PRIVATE E. BUCKLEY, MANCHESTER REGIMENT. Queen’s South Africa Medal, 3 clasps, Cape Colony

PRIVATE E. BUCKLEY, MANCHESTER REGIMENT. Queen’s South Africa Medal, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, Wittebergen (officially impressed: 4499 Pte. E. BUCKLEY, MANCH: REGt.). Extremely Fine.

Medal accompanied by 4 pages of copied service papers and copied extracts QSA Medal roll, confirming medal and clasps.

Edward Buckley was born in Manchester. He enlisted into the Manchester Regiment on 19/12/1894. At the time of enlistment he was 19 years and 11 months old, gave his trade as that of labourer, and stated that he had previously seen service in the 3rd Battalion Royal Lancaster Regiment (1st Royal Lancashire Militia).

Edward Buckley had a troubled relationship with the army, his difficulties starting on the day that he enlisted, 19/12/1894. However, on 2/1/1895 he was court martialed for having given “false answers” when he enlisted, was sentenced to 28 days with hard labour and had all of his prior service struck from his records. He was released from confinement on 21/12/1894 but, only a month later, deserted and was sentenced to another 28 days with hard labour. Buckley deserted again on 20/8/1895 (84 days with hard labour) and during the Boer War was court martialed on 7/9/1899 for breaking out of barracks (42 days with hard labour). Not surprisingly he never rose above the rank of Private and was eventually discharged on 6/12/1907. In addition to service at home and in South Africa, Buckley also saw service in India.

Buckley was also entitled to the King’s South Africa Medal with 2 clasps.