enlisted:1st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)

rank: Private G/6151

died:15th September 1916

buried: no known grave

History

Frederick was the son of William Croud.

Frederick was a private in one of the oldest regiments in the British Army, the Buffs (East Kent Regiment).  He was in the 1st Battalion which was part of the British Expeditionary Force, and served in France from the first shots of the war, until the armistice. The 1st Battalion was in the 16th Brigade of the 6th Division of the British Army.

The 6th Division was under the command of General Sir Henry Rawlinson, and took part in the third phase of the Battle of the Somme in September and October 1916. On 13th September the 16th Brigade attempted to capture the Quadrilateral, a strong point between Bouleaux Wood and Ginchy village. It was a complex of trenches, and had impeded the advance of troops on the 9th September, but the attack on the 13th did not succeed, so another attempt was made on the 15th, when the general attack was planned.

In the Operation Orders, the Guards and the 6th Division were to attack and capture Morval and Les Boeufs.  The 16th Brigade were at the front on the right flank. Three tanks were to accompany the 6th Division, the first time that tanks were used. (Unfortunately two broke down and the third had to turn back)

Early in the morning of 15th September the 8th Bedfordshire and 1st Buffs, and other companies  attacked the 'Quad' from Leuze Wood, but they were soon pinned down by heavy machine gun fire from the Quad and Bouleaux Wood. Fresh attacks were ordered at noon but postponed until 5 p.m. when the Buffs and the Bedfords were relieved by the Yorks and Lancs.