John Thomas Budd

John Thomas Budd was born on 27th May 1893 in Balmain, NSW, to Herbert Norton Budd and Elizabeth, nee Sharkey. 

On 31st January 1916, he enlisted at Sydney, NSW. At the time, he was a single, 29-year-old tramway employee living at Beach Rd, Dulwich Hill, NSW. He was allocated Regimental Number 28861 and placed in the 1st Field Artillery Brigade. John gave his next of kin as his mother, Eliza Budd. After initial training, he embarked on HMAT A60 Aeneas at Sydney, NSW, on 30th September 1916.

During his enlistment period, he was also a member of the Medium Trench Mortar Battery, being transferred to that unit on 26th September 1917. 

Between April 1917 and July 1918, John suffered from a variety of ailments. These included nasal catarrh, septic arthritis, Vincent’s angina (trench mouth) and the effects of being gassed during the Battle of Passchendale. 

On 28th July 1919, he returned to Australia aboard the HS Kanowna, with the rank of Gunner. Before his discharge on 9th April 1921, he underwent a medical examination. The Board determined that he would only have 25% of his full capacity to work in his pre-enlistment occupation in the tramway. He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal for his service during the war.

John married Hetty Caygill in 1933 in Sydney, NSW. The couple lived at  7 Greenknowe Ave, Wentworth. In each of the Australian Electoral Rolls in which John is listed, he has no occupation. It’s quite possible that his disability, due to the ailments he suffered in the war, may have contributed to his being unable to find employment. He passed away on the 5th April 1959 at Marrickville, NSW and was buried in Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens, North Ryde, NSW.