Name
Frederick Bunnage (Bunnidge)*1
November 1885
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 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.
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 1st January 1901 aged 17, Fred enlisted in London, Joining the Royal Marians, Portsmouth Division, with the Service No. PO/11207.
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.
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. In 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.
In May 1917 Fred transferred to Q36 (S.S. Puma or Peveril). 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 Counsil 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.
*1 Lemsford War Memorial has him as Fred Bunnage, which is confirmed on the family headstone, however CWGC records the name as Bunnidge. The headstone is in Lemsford (St. John) Churchyard. and the inscription reads:
ALSO OUR DEAR BROTHER.
PTE. FREDERICK BUNNAGE. R.M.L.I. WHO LOST HIS LIFE AT SEA 6TH NOVEMBER 1917. AGE 33 YEARS.
“peace, perfect peace.”
*2 Sailors Died in the Great War records the 10th as his date of birth.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Stuart Osborne, Christine & Derek Martindale, Hatfield Local History Society (www.hatfieldhistory.uk)
