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Auction: 23113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 593

An immediate Great War 'Italy operations' M.S.M. group of four awarded to Colour-Sergeant F. E. J. Buck, 7th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps late 1st Battalion, Essex Regiment, who landed at Gallipoli with the Essex Regiment, was diagnosed with shell shock and received a 'mention' on the Italian Front

1914-15 Star (9423 L.Cpl. F. Buck. Essex R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (9423 C. Sjt. F. Buck. Essex R.); Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R. (21422 C. Sjt.:- C. Q. M. Sjt:- F. E. J. Buck. 7/M.G.C.), minor edge wear and pitting, very fine and rare to this rank (4)

Frederick Ernest John Buck was born at High Ongar, Essex in January 1891 and served with the 3rd Militia Battalion, Essex Regiment prior to enlisting on 29 June 1909. Attesting first with the 1st Battalion The Buffs on 10 January 1910 he was later transferred to the 2nd Battalion Essex Regiment later that month on 31 January. Posted to India with this unit on 28 January 1912, Buck was appointed Lance-Corporal on 25 October 1912; after a year on garrison duty in Mauritius he returned to Britain on 8 December 1914.

Entering the war at Gallipoli, the 1st Battalion landed on 25 April 1915 and immediately faced heavy fire: they managed to seize Hill 138 and, slowly working their way out from there, the Battalion took heavy losses including their commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Godfrey Faussett. Buck clearly served with distinction during the campaign, being first appointed Corporal on 18 May 1915 and later promoted Sergeant on 16 July 1915. The Battalion later succeeded in taking Fir Tree Grove but as the campaign dragged on losses continued to mount and eventually they were evacuated to Egypt on 8 January 1916, being one of the last units to leave that theatre.

Transferred to the 88th Company, Machine Gun Corps on 20 February 1916, Buck was posted with them to the Western Front where he served until 22 July when he was hospitalised with severe Shell Shock at 24 General Hospital.

Not declared fit for duty until 26 February 1917, he returned to his unit soon after on 8 March. Buck's absence had clearly not dulled his ability and he was soon promoted to the rank of Company Quartermaster Sergeant on 19 July. Transferred to the 91st Company, Machine Gun Corps on 8 September 1917 just prior to their involvement in the Battle of Passchendaele.

After the heavy fighting in Flanders throughout the winter of 1917, the 91st Company was posted to the Italian Front for service on the Piave River. During the equally heavy fighting on this front throughout the Italian advance through Austrian held positions, Buck received a 'mention' on 18 April 1918 (London Gazette 30 May 1918) and not long later the Meritorious Service Medal. At this time the Company was stationed at the Asiago Plateau and later took part in the Battle of Vittorio Veneto.

When the Company was amalgamated to form the 7th Battalion Machine Gun Corps on 1 December 1918, Buck joined them with the rank of Acting Warrant Officer Class II. Later posted to 1st Depot Battalion Machine Gun Corps as Colour-Sergeant, he joined the Army Reserve as Colour-Sergeant/Company Quartermaster Sergeant on 9 April 1921. Briefly mobilised again, he returned to the Reserve on 7 June 1921 and was discharged the next year on 9 January 1922.

Buck was one of four brothers to fight in the war with one other, Sergeant James Buck, being twice wounded in the Mediterranean theatre. His parents are noted as living in Waterfoot, Lancashire during his service; sold together with typed research and a typed service record summary as well as copied research comprising census data, M.I.C. and M.S.M. index card along with extracts from the Free Press and British Regiments 1914-1918 as well as a small archive of original material comprising:

i)
Portrait photograph of the recipient in uniform.

ii)
M.I.D. certificate.

iii)
Free Press article relating to the recipient and his family.

iv)
Message of thanks from Queen Elizabeth II to Mrs E. Buck. for service during the Second World War.

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