Norman Leese Buckley
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- Military History
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Norman Leese Buckley was born in 1898 in Woodville and was the son of Thomas Reed Buckley, an insurance agent superintendent, and Mary Jane Buckley (née Leese) of 42 Rutland Road West Bridgford, Nottingham. His father Thomas Reed was born in 1864 in Woodville, Derbyshire, and his mother Mary Jane Leese was also born in 1864 in Woodville. They were married in 1882; the marriage was recorded in the Ashby De La Zouch Registration District. Thomas and Mary had six children, sadly one was to die in infancy. The surviving children, who were all born in Woodville, were: John b1883, Elsie Ann b1885, Lily b1888, Edmund Stuart b1893 and Norman Leese b1898. In the 1911 census the family were living at Church Hill, Pinxton, Derbyshire, and were shown as Thomas Read 47 yrs a superintendent of insurance agents, who was living with his wife Mary Jane 47 yrs and three of their five children, Lily 23 yrs a shop assistant, Edmund Stuart 18 yrs a colliery labourer and Norman Leese 12 yrs a scholar.
Norman Leese Buckley served initially in the Sherwood Foresters Regiment (2459) before transferring to the Machine Guns Corps. He served in France from 28th June 1915. Norman at the Albert Hall Hospital, Nottingham, on 15th February 1919 of pneumonia following a severe chill. He was buried with full military honours in Nottingham General Cemetery on 20 February.
CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Faithful unto death' Nottingham Evening Post, 'Roll of Honour', 18 February 1919 (abridged): BUCKLEY, on the 16th inst (sic) at the Albert Hall Hospital, of pneumonia, Corporal Buckley (Norman) age 20. Military funeral General Cemetery. Broken hearted Elsie, 26(?) Queen’s Walk. Article published 18th February 1919 in the Nottingham Journal and Express :- “SOLDIER’S SAD DEATH. “Every sympathy is being extended to Mr. and Mrs. T. Buckley, Rutland-road, West Bridgford, in the bereavement sustained by the death of their son, Norman, aged 20 years. “Voluntarily enlisting with the Sherwoods in the early days of the war, deceased saw constant active service in France, and was once wounded. “Transferred to the A.P.C. on the signing of the armistice, he caught a severe chill, on which pneumonia supervened, and he died at the Albert Hall Hospital on Saturday.” 'In Memoriam' notice, 16th February 1920, Nottingham Evening Post :- “BUCKLEY. – In tender and loving memory of our dear son, Corpl. N. L. Buckley, M.G.C., who entered the homeland February 16th, 1919. He still is ours in memory, thought and love.” Above article and in memoriam are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918. West Bridgford Advertiser, Saturday 22 February 1919: 'Soldier’s Sad End. Death of Corporal HL Buckley. Every sympathy is being extended to Mr and Mrs T Buckley, Rutland-road, West Bridgford, in the bereavement sustained by the death of their youngest son, Norman, aged 20 years. Voluntarily enlisting with the Sherwoods in the early days of the war, deceased saw constant active service in France, and was once wounded. Transferred to the APC on the signing of the armistice, he caught a severe chill, on which pneumonia supervened, and he died at the Albert Hall Hospital on Saturday. The mortal remains of Corporal NL Buckley were quietly laid to rest in a sheltered position of the General Cemetery, Nottingham, on Thursday, the Rev. Ira G Goldhawk, Albert Hall Mission, officiating. Full military honours were accorded. The coffin, of polished oak with heavy brass furniture, and covered with a Union Jack, was conveyed to the cemetery on a gun carriages, whiles six of his colleagues acted as bearers. A firing party was also provided, and a detachment from the MGC respectfully joined in the cortege at the Midland Station. At the graveside the mourners were joined by Mr FW Wheatley (representing deceased’s Sunday school), Mr F Wade, and others. Three volleys were fired over the grave, and the plaintive notes of the ‘Last Post’ fittingly concluded a memorable and impressive service. The mourners included father and mother, brothers, sisters, sister-in-law, fiancee and friends. Colonel Daubeney and Adjutant King represented the military authorities. Flora tributes were received from father and mother, Elsie (sister), Ricky (brother), Gertie, Doris, and little Mary, Stewart (brother), and Beaty, Will, Lily, and little Jack, Miss E Amphletts, Mr and Mrs Cousens (Woodville), Mr and Mrs Rowbottom and family, Mr and Mrs Swales, Mr and mrs Wade, Private W Clinkard, Mr and Mrs Amphlett, teachers of Trent Boulevard Sunday school, Private A Cartwright, APC Wing 6 Lady Clerks, Wing 6 Section 29, &c.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
