Robert Buchanan

Private

Conflict:

WW1

Additional Information:

Son of William and Christina Buchanan, of South Riverton, Southland, Invercargill. Native of Waimatuku, Invercargill.

References:

CWGC

Archives New Zealand

NZ WAR GRAVES

Public Contributions:

The circumstances in which Bob Buchanan received his wounds that resulted in his death as attested by private William Anderson who was present at the time. Extracted from William's memoirs. On the Su...nday, a week after landing the whole Otago Battalion were to make an attack on Pope's Ridge that night. The 4th Company was to spearhead the attack, the 8th of which William and presumably Bob was a member were to follow up as supports. At dusk they pulled themselves hand over hand up the steep hillside from the foot of the gully to the trenches held by the Australians. It was quite dark when they went over following the 4th Company. Surprise was the only chance of succeeding and that was lacking by the nature of the ground they had to cover. Bushes, some shoulder high and liberally dispersed broke up the leading line and allowed the Turk fire to concentrate on the lanes between the bushes. Finding little hope of carrying the trenches, the men singly, or in twos and threes went to earth. Bob Buchannan's group included William Anderson and 3 others. They had no thought of retreating but wondered what they could do under the circumstances. They were in a slight depression with the bullets passing over where they lay. Presently Bob Buchanan who was beside William made a movement causing William to ask, "Are you hit Bob?" There was no audible reply but they soon found that he had a great wound cutting an open track from his eye to ear. William used a clean towel from his haversack to tie around Bob's head. There was no N.C.O. in the group and William was advised by the others to escort Bob back to the starting trench as he was closest to Bob. As Bob couldn't see at all and getting to their feet would make them sure targets, William told Bob to follow him and by his voice would guide him between the bushes back to the trench. A slight dip in the area between the Aussie trench and where they had been lying saved them, as they presented a better target crawling than lying flat out. There was no one at all belonging to the battalion to be seen in the trench and William waited with Bob seeing there was nothing more he could do. The Royal Marines on their right faired no better than the Otago battalion but unlike the Otago troops they returned, some of them in a great hurry. William had to protect Bob as they tumbled into the trench. The Turks thoroughly aroused, kept up a heavy fire all night but while Bob and William were in the trenches with Bob none of the Otago attackers returned. Going forward was impossible but so was retiring unthinkable, in spite of being convinced of the futility of further action. There was a rough path to the Dressing Station down which they couldn't venture with Bob until the first light of dawn appeared. With William's help he was able to make his way on foot, and with care they descended and had no further trouble getting to the station. Bob couldn't speak but when they reached the dressing station he patted William on his shoulder to convey thanks for his care of him. At that point William returned to the front line. A sequel to that episode occurred many years later when William was told a story by a shop keeper. One evening just before closing time a number of surrounding farmers happened to drop in and were yarning together when word came through that Bob had died of wounds. All present were hushed by the news when at that moment another man came blustering in with, "Well fellows, the war can go on as long as it likes, I've just sold my chaff for 5 pounds a ton." There was dead silence till it began to sink in through his thick skull that he had said something out of place. To hear this echo from the past surprised William as much as it did the story teller when William told him his part in the story. Read More

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Casualty

Service Number:

8/319

Name:

Robert Buchanan

Rank:

Private

Date of Birth:

Not known

Next of Kin:

Mrs Christina Buchanan (mother), Fox Street, Avenal, Invercargill, New Zealand

Date of Enlistment:

Not known

Enlistment Address:

Fox Street, Avenal, Invercargill, New Zealand

Armed Force:

Army

Unit:

NZEF, Otago Regiment

Casualty Details

Cause of Death:

Died of wounds, on H.M.H.S. "Gascon,"

Date of Death:

04 May 1915

Day of Death:

Tuesday

Age at Death:

Conflict:

WW1

Embarkation Details

Embarkation Body:

Main Body

Embarkation Place:

Port Chalmers, New Zealand

Embarkment Date:

16 October 1914

Transport:

HMNZT 5
HMNZT 9

Vessel:

Ruapehu or Hawkes Bay

Destination:

Suez, Egypt

Text in italics supplied by Cenotaph Online, Auckland War Memorial Museum

Cemetery

Cemetery:

Lone Pine Memorial

Cemetery Reference:

Cemetery Location:

Turkey

Robert Buchanan

Public Contributions:

Personal Tributes:

Casualty

Casualty Details

Embarkation Details

Cemetery