Fred Bucklow
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Fred was the son of John George and Annie Mary Bucklow (née Buxton). His father George was born in Teversal, Nottinghamshire, in 1873 and his mother Annie in Brampton, Derbyshire, in 1875. They were married at Sutton in Ashfield St Mary Magdalene in 1893 and had eight children, six of whom survived infancy. George William birth registered 1894 (J/F/M), Fred b. 1896, Edward b. 1900, James b. 1904 (reg. 1905 J/F/M), Elizabeth b. 1907 and Annie b. 1909. All the children were born in Sutton in Ashfield. John, a coal miner hewer, Annie and their three sons, George, Fred and Edward were living at 34 Willowbridge, Sutton in Ashfield, in 1901. However, by 1911 they had moved to Tudor Street. All six children were in the home on the night of the census: George a pony driver below ground, Fred, a belt boy (pit surface), Edward, James, Elizabeth and Annie. The family later moved to 48 York Street, Sutton in Ashfield, where John and Annie were still living in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled. John died in March 1948 and was buried in the churchyard of St Mary Magdalene. John's widow died in 1961, death registered Leicester. It is likely that Annie had moved after her husband's death to be with one of her married daughters. Both girls had married at St Mary Magdalene, Annie to James Richard Elwell in 1923 and Elizabeth to Charles Shaw in 1928. Both men were hosiery workers and by 1939 the two couples were living in Hinckley, Leicestershire, where the sisters' husbands were hosiery makers. Fred's eldest brother, George William, served in the Sherwood Foresters (18453 Private) and with the BEF France from 9 February 1915, qualifying for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. He was later commissioned second lieutenant (1/6th Battalion Sherwood Foresters), but transferred to the Royal Air Force in 1918, retaining his commission (London Gazette, 1917, 1918, 1919). George was transferred from the RAF to the unemployment list on 31 August 1919 and demobilised to 48 York Street, Sutton in Ashfield. George emigrated to Australia with his wife Annie and their son Frederick (1) in 1920, sailing from London on 16 September to Sydney, New South Wales (SS Berrima). They settled initially at 19 Throsby Street, Wickham, Newcastle, New South Wales. A younger son, James, was killed in the Second World War. The CWGC record gave his parents' place of residence as Sandgate, Australia [Brisbane, Queensland]. (See 'Extra information').
2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment). Other military records (Medal Rolls, UKSDGW) gave his battalion as 17th Sherwood Foresters. The 17th (Service) Battalion (Welbeck Rangers) was a battalion of Kitchener’s New Army and raised at Nottingham on 1 June 1915 by the mayor and a recruiting committee. The Battalion served with the BEF France from 6 March 1916, landing at Le Havre. The Regiment's 2nd Battalion had served in France from 11 September 1914 under order of 18th Brigade 6th Division, but transferred to the 71st Brigade 6th Division in October 1914. Fred was killed in action on 29 September 1916. Reports in the local paper suggest that he was initially reported wounded or missing and that his death was not confirmed until the November (see 'Extra information'). He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Theipval Memorial, France (Pier and Face 10C 10D and 11A). Fred qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Fred's nephew, James Leslie Bucklow, the son of George William Bucklow and his wife Annie, died in the Second World War. He enlisted on 31 July 1939 and served with the Royal Australian Navy (23413 Leading Supply Assistant). James was serving in HMAS Matafele when the ship was lost in the Coral Sea, Pacific Islands, in June 1944; he was 22 years old. The CWGC record gives his date of death as 24 June 1944 but other records show 18 June-24 June. (CWGC 2476323. Plymouth Naval Memorial UK, Panel 91 Col. 3) HMAS Matafele, a cargo and passenger vessel, was built in 1938 for, and operated by, Burns Phil Line. The ship was transferred to naval service and commissioned in the Royal Australian Navy on 1 January 1943. Following a refit in early 1944 the ship returned to her task of transporting military cargo from Queensland ports to Milne Bay. In June 1944 the ship was transiting the Grafton Passage and the China Strait bound for Milne Bay with a cargo of naval stores. There was no signal from the ship from 23 June and a search was subsequently carried out by ships and aircraft. A Board of Inquiry in October 1944 concluded that the Matafele had foundered in bad weather, probably on 20 June, with the loss of her ship’s company of four officers, 20 RAN ratings and 13 Melanesian crew. A memorial plaque was dedicated at the Tasmanian Seafarers’ Memorial, Triabunna, Tasmania, and also at Point Danger Park, Tweed Heads, Queensland, where the inscription on the memorial tablet reads: ’HMAS Matafele, RAN Supply Ship. Last sighted enroute to Milne Bay, 18th June 1944. Lost without trace with all hands. In commemoration of the 37 lives lost.’ (www.navy.gov.au) CWGC Fred Buckle. Additional information: 'Son of George and Annie Mary Bucklow, of 48, York St., Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottingham.' Mansfield Reporter, 13 October 1916: ‘Local Casualties. Wounded. Sherwood Foresters … F Bucklow, 31276, Sutton in Ashfield.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Mansfield Reporter, 10 November 1916: ‘Local Casualties. Tuesday’s List. Killed. Sherwood Foresters … F Bucklow, 21376 (sic), Sutton in Ashfield.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) WW1 Pension Ledgers: named his mother Annie Bucklow. Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his mother Annie Bucklow was his sole legatee. Mansfield Reporter, 28 February 1921: ‘Memorial Tablet Unveiled. St Modwen’s Institute, Sutton. A memorial tablet, bearing the names of eighteen members who fell in the Great War, was unveiled and dedicated at St Modwen’s Institute, Sutton, on Friday evening. In addition to a large company of Institute members a number of relatives of the fallen were present at the ceremony, which was conducted by the Vicar (Rev. AT Cowen). After the Vicar had dropped the Union Jack, the company remained for a few moments in silent prayer, following which the memorial was dedicated. The impressive ceremony, which opened with the singing of ‘O, God our Help in Ages Past’ - included the singing of the appropriate hymn, ‘In Memoriam’. The panel, which was designed and executed by Mr AR Thomas, bore the following names [18]: Arthur Middleton, Alfred Slater, Benj. Beaumont, Samuel Heath, Sidney [Andrew] Wingrove, Leslie Marshall, Arthur Williams, Thomas Hall, Fred Bucklow, Roland A [Arthur] Walters, John W [William] Parnell, Thomas Parbutt, Douglas [Dalziel] Leverton, Isaiah Gough, Wm. Boot, Thos. Wallace, Frank Wallace and Geo.[George] W [William] Allsop.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchives.co.uk) Sixteen of the eighteen men are commemorated on the St Mary Magdalene war memorial.
