When Fred Brudenall signed up for the Northamptonshire Regiment on the 11th October 1915 he was aged 22 years and 2 months, and he lived at 8 Albion Place with his parents William George & Annie Sophia. He worked for Fred Knight as a shoe hand, and was 5' 8" tall, weighed 136 pounds with a 34" chest (2½" expansion).

At first he was assigned to the 8th Battalion, and then to the Pioneer Depot, and then was sent to France with the 5th Battalion Expeditionary Force on the 1st of March 1916. After being wounded with a gun shot wound to his thigh, Fred was sent back to Bradford War Hospital in July 1916, and was then granted furlough from 4th-14th August 1916. On 4th October he went back to Etaples to re-join the 5th. After a furlough from 2nd-12th July 1918 he was assigned to the 3rd Battalion and then to the 6th Battalion when he returned to France on 19th August 1918. A month later he was wounded by a gun shot in his back and died the following day at 55 Casulaty Clearing Station.

His mother was upset when Fred's Scroll of Honour was accidently destroyed, and she asked Fred Knight who was a J.P. if he could help her to get a new copy. So a letter was sent to Army Records, and Fred Knight offered to defray any expenses if they might please send a replacement, and this was granted.

Bullet in the Right Leg - Rushden Steelback Wounded In the Great Advance - Trying Conditions

Mr and Mrs W Brudenall, of 8 Albion-place, Rushden, have received news that heir son, Private Fred Brudenall, 208030, was wounded on the morning of July 8th, a bullet entering his right thigh. The news was contained in a letter which Mr and Mrs W Brudenall received from the wounded soldier's aunt, Mrs Ekins, of Bradford, to which place Pte Brudenall was taken from France. He is going on very nicely at Bradford Hospital, according to a letter which his parents received from him on Monday morning, but he as a swollen face and his eye is "bunged up", presumably as a result of the trying atmosphere and conditions of life in the trenches.

Private Brudenall enlisted in October, 1915, and went out to France last March. He is 22 years old and formerly worked for Messrs. Walter Sergeant and Co., and before that for Mr Fred Knight. Just over 12 months ago Pte Brudenall had a serious spell of illness, contracting double pneumonia. However, he grew well enough to pass for the Army, and since then he was been a picture of health.

His brother, Trooper Frank Brudenall, is in the Northants Yeomanry as present on home service.

Rushden’s Casualty List

We are sorry to learn that Mr and Mrs W. Brudenall, of 8, Albion-place, Rushden, have received news that their third son, Pte. Fred Brudenall, Northants Regiment, died of wounds in France on September 19th.  The grieving news is sent by the Rev. C. V. C. Cogan, C.F., who writes from the 55th Casualty Clearing Station, under date Sept. 20th:  “I deeply regret to say that your boy, Pte. Fred Brudenall, Northants Regiment, passed away here yesterday.  He was wounded in the back, and although everything possible was done he passed away after being with us for 48 hours.  It will comfort you to know he suffered very little pain.  He will be laid to rest in the Military cemetery at ––––, and his grave will be cared for.”  The late Pte. Brudenall was 25 years of age and joined the Colours about three years ago.  He went to France about four months after enlistment, and five months later returned to England with a wound in the thigh.  He returned to France for a further 14 months, being then invalided home suffering from trench fever and gas.  He only returned to the Western front five weeks ago, and remained safe and well until the day he met his death.  In the last letter his mother received from him, written three days before he was hit, he wrote in bright and cheerful strain.  Before joining the Colours Pte. Brudenall was a keen football enthusiast.  Mr and Mrs Brudenall have another soldier son, Gunner Frank Brudenall, Machine Gun Corps, who has been a prisoner in Germany since April 4th this year.  He writes that he is all right and now being well treated, although for the first few weeks it was pretty rough.  Another son, Pte. G. Brudenall, Yorks Regiment, is now home on draft leave and expects to leave for abroad almost immediately.

Third Time Fatal - Rushden Soldier Dies of Wounds

Mr and Mrs W Brudenall, of 8 Albion-place, Rushden, have been informed by a chaplain that their son, Pte Fred Brudenall, Northants Regiment, died of wounds on Sept. 19th. He says:- "He was wounded in the back and although everything possible was done he passed away after being with us for 48 hours. It will comfort you to know he suffered very little pain. He will be laid to rest at the military cemetery at Dorngt, and his grave will be cared for". Pte Brudenall, who was 25 years of age, enlisted on Oct. 11th, 1915, and went to France in February, 1916. He was formerly employed by Messrs. Sargent and Co., boot manufacturers, Rushden, though he had worked for Mr Fred Knight, boot manufacturer for several years. After about five months in France he was wounded in the right thigh and came to England. He returned to France after three months. The deceased soldier was invalided home in June last suffering from gas effects and trench fever, and was returned to the front in August. His brother Gunner Frank Brudenall is a prisoner of war in Germany, and another brother Pte George Brudenall, is now home on leave.