The 1914/15 Star trio with MiD oakleaf awarded to 10/1127 William Buckles who served on Gallipoli and the Western Front and was mentioned in despatches for his excellent work in an Advanced Dressing Station during the Third Battle of Ypres.

 

William Henry Buckles was born in 1891 at Invercargill, New Zealand. Son of Henry and Mary Jane Buckles. At the time of his enlistment in the NZEF in August 1914 he was working as a carter in Invercargill. He embarked with the Main Body, Wellington Infatry Battalion and landed on Gallipoli on 25th April 1915. He served on the peninsula until the August offensive, when he was evacuated suffering from dystentery. In March 1916 he transferred to the NZ Field Ambulance, and served more and less continuously throughout the campaign on the Western Front, other than periods of leave and training. He was mentioned in Sir Douglas Haigh's Despatch of 7/11/1917. The recommendation reads:

 

Good service and devotion to duty in the field did excellent work attending to wounded at the A.D.S. the near Ploegstoert,  where the A.D.S. was frequently shelled. As an N.C.O. is most keen in the carrying out of his duties and is a good disciplinarian.

 

He was originally recommended for the Meritorious Service Medal but this was changed to an MiD during the approval process. William Buckles died at Wellington Hospital on 15th January 1929.

 

All medals are correctly impressed 10/1127 SJT. W. BUCKLES. N.Z.E.F.

Service file held at Archives New Zealand