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Lieutenant Peter Lacey Bucknall
Unit : No.8 Section, "C" Troop, 1st Airborne Reconnaissance Squadron
Army No. : 237712
Peter Bucknall was born in Lambeth, Greater London, in 1921, the son of Jack Harold Bucknall (born 1894) and Grace M. Bucknall (nee Wade) of Birmingham. He was granted an emergency commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Reconnaissance Corps on the 4th July 1942, having initially volunteered for the Commandos with his great friend Lieutenant John Christie, and was posted to what was to become the 1st Airborne Reconnaissance Squadron. As a section commander in "C" Troop, Bucknall served in North Africa and Italy from May to November 1943, and on his return to the UK in 1944 he was given command of No.8 Section.
On the 17th September 1944, he participated in Operation Market Garden. It was planned that the Squadron would race to Arnhem Bridge as soon as possible and hold it until the 1st Parachute Brigade arrived. Bucknall was in the leading jeep and was killed when it encountered Krafft's blocking line, just to the East of Wolfheze railway station. In the book "Remember Arnhem" by John Fairley, it says:
At 1540 hours the Squadron was ready to go and, apart from the A Troop reserve, only a small Squadron Rear HQ under Lieutenant QM Collier was to be left on the dropping zone. C Troop was to lead, followed by HQ Troop, with D Troop and the smaller Support Troop, with its Polsten guns, bringing up the rear. All were anxious to get under way, none perhaps more so than young Peter Bucknall, a single-minded and dedicated officer who, as commander of C Troop's number 8 Section, was very conscious of the crucial role which had been given to his own Troop. Personnel had been detailed off at briefing time for specific vehicles, but so anxious was Bucknall to be quit of Renkum Heath that he disregarded those arrangements and took on to his jeep the first three available men of his Section. These were Troopers Goulding, Brumwell and Gorringe. As the order to move out was given, Bucknall took off immediately with them, leaving his sergeant, Tom McGregor, to follow as rapidly as possible with the other members of the Section. It meant, of course, that there was a slightly uneven spread of personnel, in so far as Bucknall's jeep carried only four men and McGregor's had to take six, but this was of no tactical significance, since the men of the Squadron were used to such flexibility. As events were to prove, however, it is certain that Peter Bucknall's last-minute rearrangement assuredly saved at least one man's life.
McGregor, meantime, lost no time in getting his men aboard. With him, he had Lance-Corporal Thomas and Troopers Pearce, Minns, Barlow and Hasler and, by putting on a spurt, he succeeded in catching up with his Section officer. Ahead of Bucknall's two jeeps were the four of Sections 9 and 7, whilst the two vehicles of C Troop HQ brought up the rear. Already, they were making good progress and they knew that the plan was to run parallel to the railway by the minor road that went through the northern suburbs of Oosterbeek, and from there to the primary divisional objective of Arnhem Bridge. In theory it seemed quite straightforward - at the most a twenty minute run, then a short period of holding at the Bridge until the foot soldiers arrived. All very good - all too good perhaps - too good to be true!
Meanwhile, totally unaware of the unfortunate rumours that had filtered through to Divisional Headquarters, the Squadron's leading jeeps were grouping at Wolfheze crossing. It had been decided that, at least initially, standard "leapfrogging" reconnaissance practice would operate. This meant that, according to circumstances, either the twin vehicles of a single section themselves alternated, each in turn acting as leader, or else a whole section would fall back to let another come through and take its place in the lead position. Once overtaken, those behind then assumed the role of protecting the rear and flanks of their own forward elements. It was a system which provided for the maximum level of operational efficiency, and it had been agreed that, after the initial run of just under two miles, which would take the Squadron from its rendezvous point to Wolfheze, Peter Bucknall's 8 Section would take over from 9 and move into the lead. With this in mind, Sam Bowles clearly remembers executing the standard manoeuvre, by pulling his Section into the cover of trees by the side of a road which by then had dwindled to little more than a narrow dusty farm track. It was from there that Bowles still recalls seeing Bucknall's two 8 Section jeeps come through at speed, with 7 Section, led by Ralph Foulkes, immediately following. This had the effect of leaving Bowles's Section and the C Troop HQ under Captain Hay with the main covering role. Behind them, was the remainder of the Squadron.
