The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (5347) Private Cyril Buckler, 14 Battalion, First World War

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Charis May, the story for this day was on (5347) Private Cyril Buckler, 14 Battalion, First World War.

5347 Private Cyril Buckler, 14th Battalion
KIA 7 August 1916
Photograph: H05687

Story delivered 3 December 2013

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Cyril Buckler, whose photograph is displayed today beside the Pool of Reflection.

Cyril Buckler was born in Wangaratta, Victoria, in 1896, the son of William and Elizabeth Buckler. He attended the North Wangaratta State School, and later the Wangaratta Agricultural High School. Rather than work on the land, Cyril became a postman like his brother, Sidney, who was in the post office at Bright. Cyril proved to be "an obliging official", and was a cheery and bright postman who was popular with those on his rounds.

In early 1916 Buckler left the post office to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force. After a period of training in Australia he was sent to Egypt with the 17th reinforcements to the 14th Battalion, but shortly after his arrival the AIF was transferred to France to fight on the Western Front. Buckler arrived in Marseilles on 8 June 1916: less than two months later he was dead.

On 6 August 1916 the 14th Battalion marched off at 2.30 pm to take over a portion of the front line near the French village of Pozières. After enduring a night of heavy shelling, battalion sentries noticed the enemy advancing for a counter attack. Accounts note that "Lewis Gun and rifle fire was brought to bear on them causing heavy casualties", and an Australian raid was quickly organised to rescue prisoners and ensure the German attack had been stopped. The 14th Battalion suffered an estimated 150 casualties on this day. One of those killed was Private Cyril Buckler. He was in a party sent into no-man's land to drive the Germans back to their own trenches. Out of the cover of his trench, Buckler was shot in the forehead and killed instantly. He was twenty years old.

In Australia his parents would receive a small number of his belongings, but his kit bag remained lost. They named their house on Rowan Street, Wangaratta, "Pozières" in memory of their son Cyril.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, along with more than 60,000 others from the First World War.

This is but one of the many stories of courage and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Private Cyril Buckler, and all of those Australians who have given their lives in the service of our nation.