Lance Corporal Fred J Budd

Fred Budd was born in Hastings in November 1917. At the age of 22, he joined 181st Field Ambulance RAMC at Guildford, Surrey, as a nursing orderly after basic training. He remained with the unit when it was converted to an Airlanding unit in late 1941.

He soon trained as an Operating Room Assistant and Plaster Orderly, moving across to one of the two Surgical teams in the unit. In May 1943 he travelled with the rest of 181 to North Africa and took part in the Airborne invasion of Sicily in July 1943. Fred was fortunate to be onboard the only glider of 181 personnel which did not end up in the sea. Under the command of Captain Rigby-Jones, Fred remained on Sicily for four days before returning to North Africa.

181 later took part in the invasion of the Italian mainland, arriving at Taranto in September 1943, until leaving for the UK towards the end of the year for England. In April 1944, Fred undertook at short parachute course at RAF Ringway with the rest of his Surgical team went on a short parachute course at RAF Ringway (two balloon and two aircraft descents) to enable them to stand in for a parachute surgical team should the need arise.

In September 1944, 181 took part in operation Market Garden and Fred went as part of the First Lift on 17 September 1944. On the first afternoon 181 operated from some houses in Wolfheze. The following morning, Fred was filmed with other members of the Surgical team by Sgt G Walker of the accompanying AFPU. This film was later shown in England and his mother recognised Fred when he appeared on the screen. Later moving into Oosterbeek and setting up in the Tafelberg Hotel, Fred remained here until the end of the Battle. He was finally captured with the rest of his surgical team after the 1st Airborne withdrawal. Moving to the 'Airborne Hospital' at Apeldoorn before being interned as a Prisoner of War, he remained captive until liberated in April 1945 by Canadian troops.

Fred died in October 1994.

Further reading

Niall Cherry, Red Berets and Red Crosses (1999), Robert Sigmond Ltd