Unsuspecting, Peter Bucknall's lead vehicle swept down into the dip and up the other side. As it disappeared from sight amongst the trees, firing broke out, at which point the second 8 Section vehicle, commanded by Sergeant Tom McGregor, had almost reached the lowest point of the dip. As McGregor and his men came into the open, Minns, hit in the stomach, tumbled out of the jeep. More firing immediately followed, and it appeared to be coming from several directions. In the wooded front ahead, Krafft's S.S. were using at least one heavy machine-gun and intensive fire from the embankment was being directed to the side and rear of the C Troop men below. McGregor, following standard procedure and perhaps conscious of what had already happened up ahead to Bucknall and the others, ordered dismounted action, and his men ran to take up whatever firing positions they could find in the unpromising and exposed territory that lay to each side of the road.
The whole of "C" Troop now became engaged in the follow-up action and after an hour Captain "Butch" Hay, the Troop Commander, decided to try and see if he could get Nos.7 and 9 Section's forward to help extricate the cut-off No.8 Section. "Remember Arnhem" by John Fairley continues:
The first part of the plan was carried out with relative ease. 9 Section moved with speed to the north side of the railway, came to within twenty yards of 7 Section's rear and then laid down a thick smoke screen in order to cover the remainder of its advance. David Christie noted at the time how, under cover of the smoke, they were then able to move forward and take up new positions about fifty yards in front of the 7 Section men. Despite that, Stacey, who was lying wounded and had been unable to move back with the others, was still a short distance further on. It was in the course of this move that a significant observation was also made by two of the 9 Section men, one of whom was Trooper Bill Chandler: "I remember," he says, "that we were down the slope, looking across the dip to the German side, when 'Midge' Miles spotted a burning jeep amongst the trees. We worked our way through the cover, and came out further down the slope; it was then that I could see Gorringe in it - he was dead." Miles and Chandler had glimpsed Bucknall's ambushed vehicle with the body of one of those who had been on it. They had no opportunity to investigate any further, because just then Chandler was hit for the first time. Recalling the episode, he says, "I remember dodging to left and right with 'Midge', when suddenly my helmet was cut by a bullet on the side and, as I lay on the ground, I realized that I had a trickle of blood running down the side of my head. 'Midge' said, "We'll laugh at this when we get back," so I swapped the damaged helmet for my red beret, picked up my Bren and got back into cover behind a tree.
In October 1944, the following letters were sent to his family.
Dear Mr Bucknall,
It is with deep regret that I have to inform you that Peter was killed whilst assaulting a wood on Sunday evening 17th September 1944.
His section were the leading section of the whole division when we started to move down to the bridge at Arnhem. He met some machine-gun posts in a wood during the first hour of the advance. He set off very courageously with his section to assault the wood but was killed with 3 of his men. The wood, however, was soon cleared and Peter's body recovered, he was buried on the Monday morning.
Peter was a personal friend of mine, his death is a great loss to all of us in the Squadron. He was so well liked and always so keen on his job.
It is difficult for me to find words to console you in your great loss. All I can say is that Peter gave his life for a very great cause. He knew as do we all that the operation at Arnhem was hard. This, however, did not sheer him away from doing his duty. He went into battle with a smile on his face as he always had knowing full well what was at stake. He died for his country which hourly grows greater and greater because of men like your son Peter.
I am,
Yours Sincerely,
(signed) J.Costeloe Captain.
2nd October 1944.
Dear Mr Bucknall,
I am in receipt of your letter of 5th October 1944 enquiring about your son, Peter.
I instructed one of my Officers to write to you some days ago and by now I hope you have received it.
