Rank
Private 4447
Medals
British War Medal, Victory Medal
Regiment
Australian Infantry 13th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force
Military Service
Buchanan enlisted on 16th July 1915 at Liverpool, NSW. He became
part of the 14th Reinforcement for the 13th Battalion, AIF and embarked
at Sydney of HMAT Ballarat A70 on 16th February 1916 landing in
Egypt on 22nd March 1916. On 29th March he went sick and did not
join his battalion until 28th May. He sailed from Alexandria on 1st June
and reached Marseilles on the 8th where he disembarked. He was
posted missing on 14th August during the attack on Mouquet Farm,
part of the Somme offensive.
Born
Death
14th August 1916
Circumstances of death
Killed in action
A Court of enquiry was held on 23rd January 1917 which formally
found that Buchanan had been killed in action.
Age
33
Burial
A I F Burial Ground, Flers, XV. O. 24
CWGC Information
Son of Marion Gills (formerly Buchanan), and the late James
Buchanan. Born at Glasgow, Scotland.
Parents
James Buchanan (c1849-1918) & Marion Gills (c1851-1923)
Fathers Occupation
Siblings
Margaret, Mrs Gills (c1875-), Jessie (c1877-), Mary (c1879-), Marion
(c1881-), James (c1884-1941), Jane (c1886-), Lulubelle (c1888-1937)
Spouse
Education
Occupation
1891 Census
1901 Census
22 Ardrossan Road, Saltcoats, Ayrshire
1911 Census
Home Address
1917 – 51 Castle Street, Townhead, Glasgow
Glasgow Necropolis
Other Memorials
Scottish National War Memorial – not listed
Other Information
On 20th September 1916, after being notified that their son was
missing, James and Marion Buchanan wrote to the British Red Cross
asking for their help in trying to establish the fate of their son. On 21st
March 1917 they received word confirming that their son had been
reported officially as ‘killed in action’.
Acknowledgements and Sources
Much of the information on which this profile is based is drawn from various internet sources which are listed below. The Friends of Glasgow Necropolis also wish to make full acknowledgement and thanks for the permitted use of any information or images generously supplied specifically for exhibition, publication or display in connection with The Roll of Honour and accompanying profiles to Ancestry, and Find my past.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Family Search
Scotlands People
The Long, Long Trail
The Scottish War Memorials Project
De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour, volume 2
Australian Army Service Records for Robert Buchanan at the National Archives of Australia website (http://www.naa.gov.au/)
Australian Red Cross Society Wounded and Missing Bureau files, 1914-18 War, 1DRL/0428, 4447 Private Robert Buchanan.
Rank
Private 4447
Medals
British War Medal, Victory Medal
Regiment
Australian Infantry
Regiment Information
Australian Infantry 13th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force
Military Service
Buchanan enlisted on 16th July 1915 at Liverpool, NSW. He became
part of the 14th Reinforcement for the 13th Battalion, AIF and embarked
at Sydney of HMAT Ballarat A70 on 16th February 1916 landing in
Egypt on 22nd March 1916. On 29th March he went sick and did not
join his battalion until 28th May. He sailed from Alexandria on 1st June
and reached Marseilles on the 8th where he disembarked. He was
posted missing on 14th August during the attack on Mouquet Farm,
part of the Somme offensive.
Born
Death
14th August 1916
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action
A Court of enquiry was held on 23rd January 1917 which formally
found that Buchanan had been killed in action.
Age
33
Burial
A I F Burial Ground, Flers, XV. O. 24
Buchanan was originally buried on the battlefield about 1 mile east of
Thiepval and his body was not recovered and reburied in the AIF
Burial Ground, Flers until 1925. He was identified by his identity disc
which was sent on to his next of kin.
CWGC Information
Son of Marion Gills (formerly Buchanan), and the late James
Buchanan. Born at Glasgow, Scotland.
Parents
James Buchanan (c1849-1918) & Marion Gills (c1851-1923)
Father's Occupation
Siblings
Margaret, Mrs Gills (c1875-), Jessie (c1877-), Mary (c1879-), Marion
(c1881-), James (c1884-1941), Jane (c1886-), Lulubelle (c1888-1937)
Spouse
Education
Occupation
1911 Census
Home Address
1917 – 51 Castle Street, Townhead, Glasgow
Glasgow Necropolis
1891 Census
1901 Census
22 Ardrossan Road, Saltcoats, Ayrshire
Other Memorials
Scottish National War Memorial – not listed
Other Information
On 20th September 1916, after being notified that their son was
missing, James and Marion Buchanan wrote to the British Red Cross
asking for their help in trying to establish the fate of their son. On 21st
March 1917 they received word confirming that their son had been
reported officially as ‘killed in action’.
Acknowledgements and Sources
Much of the information on which this profile is based is drawn from various internet sources which are listed below. The Friends of Glasgow Necropolis also wish to make full acknowledgement and thanks for the permitted use of any information or images generously supplied specifically for exhibition, publication or display in connection with The Roll of Honour and accompanying profiles to Ancestry, and Find my past.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Family Search
Scotlands People
The Long, Long Trail
The Scottish War Memorials Project
De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour, volume 2
Australian Army Service Records for Robert Buchanan at the National Archives of Australia website (http://www.naa.gov.au/)
Australian Red Cross Society Wounded and Missing Bureau files, 1914-18 War, 1DRL/0428, 4447 Private Robert Buchanan.
Credits
Compiled by Morag Fyfe, Historical and Genealogical Researcher for The Friends of Glasgow Necropolis.
Robert Buchanan Monument - Omicron