Name
(Samuel) Frederick Budd
1897
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
29/03/1918
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
8132
Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
51st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CAMBRAI EAST MILITARY CEMETERY
Plot VII, Row B, Grave 68.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Christ Church Memorial, Watford, Not on the Tring memorials
Pre War
Samuel Frederick Budd (known as Frederick) was born 1897 in Tring to Samuel Joseph Budd, whitesmith, and Fanny (nee Saunders).
His parents married 26 Jul 1883 at Sts Peter & Paul, Tring, Herts. Samuel died 1934 in Watford aged 76, and was buried 29 August in North Watford Cemetery; Fanny died 27 Apr 1939 in Watford aged 77, and was buried 5 May, also in North Watford Cemetery.
Frederick attended Tring New Mill J.M.I. School from 2 Oct 1900 to 29 Feb 1904.
On the 1901 Census, aged 4 he lived in Tring, won 23 Mar 1918ith his parents at 4, Grove Road, Tring and on the 1911 Census, aged 14 he was living with his parents and sister Alice May (born 1906) at 27, New Mill Terrace, Tring.
Wartime Service
He enlisted as a Territorial Soldier in Hertford, in Aug 1914 as Private 7192 in 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. No Service Record was found for Frederick. He was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps as Private 8132 part of 51st (Highland ) Division at some time. This may have occurred as the Machine Gun Sections of each Battalion in the Division were formed in to 152, 153 & 154 Companies in Jan 1916. The division (with its MG Companies fought at the Somme in 1916, Arras, Passchendaele, Cambrai in 1917. 232 Company MGC joined on 15 Jul 1917.
On 19 Feb 1918 the MG Companies were merged into 51 Battalion. MGC and in Mar 1918 were involved in the Battle of St Quentin defending against the German Spring Offensive. The Division were in the defensive front around Flesquieres forming a salient and was strongly held by the British. The enemy decided not to attack it frontally, but instead drenched it with gas while attacking on either side. The pressure grew during the day, and from early evening the Division began a fighting withdrawal that took it over the next few days back several miles, through Beaumetz, towards Bapaume. In this fighting of a number of critical rear-guard actions, Divisional losses built up to a total of over 4,900 men, during this last engagement Frederick was wounded and died on 23 (or 29 in some records) Mar 1918.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £17 and arrears of £19 1s 4d was paid to his mother.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
