PUCKLE, JOHN, Captain, was born 6
October 1869, at Massouri, India, sort of Colonel Henry Puckle, Madras Staff
Corps, of Worthing, Sussex, and of his wife, Cecilia, daughter of General
Tod. He was educated at Westward Ho! Bedford Grammar School, Malvern
College, Peterhouse, Cambridge, and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst,
and joined the South Wales Borderers, as Second Lieutenant, 21 January 1893;
became Lieutenant, Army Service Corps, 29 September 1895. He became
Captain, Army Service Corps, 20 September 1899; served in South Africa with
the 7th Division under Lord Roberts, and subsequently as DAAG, Deputy
Assistant Director of Supplies, 25 August 1900 to 24 January 1901, at Army
Headquarters. He was present at the operations in the Orange Free State,
February to May 1900, including actions at Paardeberg, Poplar Grove, Karee
Siding and Zand River; operations in the Transvaal, May and June 1900,
including actions near Johannesburg and Pretoria; was mentioned in
Despatches [London Gazette, 10 September 1901]; received the Queen's Medal,
and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London
Gazette, 27 September 1901]: "John Puckle, Captain, Army Service Corps. In
recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". He was
invested by the King 29 October 1901. He was promoted to Major 12 December
1906. Major Puckle was one of the first officers to land in France at the
outbreak of the European War in August 1914, prior to the arrival of the
British Expeditionary Force. He was mentioned in Despatches in May 1915,
and became Lieutenant Colonel 30 October 1914. Lieutenant Colonel Puckle
embarked for service in Egypt in the Transport Arcadian on 1 April 1917.
The ship was attacked by a German submarine, and sunk in the Eastern
Mediterranean on 15 April. Colonel Puckle was Officer Commanding Troops on
board. He remained until the last at his post on the bridge, and, together
with the Captain of the vessel, sank with the ship. The Captain was saved,
but Colonel Puckle was never seen again. Lieutenant Colonel Puckle—who was
partnered by Captain A Berger—won two years in succession the Army Racquets
Championship Doubles at Prince's Club, and also—with his same partner—the
Army Lawn Tennis Championship Doubles. He was a fine billiard player, and
was a member of the Royal and Ancient Club of St Andrews. On the 3rd
December 1896, at St Peter's, Eaton Square, London, he married Mary,
daughter of Honourable James Fellows, Agent-General for New Brunswick.
