The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Ludge
- First Name:
- Frederick John
- Nick Name:
- Fred
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX17778
- Company:
- 'E’ Company, Special Reserve Battalion
- Enlisted:
- 26.11.1941
- DOB:
- 1.02.1907
- Place of Birth:
- Claremont, Western Australia
- Father's Name:
- Frederick William Ludge
- Mothers's Name:
- Caroline Rose Ludge
- Religion:
- Church of England
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Labourer
- Memorial:
- Epitaph, Singapore Memorial, Column 136, Age 35.
- Cause of Death:
- Killed in Action
- Place of Death:
- South‐West Bukit Timah
- Date of Death:
- 11.02.1942
General Description
Fred Ludge was KIA on 11th February 1942 when ‘E’ Company ran into a Japanese ambush at South West Bukit Timah. He had been in the Army less than three months.
Please read about ‘E’ Company.
Kings Park Honour Avenue
‘Private Frederick John Ludge of 2/4 Machine Gun Battalion was born in February 1907 at Claremont. He and two sisters were born to Frederick and Caroline Ludge who later lived in Subiaco, Western Australia.
Frederick was employed as a labourer prior to enlistment and enlisted in the army at Claremont in November 1941.
After initial training at Northam, he was posted to 2/4 Machine Gun Battalion which was listed as one of the support units for 8 Division.
The unit left Darwin in December 1941, intending to sail for Singapore via Port Moresby.
As a consequence of enemy attacks at Rabaul, the convoy then went to Sydney and Fremantle eventually reaching Singapore at the end of January 1942.
The battalion was utilised preparing defences around Singapore and was then deployed to defend the Japanese attack which commenced on 8 February. Between 8 and 15 February, the unit suffered heavy casualties.
Private Frederick John Ludge, service number WX17778, was killed in action at Singapore on 11 February 1942. He was 35 years of age.
Private Ludge is buried in the Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore.
His plaque is placed alongside Private Harold Walker from the same battalion who died the next day.’
Fred’s parents married 1903 Perth and had two daughters Millie and Elsie, Fred was their only son.
Fred Ludge Snr was born in Bendigo to parents of Germanic descent.
Below: Fred’s great grandfather died 1903.
Below: Death of Fred’s grandmother, mother to Caroline ‘Rose’ Ludge.
Below: Fred’s grandfather died – father to Rose Ludge.
Below: 1925 the Ludge family celebrate Millie Ludge’s 21st birthday.
Fred’s father Fred Ludge (Snr) died at Geraldton in 1947.
According to marriage records, Fred Ludge married about 1928 to Kathleen E.L. Howard. Unfortunately we are unable to trace any further record of her or her family.
