Lt
Walter Harry Buncombe
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 07/09/1885 |
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Place of birth: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
General information
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Last known residence: Netherway, North Quay, Brisbane, Australia |
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Profession: Business Manager |
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Religion: Church of England |
Army information
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Country: Australia |
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Force: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rank: Lieutenant |
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Enlistment date: 01/01/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, 47th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 12/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Decoy Wood, Passchendaele, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 32 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: LXV Row: A Grave: 4 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Walter Harry Buncombe was born on 7 September 1885 in Sydney, New South Wales, the son of Richard Kent and Alice Buncombe. He enlisted on 1 January 1916 and already had some shooting experience as a member of the Brisbane Sportsman Rifle Club. Walter served in the 47th Battalion Australian Infantry (12th Australian Brigade, 4th Australian Division). On 26 April 1917 he arrived in France, where he was promoted to Lieutenant on 12 July 1917.
Walter was killed on 12 October 1917 during the First Battle of Passchendaele, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The objective of the 12th Brigade was to advance via the Broodseinde ridge towards Keiberg Spur, thus supporting the 3rd Australian Division, which was pushing north of the Ypres–Roulers railway towards Passchendaele. The brigade’s start lines were positioned just in front of Nieuwemolen. The 47th Battalion was tasked with capturing the first objectives in the area around Rhine, after which the 48th Battalion would take over.
The attack encountered setbacks immediately. The soldiers were exhausted from marching through the mud. The battalion headquarters, located in a bunker on the Broodseinde ridge, was also hit. Nearly all signallers and runners became casualties, making further communication with the forward lines more difficult. The 47th Battalion succeeded in reaching the ridge, but the attack of the 48th Battalion was delayed due to the large distance from the 9th Brigade. Around 15.00 reports arrived of a possible German counterattack, which began an hour later from Assyria Ridge. Although the counterattack was repelled, the troops were ultimately forced to withdraw to a line just beyond their starting positions.
During the actions of 12 October 1917, the 47th Battalion Australian Infantry suffered heavy losses. Among them was Walter Harry Buncombe. According to a testimony, he was fatally struck by a shell about 150 yards beyond the start lines. Major Denis Hannay described the 33-year-old Walter as follows: “A splendid type of officer, one of the best in the battalion.” According to the Red Cross Files, he was buried about 100 yards from Nieuwemolen. After the war, however, his body was recovered at a location closer to the railway embankment, near Decoy Wood. His remains were reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he still rests today.
Walter was killed on 12 October 1917 during the First Battle of Passchendaele, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The objective of the 12th Brigade was to advance via the Broodseinde ridge towards Keiberg Spur, thus supporting the 3rd Australian Division, which was pushing north of the Ypres–Roulers railway towards Passchendaele. The brigade’s start lines were positioned just in front of Nieuwemolen. The 47th Battalion was tasked with capturing the first objectives in the area around Rhine, after which the 48th Battalion would take over.
The attack encountered setbacks immediately. The soldiers were exhausted from marching through the mud. The battalion headquarters, located in a bunker on the Broodseinde ridge, was also hit. Nearly all signallers and runners became casualties, making further communication with the forward lines more difficult. The 47th Battalion succeeded in reaching the ridge, but the attack of the 48th Battalion was delayed due to the large distance from the 9th Brigade. Around 15.00 reports arrived of a possible German counterattack, which began an hour later from Assyria Ridge. Although the counterattack was repelled, the troops were ultimately forced to withdraw to a line just beyond their starting positions.
During the actions of 12 October 1917, the 47th Battalion Australian Infantry suffered heavy losses. Among them was Walter Harry Buncombe. According to a testimony, he was fatally struck by a shell about 150 yards beyond the start lines. Major Denis Hannay described the 33-year-old Walter as follows: “A splendid type of officer, one of the best in the battalion.” According to the Red Cross Files, he was buried about 100 yards from Nieuwemolen. After the war, however, his body was recovered at a location closer to the railway embankment, near Decoy Wood. His remains were reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he still rests today.
Sources 6
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47th Australian Infantry Battalion, (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/64/17). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
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Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), RCDIG1064166). https://www.awm.gov.au Sources used |
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Deayton, Craig. Battle Scarred: the 47th Battalion in the First World War (Newport: Big Sky publishing Ltd, 2011), 156-188. Sources used |
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First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920 (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455, BUNCOMBE W H). https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/ Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 2018), 129-132. Sources used |
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Unit Embarkation nominall rolls, 1914-18 War (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM8). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
More information 4
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/462124 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=ba98e2ba-3a4d-4ad9-9563-33a5244da6b1 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7374920 |
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The AIF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=38713 |