SAMUEL JOHN BUCKINGHAM (1897-1918)

Private Samuel John Buckingham 27523, 7th Battalion, Duke Of Cornwall’s Light Infantry died from an illness in the army hospital at St Sever in Rouen on 5th November 1918.

Samuel was born in St Cleer, the son of Elijah and Maria Buckingham. Elijah’s father was Charles Buckingham who had moved from Middlewood to Golberdon in South Hill during the 1840s.

Samuel joined the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry in late 1915 as a reservist and was mobilised in the middle of 1916. During late 1918 he contracted an illness which was sufficiently serious to see him taken to hospital in Rouen, where he died.

The document detailing Samuel's effects shows that his father was sent a total of £41 11s 3d.

Almost all of the hospitals at Rouen had remained there for practically the whole of the war. They included eight general, five stationary, one British Red Cross and one labour hospital, and No. 2 Convalescent Depot. A number of the dead from these hospitals were buried in other cemeteries, but the great majority were taken to the city cemetery of St. Sever. In September 1916, it was found necessary to begin an extension, (pictured here) which is where Samuel’s remains were interred.

At the time of Samuel’s death his parents’ home was recorded as Stanton Farm, a few hundred yards east of Crow’s Nest village.