C Robert Buckley

Robert served with the 4th Battalion Manchester Regiment. He first entered a theatre of war in France on 18th September 1915. He had been repairing a trench during the night of the 8th January 1917 and a bomb fell on the repair party mortally wounding Robert and killing others with him. He was taken to No 4 casualty clearing station but died of his wounds whilst there on 9th January 1917. He is buried in Vargnnes Military Cemetery, Somme ,France grave reference I C 29 His brother Harvey Bruce Buckley also served during the Great War as a Captain in the Royal Field Artillery, he survived the war.

Following is an extract from 'The Cuthbertian ' college magazine of St Cuthberts, July 1917 No 2 The following account of R.Buckley's death has also reached us. "He and his party had been told off to repair a trench which had fallen in. It was night time, and a bomb fell amongst them, mortally wounding Roy and killing the others. He was taken to a casualty clearing station, but never left it he was too bad. He had everything that skill and attention could effect bestowed upon him, but it was of no avail. He suffered little pain; was bright and cheerful during the first days, but gradually got weaker and died on 9th. He never realized that his case was hopeless. His brother Bruce was with him for the last three days. He became unconscious about four hours before he died. "