Name
Frederick Bunnage (Bunnidge)*1
8th November 1883(*2)
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
06/11/1917
33
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
PO/11207
Royal Marine Light Infantry
H.M.S. Puma
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL
27
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
UK & Other Memorials
Hatfield In Memoriam Book, Lemsford Village Memorial, We are not aware of any Cromer Hyde memorial, Portsmouth Naval Memorial
Pre War
Frederick Bunnidge was born in Cromer Hyde, Herts, on 8th November 1883(*2), son and fifth child of of Edward Bunnidge (a Traction Engine Driver) (B 1850 in Hatfield) and Mary Anne Bunnidge (B 1851 in Hatfield). He was baptised on 8th February 1885.
His family lived in a four room cottage in part of what is now Nos. 2-4 Cromer Hyde Lane. He was baptised at St. John's Lemsford on the 8th February 1885 and attended Lemsford School before leaving to work on a farm.
1891 Census records Fred aged 6, at school, living with his parents, brothers George 15, Joseph 9, Robert 8, sisters Emily 13, Daisey 4 and Mabel, in Cromer Hyde. His father as working as a traction engine driver. Fred attended St Johns Primary School in Lemsford.
In April 1897 Fred's mother died, aged 45.
On the 1st January 1901, shortly after his 17th birthday, he enlisted in the Royal Marine Light Infantry in London. Private PO(rtsmouth) 11207 was described as being 5ft 6½ inches in height (he was 5ft 9¼ inches by his 18th birthday) with brown hair, blue eyes a fresh complexion and a mole on his right cheek. At the recruitment centre at Deal he was taught musketry and to swim His first ship was HMS Trafalgar which he joined on the 1st January 1902. HMS Royal Sovereign and HMS Invincible were among other postings.
The 1911 census records Frederick Bunnidge, age 28, Private R.M.L.I., H.M.S. Roxburgh, 1st class cruiser, 3rd Div. Home Front, Portsmouth Harbour.
Immediately, from before the war he was serving on served on the newly built HMS Birmingham a light cruiser
Wartime Service
On the outbreak of War Fred was still serving with the Royal Marines. He served on various ships, seeing action at the Battle of Jutland ( 31st May to 1st June 1916) aboard HMS Birmingham. On the 21st December 1916, Fred transferred to the Royal Navy's "Q" Ship Service and joined Q19 (HMS Privet or S.S. Island Queen). "Q" Ships were heavily armed merchant ships, their weaponry was concealed, they would sail as lone ship hoping to lure submarine's into making surface attacks to save there torpedoes.
On March 12th 1917 HMS Privet, Q19, was attacked by the German submarine U-85 in the English Channel. When the U-boat surfaced they saw the crew of the Privet appearing to be about to abandon ship. In fact they were uncovering their machine guns. The Privet opened fire at very close range on the submarine and sank it. Frederick's share of the prize money whilst serving on Q19 was £13-3-4d. He left the ship on the 30th April 1917.
He joined Q-ship 36, HMS Puma, on the 1st May 1917 but sadly this time his luck ran out. He was killed in action West of the Straits of Gibraltar on 6th November 1917, when Q36 was hit by a torpedo from the German U-Boat, U-63 under the command of Otto Schulze. The exact casualty list is not known, Fred was one of them, he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. Posted missing presumed killed Date of Death
Q Ships operated out of the port of Queenstown in Ireland, hence their name.
Richard J. Busby’s book: ‘The Book of Welwyn’ suggests that Frederick witnessed the sinking of the first German submarine by HMS Birmingham on 8 August 1914, and that in 1916 he was rescued from a sinking ship at the Battle of Jutland.
The Bishop’s Hatfield Parish Magazine of October 1914: “Lemsford News – It is a pleasure and pride to know a Lemsford man, F. Bunnage, R.M.L.I. is on H.M.S. Birmingham.....” Then in December 1917: “Lemsford News – “the War has again brought sorrow to Lemsford homes. Private Fred Bunnage R.M.L.I. having lost his life at sea on November 6th. Private Bunnage who was born in Lemsford, had served eighteen years; at the beginning of the war he was on H.M.S Birmingham, when she herself distinguished herself by sinking one of the first enemy submarines but a wonderful shot; he was at the Battle of Jutland in the same ship. The ship to which he was afterwards appointed was sunk last year when he was rescued. Much sympathy will be felt for his brothers and sisters who live at Cromer Hyde. Only a month ago he was with them on a short leave.”
His sister, Mrs C Goss, of 16 Council Cottages, Marys Lane, High Barnet, Herts., was notified of his death.
Additional Information
His effects of £19, went to his sister Mrs C Goss, 16 Council Cottage's, Mary's Lane, High Barnet, Herts. His brother Robert Edward Bunnidge died in Rawal Pindi, India, on 22nd June 1906, aged 23.
Frederick Bunnidge's name can be found, together with other members of HMS Puma, on the south face of the Naval Memorial, Southsea Common, Portsmouth.
He is also remembered on his parents grave in St. John's, Lemsford north churchyard, row 3, plot 20:- ‘ In loving memory of Mary Anne Bunnage, who died 21st April 1897, aged 45 years. also Edward, her husband, who died 29th December 1905, aged 57 years. also Robert Edward, their son, who died at Rawal Pindi. India, 22nd June 1906, aged 23 years. also Joseph, their son, who died 10th September 1910, aged 29 years. also our dear brother, Pte Frederick Bunnage R.M.L.I. who lost his life at sea 6th November 1917, aged 33 years. “Peace perfect.peace.’
*1 Lemsford War Memorial has him as Fred Bunnage, which is confirmed on the family headstone, however CWGC records the name as Bunnidge.
*2 The Lemsford website’s research has him as born on I believe he was born on 8th November 1884, however his naval records give 10th November 1883, however his birth seems to have been registered in the first quarter of 1885 suggesting he was born in 1884. The 1891 census records him as 6 and given the census is usually in the early part of the year, that suggests he was born in 1884, but to confuse this more the 1911 census records him as 28 which would mean that he was born in 1883.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Stuart Osborne, Christine & Derek Martindale, Hatfield Local History Society (www.hatfieldhistory.uk), Andy Chapman & www.lemsfordww1.co.uk
