William Buckels
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
William was a native of Farnsfield born in the village in 1886 and was the son of William Straw Buckels a house painter and his second wife Lucy Buckles née Chadwin who lived in Farnsfield. His father William senior was born in Farnsfield in 1852 and married his first wife Emma Green in 1875 in Norfolk. However, Emma died age 33 yrs in 1886 in the Southwell Registration district. William married his second wife Lucy Chadwin on 17th January 1889 in Battersea, Surrey. With his second wife he has 7 children , however one sadly died in infancy prior to 1911. In the 1911 census William Straw Buckels is living in Farnsfield and is shown as 58 yrs a house painter living with his wife Lucy 49 yrs and their children Harry 20 yrs a house painter, Fred 16 yrs a house painter, Kathleen 13 yrs and Cyril 9 yrs. Meanwhile, his son William 24 yrs, also a house painter, is living at another address in Farnsfield with his grandmother, Mary Ann Chadwin, 86 yrs a widow, and another relative, Hannnah Buckles 47 yrs. Wiliiam junior marries his wife Ethel Langham on 6th June 1911 in the parish church at Bunny, Nottinghamshire. At this date they are living at Chapel Street, Farnsfield. They go on to have a daughter Barbara born on 18th October 1913.
William enlisted on 13th November 1915 at Mansfield. He gave his age as 29 yrs, his address as Chapel Street, Farnsfield and his occupation as painter. His next of kin was his wife Ethel Buckels of the same address. He was posted to the Reserves the next day, 14th November 1915, and it was not until 16th April 1917 that he was mobilised. On 18th April 1917 he was posted as a gunner to the Royal Garrison Artillery. After training he served on the home front until 23rd July 1917 when he joined the British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front. William survived the war and served until 24th October 1919 when he was discharged from the army at Dover due to cancer of the rectum, a condition that was deemed to have been aggravated by war service. He returned home but his condition deteriorated and he died on 23rd January 1921 aged 34 yrs. He was buried in St Michael's churchyard, Farnsfield.
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