Horace Frank Buckler

A Private with the 1/8th Battalion, Horace died on 23rd of June 1917 at the age of 19. 

Horace was born at Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, on 10 August 1897, a son of Henry Charles and Mary Guest Buckler. He was baptised at Saint Peter’s Church, Kirkley, on 27 February 1901, and his family lived at 305 London Road South, and this was still their address in 1911. Later his parents lived at 40 Marine Parade, Lowestoft.

Horace enlisted in the Army at Newark, Nottinghamshire. He joined the Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment), service number 4124, and was posted to the 1/8th Battalion in France. In 1917 he was renumbered 306315.

On 18 June 1917 the 1/8th Battalion moved to Calonne and then took up positions near Lievin. On 23 June the battalion was relived by the 1/5th Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment. During the relief several casualties occurred due to enemy shelling and the use of gas mortars. 

The battalion’s casualties in June 1917 were:
Officers: one wounded
Other ranks: 15 killed, 18 died of wounds, 49 wounded

Horace died of wounds on 23 June. It is possible that he was wounded that same day.