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Cenotaph record

Robert Buchanan

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Portrait, Auckland Weekly News 1915 - No known copyright restrictions

Portrait, Auckland Weekly News 1915 - No known copyright restrictions

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Robert AWMM
  • Surname
    Buchanan AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    WWI 8/319 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
    Unknown AWMM Fox Street, Avenal, Invercargill, New Zealand AWMM
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    Mrs Christina Buchanan (mother), Fox Street, Avenal, Invercargill, New Zealand AWMM
  • Relationship status
    Pre 16 October 1914 AWMM Single AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

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  • War
    World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
  • Campaign
    1915-1916 Gallipoli AWMM
  • Armed force / branch
    Army AWMM
  • Service number
    WWI 8/319 AWMM
  • Military service
  • Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

Military decorations

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Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
    WW1 Unknown AWMM Otago, New Zealand AWMM
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

Embarkations

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Prisoner of war

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  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

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  • Medical notes
    Died of wounds, Cause of Death AWMM

Last known rank

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Biographical information

Biographical information

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    • Son of William and Christina Buchanan, of South Riverton, Southland, Invercargill. Native of Waimatuku, Invercargill. AWMM
    • Attack on Baby 700

      With me in our group was …. Bob Buchannan. We in our hearts knew the attack had gone awry but had no thought of retreating but wondered what we could do under the circumstances.

      We apparently were in a slight depression with the bullets passing over us where we lay. Presently Bob Buchannan who was beside me made a movement causing me to ask, "Are you hit Bob?" There was no audible reply but I soon found that he had a great wound cutting an open track from his eye to ear. We carried field dressings conveniently placed inside our tunics but they were not so easy to apply as the big shell dressings stretcher-bearers carried later on. When we left our valises behind at our first dig in I put a good clean towel in my haversack. Haversacks were taken from the side of the equipment and put in the place of the pack on the back. I used this towel to tie around Bob's head.

      We had been consulting what we should do in the situation and now it was suggested that one of us should take Bob back and see if there was someone back at the Aussie trench with the rank of authority to say, "What next?" …... I suppose because I was alongside Bob the others advised me to escort him.
      As he couldn't see at all and getting to our feet would make us sure billets for the bullets, I told him to follow me and by my voice I would guide him between the bushes. I think a slight dip in the area between the Aussie trench and where we were lying saved us, for we presented a better target crawling than flat out. There was no one at all belonging to our battalion to be seen and I waited with Bob seeing there was nothing more I could do.
      The Turks thoroughly aroused, kept up a heavy fire all night but while in the trenches with Bob none of our attackers returned. Going forward was impossible but so was retiring unthinkable, in spite of being convinced of the futility of further action.
      With so rough a path to the Dressing Station I didn't venture further with Bob till the first light of dawn appeared. With my help he was able to make his way on foot, and with care descending the hill we had no further trouble getting to the station. ……..
      He couldn't speak but when we reached the dressing station he patted me on my shoulder to convey thanks for my care of him. Bob Buchannan died of his wounds.
      A sequel to that episode occurred ….. Our neighbour during the war had a store at Waimatuku. 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 …... Public - Ross - 12 November 2016 - Memoires of William Anderson, 8th Company, Otago Battalion
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    4 May 1915 AWMM
    Age 23 AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
    Died of wounds AWMM
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name
    Lone Pine Memorial, Lone Pine Cemetery, Anzac, Turkey AWMM

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Sources

Sources

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Contributors

Command item
Command item
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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
25 August 2021Ian BanksTaumarunui New ZealandResearcher
12 November 2016RossMeldreth, UKOther

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