LONG SERVICE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 167, 17 July 1941, Page 6

LONG SERVICE

CAMP BANDMASTER

CAPTAIN BUCKLEY'S CAREER

Doyen of New Zealand bandmasters, Captain George Buckley, V.D., is perhaps the best known figure in the Papakura mobilisation camp. Wherever the band is to be found so also is Captain Buckley. As recruits, the men entering camp for training are met by the veteran bandmaster and his band, and from then on until they finally leave to join the forces overseas they see and hear his merry men from morn till night. Eittle wonder is it that Captain Buckley stands high in the estimation of the men.

It w r as the same band, though changes had taken place in the personnel, that played them out of Papakura camp when they left for overseas as members of the Expeditionary Force that welcomed the wounded soldiers on their return to Auckland last Saturday morning. And the gesture on the part of ihe bandsmen was appreciated to the full by the returned men. To Captain Buckley and his men it was no trouble to come into Uie city from the camp and play at i a.m. An Early Association First joining the New Zealand Military Forces when he was I~j years old. Captain Buckley is now in his seventwfirst year, and during the intervening years he lias, with the exception of one break, been associated with military bands. Thus it is that he can develop a lirst-elass band in a short time. Every band with which Captain Buckley has been associated lias won championship honours. He is said to be the only bandmaster in the Empire wearing the Volunteer Decoration for long and meritorious service.

Born at Port Chalmers, he joined the Port Chalmers Xaval and Artillery Band as a cornetist at the age of 15, and four years later he was its conductor. After weilding the baton for this band for five years he went to Wellington Garrison Band as sergeant under that well known musician, Captain T. Hurd, whose death occurred last year. Conductor In Auckland Four years later—in 1900—Captain Buckley accepted an invitation to act as bandmaster of the Wanganui Garrison Band, and it was in that town that he formed the Queen Alexandra's Regimental Band. Coming to the fore rapidly, this band had the distinction of winning the Dominion championship three years in succession. All the players "were trained by Captain Bucklev and their average age was 19. On leaving Wanganui Captain Buckley was presented with two gold watches—one from the hand and the other from the citizens.

On the death of Mr. Christopher smith he was appointed conductor of the Auckland Municipal Band . position he held from lf>3o to 19.>5. Captain Rucklev reorganised the then defunct Auckland Artillery Rand and acted as its conductor until the outbreak of war w hen, at the request of headquarters of the Northern Military District and the Auckland City Council, he agreed to organise a band fo>- the mobih-a-tion camp. The instruments now "in use at Papakura camp were loaned b> the City Council. Popularity Of Band The popularity of the band at the camp is known only too well to visitors, for it is heard everv Sundav afternoon playing in the cam'n proper or outside the hospital. Each morning the bandsmen have to be out of bed before "Reveille," as it is the band s duty to march through the camp at 6.15 in the winter and six o clock in the summer. that ( ] ocs not constitute all the dailv work of the band It has to be present at the mounting l th p c P u . ard - The busiest time f,,"r the Papakura camp band is when !i?. C r l . uts , ;iro arriving or when a fit ..iff is leaving for overseas. On <=ucb occasions it is not uncommon to smHr n 1 the camp t0 ,he railwav station, or vice versa, as manv is seven tunes in the one dav. the day the bandsmen have to practice and in addition thev are trained as an auxiliary fire bVieade The veteran bandmaster is alwavs to be found with them. Captain Buckley has had a varied and interesting career as a nu,<icuin Among his posses.--ions are come "d meda.s, gold and silver cornets and silver trumpets which he has won jiunng various band contest- His! ISO I T st win was at Oamaru in I ~ ' • as a member of the Wei 1 or St fir t G: ni iS ° n ■ nanf , l " hc account oil loi fn.-t place in the cornet =010 event. Shortly before the Great War won his Dominion championship. Australasian Championships i„7."r° after winning in a content for the first time. Captain Buck ft" v> ' cni to Australia, 1 where lu.tht.i_.-t. he took the Austra'a-r-n championship with the ' points His second Au=trai i*' ; m I championship l, e won at the Chris - church Exhibition, and his winnings' on 'hi> occasion were a gold corret' tm r' C "°- d "\ edals - Al •-•even con-! possVb 1 e 'pofn ts Bucklt> >' *»*ed r; »= uuckicv. ,s," fi aged ~0, is serving with the Ro-il in Kn?lan,J - Kk?°hii c i.ci. the \ounjerer son i • musically-minded and he was «tiidv* SfiurV• f ,& ,h0 LoirJs Co,SS:' xoriuin the outbreak of wa** ITo went to England and is now a nn 0I , ofheer m the Royal Air l-W V w Ph p':' M \V. r.-jr -. x v ' '/.>..... --I \p. - : '. A •'?" :n m (.! , • sci ocli'ouie.