BROYD, Frederick


3/7040, Private, Frederick BROYD
Aged 29


2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Died of his Wounds on Friday, 25th August 1916

An Old Contemptible

Frederick BROYD was born in Stanbourne, Essex (Braintree Q4-1887 4A:572), son of John and Sarah Ann BROYD (née PLAYLE). From this birth registration CWGC have his age recorded as 2 years older, he probably lied about his age on enlistment. He was a Regular.

1891 census...Aged 3, he was at 7 Gant's Farm, Finchingfield with his father John BROYD [30] blacksmith,born Finchingfield; his mother Sarah [30]; brothers Arthur [6], William [4] and Percy [11 months]. All except his father were born in Stanbourne.

1901 census...Aged 13, cow boy on farm, he was at Spring Hall, West Wratting with his parents, brothers Arthur (horse man) and William (stable lad), together with Frederick they are now recorded as born in Finchingfield, Percy and John [8] both born Cornish Hall End, Finchingfield, and Frank [4], born Steeple Bumpstead; sisters Nellie [6] born Steeple Bumpstead and Gladys [9 months] born Great Wratting.

1911 census...Aged 23, a farm labourer, he was at Dungate Cottages, West Wratting with his parents; brothers Arthur (horse man), Percy (shepherd), John (groom), these with Fred all recorded now as born Finchingfield, Frank and George [6] born Great Wratting and a boarder, Winifred Annie [4] born Great Bradley. Two of the 10 siblings had died.

His parents must have then moved to Balsham, since that is their address on CWGC and also father John died and was buried in Balsham in 1916.

His younger brother Frank died at home in 1919 after release as a prisoner of war. see here



He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds. He would have been a Regular as he was in France by August 1914 but his Army service records have not been found.

Dying of wounds, and at a base hospital it is impossible to surmise where or when he was wounded. The battalion had been in the Trones Wood area in August before marching back to the Loos area.



photo: Rodney Gibson



Frederick Broyd is buried in Abbeville Communal Cemetery, 6:H:13

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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