Albert Buck
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Albert was born in 1898 the son of John Hynes and Emily Buck. John married Emily Palmer in Nottingham in 1892 and by the time of the 1911 Census they had had 10 children of whom only nine were still living. Nine children were named on the 1901 and 1911 Census: John, Florence May, Albert, Ethel, Ernest, Charles, Henry, Edith and Harold. In 1901 John (27) a paper hanger, and Emily (27) a lace mender, were living at 2 County Yard, Barker Gate, Nottingham, with their four children; John (7), Florence (5), Albert (2) and Ethel (4 months). By 1911 they had moved to 7 Cherry Place, Woolpack Lane, Nottingham. All their children were still living at home: John a Leivers machine carter, Florence an errand girl, Albert, Ethel, Ernest (8), Charles (6), Henry (4), Edith (2) and Harold (1). At the time of Albert's death the family was living at 27 Woolpack Lane, Barker Gate, Nottingham. His older brother John also served in France in the war; their younger brothers were not old enough to enlist before the Armistice.
Short Service Attestation survives (damaged). Albert joined the Royal Welsh Fusiliers as a musician on 26 May 1914 at the age of 15 years and 284 days. He may have joined straight from school as a reference was taken up from the Governors of the Midland (-) Industrial School, Lichfield. Albert embarked for France on 7 September 1917 by which time he was nearly 19 years old. He was posted to the 2nd Bn Royal Welsh Fusiliers on 25 September, joining on 29 September 1917. He was in hospital from 11 July 1918 (cause of admission not recorded on surviving documents) and was evacuated to England onboard HMAT Warlida on 1 August 1918. Warlida, an ambulance transport ship operating between Le Havre and Southampton, was torpedoed by the German submarine UC-49 and sank with the loss of 123 of the 801 souls onboard; Albert was presumed drowned His body was not recovered for burial and he is commemorated on the Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton. He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. Post Office Telegraph sent 6 August 1918: To J Buck, 27 Woolpack Lane, Nottingham. ‘Regret to inform you your son 11436 Pte A Buck Royal Welsh Fusiliers is reported missing believed drowned in the loss of HMAT Warilde, 3 August 1918.’ Letter (date stamped December 1918) to (-) Buck, Woolpack Lane, Nottingham: ‘Madam, I regret to inform you that no further official news has been received of No. 11436 Private A Buck, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, who was reported ‘Missing believed drowned’ on the 3rd August 1918, in the loss of HMAT Warilde and it is feared that there can be no doubt that he has lost his life. Before steps are taken to accept his death for official purposes, will you be good enough to stage in the margin of this letter whether any news of this soldier has reached you from any sources since the date on which he was reported missing. The letter should be returned to the above address. I am, Sir or Madam, Your obedient servant. 2/Lieut. For officer i/c No.2.Records No. 4. District.' Formerly SS Warilda the ship had been operated by the Adelaide Steamship Company. On the outbreak of war she was converted to a troop ship and in 1916 to a hospital ship. The German submarine UC-49 which torpedoed and sank Warilda was sunk by depth charges (HMS Opossum) off Start Point on 8 August 1918.
He was born J/A/S 1898 so may have been 20 when he died. Nottingham Post notice (abridged), 13 March 1919: ‘Buck. Reported missing believed drowned, August 3rd 1918 on HMS Warilda, now reported drowned, Drummer A Buck Royal Welch Fusiliers, aged 19, after 5 years service. Son of Emily and John Buck, 27 Woolpack Lane. Mother, father, brothers, sisters, brother Jack [John] in France.’ Nottingham man, Shoeing Smith Tom Lowe, 34th Divisional Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery, also died when the Warlida was lost. Navy News, September 2018 (p35), extract: ‘WW1 Tragedy Recalled’: ‘Lt Mark Rooke from HMS Sultan sounds the Last Post while Stuart Rivers of the Sailors’ Society lowers the flag to mark the centenary of one of Southampton’s greates maritime tragedies [photograph], Despite clearly being marked with the Red Cross, the ambulance transport ship Warilda was torpedoed by a U-boat mid-Channel as she carried 614 casualties home from the Western Front for convalescence in the UK in the small hours of August 3 1918 … the torpedo blast wrecked one of Warilda’s propellers and jammed/destroyed her steering gear. As a result, the ship sailed around in circles for about 2 hours at 15 knots – making it extremely difficult to launch the lifeboats or for her escorts to come alongside and take people off. Among the most prominent victims was violet Long, Deputy Chief Controller of the Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Corps … Most of the wounded, nursing staff and crew were rescued and subsequently landed in Southampton – Warilda’s original destination on her voyage from Le Havre … The Warilda was originally built for carrying passengers on the UK-Australia run. First she was converted to a troopship to ferry Anzacs to Gallipoli and, later, France, then she became a hospital/ambulance transport between Southampton and Le Havre … UC-49, the submarine which fired the fatal torpedo, she was depth charged to destruction five days later. All hands were lost.’
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