George Buckley

George Buckley (25 October 1866 – 10 November 1937) was a New Zealand farmer, soldier and adventurer. He ventured partway to Antarctica with the British Antarctic Expedition led by Ernest Shackleton.

Early life George Alexander Maclean Buckley was born on 25 October 1866 at his parents' homestead, Casteron, in the Christchurch suburb Heathcote Valley. His father was George Buckley, who at the time of his birth was a member of the Canterbury Provincial Council. Buckley had a least one sibling, a sister, Ruby; she would go on to marry Arthur Rolleston. From 1878 to 1880, Buckley boarded at Condell's House to attend Christ's College. The couple went on to have three children. He returned to New Zealand, joining the military forces in which he served until 1900. To conserve its fuel for exploring the Antarctic, Nimrod was towed south by the Koonya as far as the pack ice, which it reached on 14 January. During his two-week service on Nimrod, Buckley helped care for the expedition's horses and dogs. While the crew of the Koonya slaughtered ten sheep on deck and sent the carcasses to the Nimrod as fresh meat for their further journey, the sailors of the Nimrod gave Buckley a champagne toast before transferring him to a whaleboat and onto the Koonya for return to New Zealand.

Buckley moved to the United Kingdom soon afterwards, living near Crawley, in the English county of Sussex. He remained friendly with Shackleton, and it was while visiting Buckley at his home that Shackleton took ill with heart problems. Shackleton refused to seek medical care and Buckley had to send him home in his own vehicle.

First World War On the outbreak of the First World War, Buckley rejoined his previous British Army unit, the Hampshire Regiment, being posted to its 12th Battalion. He was subsequently appointed commander of the 7th Battalion, Leinster Regiment. In November 1916, Buckley was appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order for conspicuous gallantry during the Battle of Guillemont. In the 1919 King's Birthday Honours, Buckley was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for valuable services rendered in connection with the war.

Later life In his later years, Buckley continued to be physically active. He regularly sailed in the seas around Scandinavian Europe and also undertook extensive motor car journeys as far as the Balkan countries. He had recently returned from Turkey when he died suddenly in London on 10 November 1937. His wife had predeceased him in 1929.

Buckley is the namesake for two features in Antarctica: Buckley Island, an island proximate to Beardmore Glacier, and Mount Buckley, an ice-free peak, high, of Buckley Island. Both were discovered by Shackleton's Nimrod expedition of 1907–09.

Buckley owned Shuna Island in Loch Linnhe near Appin.