Name
Henry Mark Ruddock
16 Oct 1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
15/09/1916
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
73832
Canadian Infantry
28th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
VIMY MEMORIAL
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Benington War Memorial,
Ardley War Memorial,
St Lawrence Church Memorial, Ardeley,
Memorial to Mark Ruddick and his Comrades, Ardeley
Bengeo School Memorial – Location TBC,
Winchester College War Cloister
Pre War
Henry Mark Ruddock was born 16th October 1895 in Ardeley, Herts, to parents Rev. Mark Ernest and Annie Josephine (nee Scott), he had one sister Agnes.
In 1901, aged six, he was living with his family at the Vicarage in Ardeley where his father was the Vicar.
After attending Bengeo Prep School he entered Bramston’s, Winchester College, from 1908 - 1913 and showed great promise as an athlete (Steeplechase). He was also a House Prefect. Henry was a member of the Officers Training Corps for three years, rank Lance Corporal. He left UK in March 1914 and at the outbreak of war he was in Canada, farming, his trade was a Farrier.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in the 28th Battalion (Saskatchewan Regiment), Canadian Expeditionary Force on 17 Sep 1914 in Regina. His Unit sailed from Montreal in SS Northland on 29 May 1915 for the UK, and after further training, landed in France Sept 1915.
In September they were posted to the front line and almost immediately suffered heavy casualties when a mine exploded near Kemmel.
In 1916 his unit took part in the Somme campaign and on September 15th they took part in the battle for Flers-Courcelette. At 6.20am his battalion attacked the German lines accompanied by three tanks, the first time they were used, their objective was part of Sugar Trench. Two of the tanks got stuck but the third reached Sugar Trench, both 27 and 28 battalions broke through the German front lines within 15 minutes.
The battalion war diary states ‘attack successful and objective attained’. During the attack Henry was wounded in left arm by shrapnel and was last seen heading back towards an aid station with another wounded man, neither of them were seen again. They were probably caught in the barrage from enemy artillery. Henry’s body was not recovered and he is commemorated on the Canadian memorial at Vimy.
In 1918 his mother erected a wayside cross or Calvary in
memory of her only son and his comrades which bears the inscription:
“For God and Country.
Mark Ruddock and his comrades.
September 15, 1918.” *1
*1 This appears to be the date that the cross was dedicated, the day after Holy Cross Day, not the date of Henry's death which was September 16th, 1916.
Additional Information
www.stevenageatwar.com, Paul Johnson
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Neil Cooper, Derry Warners
Paul Johnson, Ann Hacke, Terry & Glenis Collins, Reg Marjason
