William Buckingham

He repeatedly crossed exposed ground to carry in wounded men

William Buckingham was born William Henry Billington at Bedford on 29 March 1886. After his father died, he spent much of his childhood in workhouses and the Countesthorpe Cottage Homes near Leicester. He trained as a tailor before joining the Leicestershire Regiment as a boy in 1901. He served in Egypt, the Channel Islands and India before reaching France with his regiment in October 1914.

At Neuve Chapelle on 10 and 12 March 1915, Private Buckingham repeatedly went into exposed positions to rescue and give first aid to wounded soldiers under heavy fire. He continued until wounded himself. His devotion earned the Victoria Cross, presented by King George V at Buckingham Palace on 4 June 1915.

During convalescence he returned to Countesthorpe and later assisted recruiting. He went back to France in April 1916, briefly held non-commissioned rank and reverted to private to rejoin the 1st Battalion. On 15 September 1916 he was killed on the Somme. His body was not recovered and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

Official Victoria Cross citation

For conspicuous acts of bravery and devotion to duty in rescuing and rendering aid to the wounded whilst exposed to heavy fire, especially at Neuve Chapelle on 10th and 12th March, 1915.

Supplement to The London Gazette of 27 April 1915. 28 April 1915, Numb. 29146, p. 4143