company. The enemy were taken completely by surprise and 70-80 prisoners were taken including two officers. The battalion war diary records that the officers and men behaved with great gallantry and the whole of the objective was occupied and consolidated within a few hours. The enemy delivered two counter attacks on the left, and three on the right, and all were repulsed, causing heavy losses. A hostile enemy barrage on the communication trenches continued throughout the day and intensified at night and a 4.2” shell fell on, and wrecked, the Regimental Aid Post that contained many of the wounded. 

The battalion’s casualties were:
Officers: one killed, three died of wounds, two wounded
Other ranks: 68 killed, 118 wounded, 4 missing

Albert was reported wounded and missing on 8 February and later it was concluded that he had died on that date. 

Albert's brother Henry served in the Royal Naval Reserve and died in 1918.