Geoffrey Armstrong Buddle
| Geoffrey Armstrong Buddle | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
16 September 1887 Auckland, New Zealand |
| Died | 9 June 1951 (Aged 63) |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
 British Army |
| Years of service | 1915 - 1926 |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | Royal Engineers, 86 Field Company |
| Battles/wars | Gallipoli, Western Front |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Order, Military Cross |
| Other work | Ornithologist, Photographer |
Major Geoffrey Armstrong Buddle D.S.O, M.C (16 September 1887 – 9 June 1951) was an Auckland born naturalist, ornithologist, civil engineer and a foundation member of the Ornithological Society of New Zealand.[1] He was the grandson of Rev.Thomas Buddle, an early Methodist Missionary who worked in New Zealand.
Egg collection
Buddle built up a scientific collection between 1890 and the 1940s consisting of 461 eggs and 41 other assorted items. He gifted the collection to the Auckland War Memorial Museum in stages between 1931 and 1951. The collection contains specimens from the Subantarctic, mainland New Zealand, Stewart Island, Kermadec Islands and Canton Island (part of the Phoenix Islands in the Republic of Kiribati).Due to the size and scope of the collection, it provides important historical breeding records of birds and it is rated one of the most important bird collections in that institution[2]
War service
After graduating from the University of California, Berkley he was working in England as an engineer at the outbreak of World War One. He joint the Royal Engineers,[3] taking part in the Gallipoli Campaign and the Western Front (Somme and Arras).
He was awarded a DSO[4] "For distinguished service in connection with military operations in France and Flanders." (Awarded for bridge building under fire.)[5] He was seriously gassed, which led to long term health problems.
Auckland Museum
Buddle was acting ornithologist at Auckland Museum from 1943 until 1945, when the curator was away on war service, and continued as associate ornithologist from 1945 until his death. His notebook, diary, correspondence and photographic collection are held by the museum. He also took part in the solar eclipse expedition (8 June 1937) to Canton Island, in which he collection specimens for the museum (invertebrates and birds).
Publications
- 1938 Notes on the birds of Canton Island. Records of the Auckland Institute and Museum 2: 125–132.
- 1939 Some notes on the breeding habits of the dabchick. Emu 39: 77–84.
- 1941 Birds of the Poor Knights. Emu 41: 56–68.
- 1941 Photographing the spotless crake. Emu 41: 130–134.
- 1946 A second visit to the Poor Knights. Emu 45: 315–318.
- 1947 Notes on the birds of Mokohinau. New Zealand Bird Notes 2: 69–70.
- 1947 Breeding of the red-billed gull. New Zealand Bird Notes 2: 71–72.
- 1947 Contributions to the gannet census. VII. New gannetry off Karaka Point. VIII. Gannets of the Three Kings. New Zealand Bird Notes 2: 128–130.
- 1948 Contributions to the gannet census. XII. Gannetries north of Auckland, season 1947–48. New Zealand Bird Notes 3: 40–42.
- 1948 The outlying islands of the Three Kings group. Records of the Auckland Institute and Museum 3: 195–204.
- 1949 Birds of Three Kings and neighbouring waters. New Zealand Bird Notes 3: 147–150.
- 1951 Bird Secrets. Reed, Wellington.
References
- ↑ "Obituary" (PDF). Notornis (Vol.4 No.6). October 1951. Retrieved 2016-01-19.
- ↑ Gill, B.J.; Taylor, Michael J. (2012-01-01). "G.A. BUDDLE'S COLLECTION OF NEW ZEALAND AND CANTON ISLAND BIRDS' EGGS". Records of the Auckland Museum. 48: 29–44. JSTOR 42905924.
- ↑ "Geoffrey Armstrong Buddle - WW1 Memorial and Life Story". livesofthefirstworldwar.org. Retrieved 2016-01-18.
- ↑ "Supplement to The London Gazette". The London Gazette. 1919-01-01.
- ↑ "Geoffrey Armstrong Buddle". Auckland War Memorial Museum. Retrieved 2016-01-16.
External links
- http://notornis.osnz.org.nz/system/files/Notornis_4_6.pdf Notornis, October 1951 – Obituary
- Works of Buddle are in the collection of Auckland War Memorial Museum.