Re-dedication of Conductor John Buckley VC Grave.

By

David Southall

(Vice Chairman, Conductors Branch, The RLC Association)

The Re-dedication Service of Conductor John Buckley VC Grave took place at Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, East London, on 14^th July 2014. The Service was conducted by Revd Richard Priest CF, of Woolwich Station. Revd Priest had two weeks earlier been the Padre at Buckley Barracks, Hullavington, the home of 9 Regiment RLC.

Background 'For gallant Defence of the Magazine at Delhi'

Conductor John Buckley VC was serving in Delhi, India as the Deputy Assistant Commissary. It was in May 1857 that the Indian Mutiny flared up against the rule of the British. The mutineers soon reached Delhi where, Cdr Buckley and eight fellow Soldiers defending the Magazine were vastly outnumbered. Rather than let the Ammunition fall into enemy hands they decided to blow up the Magazine with themselves in it. Miraculously four of them, including Cdr Buckley, survived. Cdr Buckley was captured by the enemy and soon learnt that his entire family had been ruthlessly murdered by the rebels. He begged for death from his captors but they refused to kill him on account of his bravery at the Magazine. Cdr Buckley later escaped and rejoined the British Army In 1858 Buckley was promoted to Lieutenant but shortly afterwards fell ill and was given two years leave. Back in England he was one of the first to be awarded The Victoria Cross and he received his Victoria Cross from Queen Victoria. He returned to India as a Major in October 1861.A memorial tablet at the Delhi Magazine bears testimony to the heroism of a man who suffered tremendous personal loss. Cdr Buckley final years of his life were spent in London and he died in July 1876 Aged 63. He was buried in an unmarked grave in Tower Hamlets Cemetery.

Fast forward 155 years to December 2012 and a pensioner helping to tidy up the overgrown Tower Hamlets Cemetery in London’s East End discovered the unmarked pauper’s grave of Cdr Buckley Grave. The VC Trust was contacted and The Trust purchased a New Headstone and Cpl Witherington & Members of 9 Regiment RLC constructed a path leading up to the Headstone.

The Rededication Service was attended by, Jim Fitzpatrick MP (MP for Poplar & Limehouse Constituency), The Chairman, Vice Chairman & Members of The Conductors Branch, The Royal Logistic Corps Association, Gary Stapleton, Chairman of the Victoria Cross Trust and Members of the Trust.

Wreaths were laid by David Paterson, Chairman of The Conductors Branch, The Royal Logistic Corps Association, and Cpl Witherington of 9 Regiment RLC.

The Last Post was played by Lbdr Lane, Royal Horse Artillery, and a Lament was played by Former Conductor Larry Cunningham.

Cdr Buckley VC New Grave & Head Stone.                                                                                                                                                                    Cpl Witherington & Members of 9 Regiment RLC

Photo's via Google+ HERE