William J Rudge Pte12109

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William J Rudge Pte12109

Postby MGC » Tue Oct 25, 2011 3:42 pm

I was wondering if you might have any records on Pte 12109 WJ Rudge?

He was my Great Grandfather & according to his Medal Roll Card at NA he transferred from the Royal Worcestershire Regiment to the Machine Gun Corps (18094), 7th Machine Gun Company, 25th Div. and was KIA May 23rd 1916 aged 23yrs, in France whilst serving with MGC.

I believe this was shortly after a noted German attack on 'Vimy Ridge' 1st May 1916.

I have been further able to trace his last resting place as Ecoivres Military Cemetery, Ecoivres, Mont-St. Eloi in the Department Pas-de-Calais, 8Km NW of Arras.

I would be particularly interested in his enlistment date if you have it & if he enlisted directly into the Regiment, his previous occupation, or if he transferred from another Regiment?

Regards, Ian
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Re: William J Rudge Pte12109

Postby Mike Jones » Wed Oct 26, 2011 7:36 am

Hello Ian,
Your G/Grand father joined the Worcestershire Regiment on or very close to 1st March 1910. Making him just above or below 16 years of age. He was awarded the 1914 Star (The Mons Star). He crossed to France with the 3rd Bn. on 12th August 1914. I do not have access to Ancestry to see if his service record survived the bombing in London. I am sure one of the other men will check for you. That of course will reveal all. He was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps on 1st Jan 1916. He was drafted with 25 other men. The draft was led by Sgt. J Simmonds, who was also due to be killed in MGC but a little later than your relative. Their Worcestershire Regiment numbers were replaced with MGC ones. Sgt. Joseph Simmonds got 18082 and the last man in the pecking order was Pte. Oakes, who got 18107. Your G/Grandfather got 18094 and standing next to him (His mate, I am sure) Pte Charles Poole got 18095. Their friendship was to cost one or the other of them their life. They were both killed on 23rd May 1916 and are both buried in Ecoivres Military cemetery. Plots 1 and 2 were all casualties on Vimy Ridge.
Others will be along to give you more information but I hope this helps a bit.
Regards Mike
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Re: William J Rudge Pte12109

Postby Tommy1418 » Mon Oct 08, 2012 8:12 am

SORRY IT'S TAKEN SO LONG TO RESPOND MIKE...MANY THANKS FOR THE EXTRA information...It turns out the incident of their death are recorded in 7th BDG COMPANY DIARY...On the night 23/05/1916, approx' 825pm, P78 B2 (I presume a map ref?), received a direct hit from a 6" H.E...Gun smashed up & team knocked out - KILLED- No.18094 Pte RUDGE; No.18095 Pte POOLE; No.10339 Pte GRIFFITHS - WOUNDED - No.10059 Pte. JOHNSTONE.
This would have been during the 1st German attack at Vimy.
I presume as this was a 4 man team that it would have been a Lewis Gun team ?

regards,

Ian
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