Ronald Macdonald Buncle
In loving memory of Ronald Macdonald Buncle 2nd Lieut. 3/1st Lowland brigade, R.F.A., died 16th October 1915, of injuries from accident aged 19 years, only son of Dr Alexander Buncle, Purston, Pontefract, Yorkshire, and of Annie, the devoted wife of Dr Buncle, who died 25th Sep. 1920; also the above Dr Alexander Buncle who died at Folkestone, 25th Feb. 1925, aged 78 years.
CWGC: 2nd Lt. R. Buncle, Royal Field Artillery, 3/1 Lowland Brigade; died 16 Oct. 1915 aged 19 as the result of an accident; next of kin Dr Alex Buncle, Purston, Pontefract, Yorkshire . Z. 61. Peterhead granite obelisk.
Ronald Macdonald Buncle was the only child of Dr Alexander Buncle and his wife Annie Bird. Alexander Buncle was born in Arbroath, trained in Edinburgh and practised in Yorkshire for the whole of his medical career before retiring to Folkestone in Kent. He married Annie Bird in London in 1895. She was born in Cumberland and was working as a teacher in Purston, near Pontefract, Yorkshire, in the 1891 census.
Ronald was born in Folkestone, Kent, in 1896, possibly because this was where his mother's sister, Barbara, was teaching. He was educated at Epsom College before moving to Edinburgh in 1913 to study medicine. He was a member of the 0.T.C. while at school and then at university. He enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery and received his commission as a second lieutenant on 22 September 1915. He was killed only a few weeks later when his horse took fright at a train, bolted and fell, kicking him in the head and fracturing his skull. He died three days later in Craigleith Military Hospital without regaining consciousness. He was buried in the Grange Cemetery with full military honours.
Edinburgh University Roll of Honour:
Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer, 19 October 1915; Dundee Evening Telegraph, 18 October 1915; The Scotsman, 18 October 1915, death; 20 October 1915, funeral