Peter was killed at about 17.00 hours on Sunday September 17th. The task of the Squadron on landing was to make a dash for the bridge as soon as possible. Peter's section was leading the Squadron. He was killed whilst leading his section towards a wood which was held by the enemy. They fired at him at about 200 yards range hitting Peter and 3 others of his section. Our Doctor managed to get out to the men and got the wounded in, but Peter was unfortunately dead, shot through the head.
The following day when we eventually cleared the wood, Peter's body was recovered and Captain Hay, his Troop Commander, buried him.
Peter was a very great friend of mine and will be very much missed by those members of the Squadron who have been fortunate enough to survive. For you, all I can say is that you have my very sincere and deepest sympathy.
You will be sorry to hear that from the whole of Peter's troop there were only five survivors, 2 Sergeants and 3 men. All the other Officers are missing. The Troop unfortunately were caught in a strongly held ambush on Tuesday 19th September 1944 and these five men were the only members of the Troop to escape.
Yours Sincerely,
(signed) J.Costeloe. Captain.
Dear Mrs Bucknall,
I understand the unit have already written to you. I have just come out of hospital and I want to offer my deepest sympathy in the loss of Peter. I have known Peter for over 2 years, and in Africa and Italy had the pleasure of having him in my troop. We all knew his very fine qualities as an officer and a friend. It would be impossible to find two officers better respected by officers and men alike than Peter and John. Their loss is a very severe blow to the Squadron.
Peter was the first officer of the Squadron to run foul of the enemy. At the time of his death he was doing magnificent work. His powers of leadership were outstanding. The men of his section, number 8, would have followed him to the ends of the earth.
Major Gough is missing, so I take it on myself to send the heartfelt sympathy of every officer and man of the Squadron. Peter's place can never be filled.
Yours sincerely,
(Signed) David Allsop, Captain.
9th October 1944.
'An Obituary by an unknown author', was reproduced in the 1st Airborne Recce Squadron newsletter, No 29, February 1990.
Arnhem has brought to its culmination in the deaths in action of Lieuts. Peter Lacey Bucknall and John Alban Christie, a brotherhood which surely rivals that of David and Jonathan.
Peter and John met at Whitgift School as boys of 10, but then commenced a beautiful friendship which went on to the end. Both left school at 18 and in April 1939 together joined the London Rifle Brigade as Territorials. Called up on the day Germany invaded Poland they trained until the disastrous summer of 1940 they were transferred to an Anti-Tank Brigade consisting of units of LRE, London Scottish and Queen's Westminster's. A few months later both volunteered for the newly formed special service unit later to be better known as Commandos.
Together they underwent the gruelling training, principally in Scotland, and in November 1941 took part on a testing raid on the French Coast, the thrilling story of which has never been made public.
After 15 months service with the Commandos both were compelled against their inclinations to go for Commissions, and for the first time the boys were parted, Peter's OCTU being Sandhurst and John's Wales. Both in due course passed out with their Commission, Peter's in the newly formed Airborne Division and John's in the Gloucester's. This parting was quickly adjusted by John's transfer to Airborne, and once more the boys were together.
Then followed an enjoyable period, but progress was too slow, and a transfer back to the Commandos was begged of their CO. The later persuaded them that training to which they had been used, combined with both glider work and parachute jumping, which the boys found very much to their liking. They, of course got their second pip together and in April 1943 proceeded with their Unit to North Africa and eventually to Italy, landing at Taranto, in advance of the 8th Army.
They returned to England just before Christmas when John somewhat shocked Peter by getting married. This event, however, had not the slightest effect on their friendship which was so close, that in Airborne as in Command any arrangement for one was naturally taken to include the other.
The chapter is fast drawing to a close, both boys fretted at not being in action on D Day and despite repeated stand-bys, it was not until 17th September that their fervent wish was fulfilled and they passed across in the sky armada which descended that fatal day in Arnhem.
After many days of dreadful strain, advice was received of their death in action, together of course.
In the recent words of the Prime Minister "They did not fail".
Peter Lacey Bucknall is buried in the Arnhem/Oosterbeek War Cemetery, 16. B. 5, alongside his men.
Thanks to Bob Hilton for this account.
See also: Tpr Barlow.