Name
(Theodore) William Rudd
1885
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
22/08/1917
30
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
27515
Somerset Light Infantry
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panel 41 to 42 and 163A.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin
Pre War
Theodore William Rudd was born in 1885 in Hitchin and christened on 8 April 1886 in Holy Savior Church, Hitchin. His parents were Fred and Charlotte Susannah Rudd (née fuller), who had married on 30 January 1876, in Islington, where they were both living at the time and Fred was working as a carpenter. Later he seems to have been know as William.
In 1891 the family were living at Gosmore, near Hitchin. Present were both parents: Fred (37) and Charlotte (38), with Fred working as a carpenter. Their children were: Samuel (13), Fred (11), Daniel (8), Theodore W (5) and Jessie C (3).
In 1901 the family were now living at Storehouse Lane, Hitchin. Present were both parents (Charlotte now recorded as Susan), with William now working as a compositor in the print industry. The children listed included all those listed above except Fred and Theordore William – now just William, was 15 and working as a tinker.
By 1911 William – now recorded as William Theodore was working as a carpenter and boarding at the house of the Fullbrook family at 31 Gladstone Road, Dartford, Kent. His parents and sister, Jessie, were still living at 7 Storehouse, Hitchin. Fred returning to carpentry. The census recorded they had been married for 35 years with 9 children, of whom 4 had died.
His father died in 1914 aged 60 and his mother remarried in 1915, marrying Frank Bailey.
He enlisted, late in 1915.
Officially William was recorded as born in Hitchen(sic), Herts. and enlisting in Dartford, Kent.
Wartime Service
At first he was given the Regimental Number 4949 in the London Regiment. Later he was transferred to the 6th Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry and given the Regimental Number 27515. This Battalion was in the 43rd Brigade of the 14th Division being part of II Corps in the 5th Army. He had been in the army for nineteen months before he was killed in action.
His death coincides with the end of the Battle of Langemarck in fighting for Inverness Copse where the Battalion fought valiantly and suffered heavy casualties. This is half a mile east of Hooge on the Ypres to Menin Road.
He has no known grave, but is remembered on Panels 41 and 42 of the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing in Belgium.
Additional Information
His mother was Mrs Bailey of 15, Queen Street, Hitchin and his brother was Mr D. Rudd of 9, Storehouse Lane, Hitchin.
After his death £4 1s 5d pay owing was authorised to go to his mother, recorded as Charlotte S Bailey, on 17 January 1918. Later, a war gratuity of £6 was authorised to be paid to her on 25 November 1919.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
