Name
Arthur Burdett Buck
11 December 1889
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/11/1917
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
101075
Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regiment)
49th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Searched but not found
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
NINE ELMS BRITISH CEMETERY
VIII. F. 10
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
IT IS NOT DEATH BUT SLEEP
UK & Other Memorials
Baldock Town Memorial, St Mary the Virgin Church Memorial, Baldock
Pre War
Arthur Burdett Buck was born on 11 December 1889 in Baldock, Herts, the son of Charles and Agnes Buck and was baptised in Baldock on 23 March 1890.
On the 1891 Census the family were living at Middle Row, High Street, Baldock, where his father was working as an ironmonger, draper, grocer and wine and spirit merchant. They remained there in 1901.
His father died on 3 November 1903 and his mother in late 1905 and Arthur emigrated to Canada, sailing on the Empress of Britain, leaving from Liverpool on 10 March 1911, and heading for St John, New Brunswick, Canada. He worked as a farmer and applied for a homestead which sadly was not granted until 1919, after his death.
Wartime Service
Arthur enlisted at Edmonton, Canada on 22 July 1915, initially joining the 66th Battalion. He sailed from Canada on 1 May 1916 on the SS Olympic, arriving in England on 7 May 1916. He landed in France on 8 June 1916, and was taken on strength of the 49th Canadian Battalion on 14 June 1916, arriving for duty with his unit in the field on 18 June 1916.
He received a gunshot wound to his left forearm on 11 October 1916 and was admitted to No. 5 General Hospital at Rouen, and sent to England on H S Aberdonian for treatment, initially being admitted to the 1st Eastern General Hospital at Fazakerley, Liverpool. (now the Aintree University Hospital). Once recovered he was taken on the strength of the 9th Reserve Battalion at Bramshott, Hampshire on 17 March 1917 where a large camp and hospital had been established for wounded and sick Canadian soldiers. He was then assigned to the 49th Battalion and landed back in France on 22 April 1917.
He was severely wounded on 31 October 1917 during the Battle of Passchendaele, suffering from gun shot wounds to his chest and shoulder, and died the following day, aged 27. He is buried at Nine Elms British Cemetery, Belgium.
Additional Information
He named his sister, Mrs Kathleen B Coulson, as his next of kin, who lived in Welwyn, Herts.
Arthur is also commemorated on the family headstone in Baldock Cemetery, his inscription reads:
“. . . ALSO OF ARTHUR BURDETT BUCK PRIVATE 19TH. CANADIANS
KILLED IN ACTION AT PASSCHENDAELE 1ST. NOVEMBER 1917. AGED 27 YEARS."
The rest of the inscription is not clear.
Brother to Charles William Buck who served with the Tank Corps but who died on 4 March 1920 from pulmonary tuberculosis.
Acknowledgments
Derry Warners, Brenda Palmer
Adrian Pitts, Paul Johnson
