Military Chat

William James Goff Budden born 05/05/1885 Portsea, England , was awarded the Croix de Guerre Belgium 1st Class .
Battery sergeant major, service No. 33299. possibly for bravery.

What I'm trying to find out is why he was awarded this mdeal, can anyone advise me how/where I can find out this information.

Many thanks

Do you know the date of the award?

Just posting whatever I find -
he seems to have been in the Royal Navy in 1900-01:

William James Budden
in the UK, Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services, 1848-1939
Name William James Budden
Gender Male
Birth Date 5 May 1884
Birth Place Portsmouth Hants.
First Service Date 5 Jul 1900
First Ship Served On D. Of Wellington
Last Service Date 25 Feb 1901
Last Ship Served On Juno
Service Number 358473


Then in WW1 he was in the Royal Field Artillery, and entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal:

William James Budden
in the UK, World War I Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920
Name William James Budden
Military Year 1914-1920
Rank Battery Sergeant Major
Unit Royal Field Artillery
Company WO 329
Regiment or Corps Royal Field Artillery
Regiment Number 33299
Medal Awarded British War Medal and Victory Medal

Also the 1914 Star:

W J Budden
in the UK, World War I Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920
Name W J Budden
Military Year 1914
Rank Corporal
Unit 27th Brigade. Royal Field Artillery
Company WO 329
Regiment or Corps Royal Field Artillery
Regiment Number 33299
Medal Awarded 1914 Star


Where did you find the information about the Croix de Guerre?


You can order a copy of his service record if you have the right information:

https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-records-of-service

In India in 1921:

William James Budden
in the 1921 England Census
Name William James Budden
Gender Male
Nationality British
Marital Status Married
Age 36 Years 1 Month
Estimated Birth Year 1885
Birth Place Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
Residence Date 1921
Residence Place Army, Armed Forces Overseas
Rank Battery Serjeant Major
Branch or Arm of Service R F A
Occupation Code 813/6
Employer Code 701
Inhabited Y
Vessel Description 121st Battery, Royal Field Artillery
Registration District Army
Registration District Number ALL
Sub registration district India (Part)
Schedule Type Code Nm
Household Members (Name)

And living in Surbiton in 1939, "incapacitated".

UK, Soldiers Awards from the London Gazette, 1898-1944

Full Name Budden, William James
Resided Place Medstead, Alton
Rank Name Battery Serjeant Major
Service Number 33299
Gazette Info
Gazette Number 30631. His Majesty the King of the Belgians confirms the award of the 'Croix de Guerre'. His Majesty the King has given unrestricted permission in all cases to wear the decorations and medals in question.
Gazette Date 15 Apr 1918
Gazette Page 4529
Service British Army
Regiment Royal Field Artillery

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30631/supplement/4529

Might be worth a read here -

https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/260708-belgian-croix-de-guerre/

"The medal could only be earned by foreign nationals for acts of heroism conducted on Belgian soil."

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C134646

Although William was "Gazetted" in April 1918, it is likly that the action that lead to him being awarded the Croix de Guerre, was several weeks/months earlier as The German Spring Offensive commenced in March 1918.

27th Brigade Royal Field Artillery ( 119, 120 and 121 Batteries and an Ammunition Column) was part of a larger contingent of soldiers called a Division. In this case 5th Division. 5th Divison was comprised of Infantry, Artillery, Engineers, a Signal Company, Vets and a Divisonal Train (Horse drawn, not tracked). You will have probably noticed that 121 Battery was also William's assigned deployment in India in 1921.

5th Division's movement can be seen in an Order of Battle (ORBAT). The ORBAT identifies amongst other things the Battles the Division was engaged in. In this case

The Third Battle of Ypres ( 1917)

The Battle of Polygon Wood ( X Corps, 2nd Army) (1 – 3 October)
The Battle of Broodseinde (X Corps), 2nd Army (4 October)
The Battle of Poelcapelle (X Corps,2nd Army) (9 October)
The Second Battle of Passchendaele (X Corps, 2nd Army) (26 October – 10 November)

Prior to the Third Battle of Ypres, 5th Division was engaged in the Battle of Arras, Arras is in France.

Further informatin regarding the ORBAT can be found here
Order of Battle of Divisions Part 1 - The Regular British Divisions (History of the Great War based on Official Documents) by Major A F Becke

https://archive.org/details/order-battle-divisions-p-1

So as his Croix de Guerre was awarded for bravery,three years or more of service on the front line, or for good conduct on the battlefield, by the King of Belgium we could conclude that it may have been as a result of events during the Third Battle of Ypres in 1917.

You may never know the exact reason his CDG was awarded

HOWEVER........

27th Brigade have War Diaries

These are available FREE if you register and sign in to the National Archives website

WO 95/1529- 27 Brigade Royal Field Artillery 1914 Aug. - 1916 Oct.
WO 95/1530 - " 1916 Nov. - 1917 Apr.
WO 95/1531/1 " 1917 May - Nov.
WO 95/1531/2 " 1918 Apr. - 1919 Mar

The Diaries outline the day-to-day activities of the Brigade. There MAY be a mention in the War Diaries which specifically names William's action in 1917/1918 which lead the award. (You may wish to retire to a favourite chair with suitable liquid refreshment at the ready, if you intend to enjoy some light reading.....)

Although, try not to get overly excited about the prospect of a mention in the War Diaries as this was usually reserved for the activities of Officers !!! But not always.........

William Medal Roll Index Card shows that he first entered the War, on a qualifying date of 14th August 1914. This meant that because he was engaged with the enemy/ under fire between 5 August and 22 November 1914 he qualified for the 1914 (Mons) Star and would forever be known as an "Old Contemptible".

Neither Fold3 nor Ancestry shows any other Gallantry awards for him which leads me to believe that his actions were not also recognised by the British Army.

Regarding William and the Navy......

He was discharged as "Unsuitable". No other explanation given.

National Archives record available here:

ADM 188/543/358473

If you have an Ancestry subscription, 27 Brigade's War Diaries are also available there - though you'll have to trawl through hundreds of closely handwritten pages in the hope of finding any mention of him.

https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/317805-belgian-croix-de-guerre/

States that the honour was awarded 30/01/1918.................record from FMP

Someone here may be able to help/advise you:-

https://unitedkingdom.diplomatie.belgium.be/en

William is in a number of GR trees - none of which appear to be yours. Try making contact........one of them may have details.

T hank you everyone. I have lots of avenues to go down now. Your help is very much appreciated.