Budd, Harry

No.6294A – Private Harry Budd – 28^th Battalion AIF

Harry Budd was born in Hampshire England circa 1878 to Jacob and Lucy Budd. He was the oldest of several siblings, with Charles (1881), Fred (1883), Stanley (1885), Margaret (1887), May (1890), Sydney (1892) and Percy (1895).

In the 1881 Census, the family were living at St Anns Road 2 Caroline Terrace Tottenham in Middlesex. Harry grew up in England and attended the Putney Secondary School & Hounslow Technical School. In 1891, the family were living in Mortlake, Surrey. After completing his study here, Harry took up work as a Carpenter and Joiner. In the 1901 census, Harry is listed as 22 years old and living with his family in Hounslow St Stephen Middlesex, with the rest of the family in Isleworth Middlesex. In 1909 his mother Lucy died in Cornwall, and so Harry came with his father and siblings to Australia and took up residence at 97 Glyde Street East Fremantle (later renumbered to 53).

(Photo below of family in the late 1890's - Harry Budd back row centre)

When war was declared Harry offered his services to the AIF but through having defective teeth he was knocked back. On the 20^th October 1916 he tried again and was accepted for service with the AIF. He was given a fitness examination by the medical examiner and was found to be 5 feet 2 ½ inches in height; weight of 115 lbs; chest measurement of 34-36 inches; fair complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. His religious denomination was Methodist.

Initially allotted to No.88 Depot from 20^th October to 16^th November 1916, he was then transferred to the 24^th Reinforcements to the 11^th Battalion. On the 2^nd December 1916 Harry was subsequently transferred to the 18^th Reinforcements to the 27^th Battalion AIF. The 27^th Battalion was a South Australian unit but it did take a couple of reinforcement drafts from Western Australia. Harry trained with this group at Blackboy Hill Camp from the 2^nd to the 22^nd December 1916. Unfortunately there was to be no 1916 Christmas at home for the men embarked from Fremantle on the H.M.A.T. “Berrima” on the 23^rd December 1916. The group disembarked at Devonport England on the 16^th February 1917 and was sent to the 7^th Training Battalion at Rollestone on the Salisbury Plains. On the 25^th March 1917 Harry was admitted to Fargo Military Hospital with Influenza, but returned to the training battalion on the 5^th April. On the 22^nd May 1917, Harry left England to join the 27^th Battalion in France. At Le Havre he joined the 2^nd Australian Division Base Depot where a further two weeks were spent training. The reason is not stated in the records but Harry did not join the 27^th Battalion but instead was sent to the 28^th Battalion AIF. He joined them on the 12^th of June 1917 when they were out of the line resting.

The 28^th Battalion remained out of the line for an extended period and only came back into the line in August 1917. Much preparation was underway for the Australian’s role in the Third Battle of Ypres and the 28^th Battalion would be involved in the first phase of the Australians attack. The 28^th secured their objectives but during the assault Harry Budd was killed in action. It was reported that he had been killed near Zonnebeke by a shell on the 20^th September 1917. Unfortunately, no burial place was noted as the shelling became quite fierce after Budd had been killed. Harry Budd is therefore commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres.

Harry’s brother’s Frederick, Percy & Sydney also served in the war but fortunately returned home. Another brother was farming at Yorkrakine. Two sisters, May & Margie also resided in WA at Mt. Barker & Perth respectively.