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Private ROBERT BUNTIN 2758212, Private, Black Watch (Royal Highland) Regiment. Age 21 Died 18.6.40
In March 1940, the 1st Battalion the Black Watch. joined the 5lst(Highland) Division in the Maginot Line, near Metz. Private ROBERT BUNTIN, (21), was
a member of that battalion. The so-called ‘Phoney War’ a period of inactivity since the declaration of war on Germany. This peace was shattered when the blitzkrieg (lightening war), was
launched. The German forces instead assaulting the Maginot Line, went around it, traversing the Ardennes, something that the Allies thought impossible fierce fighting broke out and the Highland Division
bravely held their position until ordered to with draw some five days later. Upon reaching Etian and Varennes, the news filtered through to the French armies were on the point of collapse, and a German
or break-through by an armoured division was beginning to drive a wedge between the Highland Division and the rest of the British Units, desperately tired. They withdrew to Paris, taking up a
defensive position at Abbeyville, where they engaged the German Front. Some success resulted, but the Battalion became fragmented, and was finally ordered after taking further casualties, to withdraw.
Despite some success the number of casualties grew, and along with the 4th Battalion the 1st were ordered to retreat to Dieppe, the evacuation of Dunkirk in the meantime was well underway. As the
1st Battalion fell back onto St. Valery, the Division surrounded, and with no possibility of escape, were and taken prisoner and spent the rest of the war in P.O.W. Camps. Scant reward for the determined
and brave rearguard action they had mounted for so long.
In their endeavours they had bought precious time for the British Expeditionary Forces and their allies to escape back to Britain via Dunkirk,
along with many others forming the rearguard. This miracle would not have been possible. It is not surprising then, that at the time, the men of the Highland Division felt very let down by those in
higher command. But as History records the fact, that the evacuations were able to take place, was a lasting memorial to their courage and determination, of those who survived, few escaped to fight
again. It is fitting to note, that after the successful D. Day invasion, the 5 1st Highland Division, returned to St. Valery in triumph, the town where they had been forced to surrender to General
Rommel’s Overwhelming forces some 4 years before.
Private, ROBERT BUNTIN was one of the casualties the Battalion suffered, badly wounded, he was one of those evacuated, and like so many others
brought back to this Country, those most seriously wounded, were taken to the large military hospitals for immediate attention. Robert Buntin was taken to the Royal Naval Hospital, Haslar, Gosport, where
sadly on Tuesday 13th of June 1941 he succumb to his wounds.
Private ROBERT BUNTIN was buried on Friday 21st June 1940, with full mi1itary honours. Laid to rest in the War Grave Section (See plan on back
pages), Row 1 Grave 4, and his final resting place is commemorated by a CWG headstone.
Lieutenant ALEXANDER BURNS R.F.C..Lieutenant, Royal Flying Corps. Age 24 Died 20.4.1917
Lieutenant Alexander Burns R.F.C. was serving with the 59th Reserve Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, he was born in
Indooroophilly, Queensland, Australia, and was 24 years of age.
On Friday the 20th of April 1917 he took off in DH1a aeroplane, service no A 1625, from Grange Aerodrome, the ascent was normal and controlled, and the machine rose to a height of some 400 feet. Without warning, the machine appeared to those on the ground to get of control, the machine dipped its nose, and the angle steepened, finally it nose-dived and crashed into the ground. Immediate assistance was rushed to the scene and Lt. Burns was taken from the wreckage of his aeroplane to the Queen Alexandria Hospital at Cosham, where he died of his injuries shortly after being admitted.
Lieutenant Alexander Burns R.F.C., was buried on the 26th of April 1917. He is laid to rest, Plot 29,
Space 58, and is commemorated by a Family Memorial headstone.
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