Buckle | Matthew Perceval | | Captain | BUCKLE, MATTHEW PERCEVAL, Captain, was born 29 September 1809, at Wray Cottage, Ambleside, son of Admiral C E and Mrs Buckle, The Red House, Spilsby, Lincolnshire. He was educated at Summerfield, Oxford, and at Winchester, and was gazetted to the Royal West Kent Regiment in April, 1889, becoming Lieutenant in December 1892. From June, 1897 to August 1901, he was Adjutant of his battalion, and was promoted Captain in July 1898. He served in the South African War, and was present at the operations in the Orange Free State in 1900 (severely wounded); operations in the Orange River Colony, including action at Wittebergen; operations in Cape Colony and the Transvaal; later operations in the Orange River Colony, and on the Zululand Frontier of Natal in 1901. He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 10 September 1901]; received the Queen's Medal with four clasps, the King's Medal with two clasps, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 27 September 1901]: "Matthew Perceval Buckle, Captain, Royal West Kent Regiment. In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". In 1903 he passed out of the Staff College with distinction, and from January 1904 to January 1900 he was Staff Captain (Mobilization) at Headquarters, War Office, and from January 1906 to January 1908, Brigade Major at Aldershot. Major Buckle was a qualified Second Class Interpreter in French, and was appointed in March, 1909, Professor at the Staff College, India, with the temporary rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He later became GSO, 2nd Grade, Staff College, Quetta, from July 1909. He became Major in the Army, March, 1907. On the outbreak of the European War, Major Buckle was on the point of departure for Albania, to take up a Staff appointment at Scutari, for which he had been specially chosen. The orders were, however, cancelled, and he rejoined his regiment, as Second-in-Command, at Richmond Barracks, Dublin, whence he sailed for France on the 13th August 1914. Major Buckle was present at the Retreat from Mons and the Battles of the Marne and the Aisne. He was twice mentioned in Despatches (8 October 1914, and 14 January 1915). He was killed in action near Neuve Chapelle on the 27th October 1914, while in command of his battalion. At this time the Royal West Kents held their position for eight days without losing a trench. The 'Queen's Own Gazette' published the following appreciation written by Brigadier General Grove: "The regiment has sustained a grievous loss in the death of Major Buckle. He was quite the finest type of officer that can be met. Thoroughly knowing his duty, and very strict in the performance of it. he was at the same time always gentle and courteous. He was most conscientious, and never spared himself as long as there was work to be done. It may well be said of him that he was sans peur et sans reproche". Major Buckle's favourite recreations were cricket, shooting, polo and racquets. He was a member of the Army and Navy Club and a Freemason, belonging to the following lodges: Old Wykehamists (London), Shakespeare (Spilsby) and the Baluchistan (Quetta). In 1909, he married Marjorie Ethel, elder daughter of Colonel C A Swan, CMG, and they had two children: Margaret Elizabeth and Peter Claude Matthew (born in May 1914).
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | (Queen's Own) Royal West Kent Regiment |