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Auction: 23113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 483

'We started in convoy at 11.30 pm. My lorry was sixth from the front. We were driving over a level corssing, half a mile from the railhead, which was half a mile from the front line.
The only light was from the shells. There were no gates and as my lorry was passing over, it was knocked over on its side by a train. I was thrown clear of the lorry cab and landed on my feet.
It was a miracle I wasn't killed ten times over. I wasn't even scratched.'

Memories of the Great War recalled by of Private Buck, in The Spalding Guardian

Three: Private G. E. Buck, Army Service Corps, who gave his memories of the Great War to a local newspaper for their 70th Anniversary edition

British War and Victory Medals (M-315584 Pte. G. E. Buck. A.S.C.); Defence Medal 1939-45, sold together with their named boxes of issue, good very fine (3)

Gordon Esme Buck was born on 15 November 1898 at Surfleet, Lincolnshire, the son of William and Sarah Buck of The Reservoir, Surfleet. The family lived with his grandmother who was a publican at The Ship Inn, Surfleet. The Great War began before Buck was of age and as such he first attested for service on 19 April 1917 with the Army Service Corps. Learning to drive with them he was posted to No. 6 Motor Transport Company, Army Service Corps on 18 May 1918. He was transferred to the Guards Divisional Motor Transport Company only a few days later, he was later to recount his experiences in The Spalding Guardian:

'"I embarked for France 13 months later, driving for the Guards Division. They'd taught me to drive in the Army."
His job was to take food and ammunition up to the front line, and one incident -the nearest he came to death - is still vivid to him'

Having given the account provided above Buck added one final thing, the article stating:

'He didn't dare leave his lorry. "It would have been looted and dismembered either by the French or our own people."
So, only 19, he stated beside it for six hours until someone came to relieve him, and he got a lift back to camp.
The next morning Gordon was up before his company commander. "I got a slight sentence: I shouldn't have left my lorry after all."'

Transferred to No. 3 (Water Tank) Motor Transport Company days before the end of the war he was hospitalised with Spanish Flu at No. 45 Casualty Clearing Station eventually being passed on to No. 12 General Hospital, Rouen. Fortunately he survived and went on to be demobilised on 13 March 1919. Returning to Spalding Buck worked as a Clerical Officer for the Inland Revenue. He saw service during the Second World War, likely in a Civil Defence Capacity. Buck died at Spalding on 17 November 1990; sold together with a modern photograph of the recipients home and a newspaper article from The Spalding Guardian dated 11 November 1988.

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Sold for
£100

Starting price
£40