Name
John Rule
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
17/02/1917
34
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
36439
Princess Charlotte of Wales’ (Royal Berkshire) Regiment
1st Bn
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
REGINA TRENCH CEMETERY, GRANDCOURT
VII. D. 25.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Mary’s Church Memorial, Standon, Puckeridge Memorial Plaque, Standon, Village Hall, Standon, Not listed on the Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford, Not on the Ware memorials
Biography
John Rule was a Private, No.36439 in the 6th Btn. Royal Berkshire Regiment. He was killed in action on 17th February 1917 aged 34. He was formerly No. 5659 in the Hertfordshire Regiment.
He is buried at Regina Trench Cemetery, Grandcourt, Somme, France and his grave reference is: VII. D. 25. An inscription on his headstone says: May he Rest in the Lord.
Information from the C.W.G.C. says he was the son of T. & Mrs E. Rule, Fairfield Cottage, Puckeridge, which was probably one of the cottages just on the north side of what is now KB Tyres. The family, and indeed John’s Bentley grandparents had lived at that end of Puckeridge for many years.
John’s parents were married in 1879. His father Thomas, a labourer, was born in Brent Pelham, and his mother Eliza (nee Bentley), like all of their six children, was born in Puckeridge. The 1881 census shows the growing Rule family, consisting of Thomas & Eliza, with their 1 year old daughter Annie plus Eliza’s widowed mother aged 57 and younger sister Harriet, who at 13 was working as a domestic servant. John Rule was born 26th April 1883, and like many children from the village, attended Puckeridge Mixed School before moving on to the school in Standon (now Knights Court). In the admission register, his father’s occupation is given as brickmaker.
10 years on and Annie has siblings Louisa, nine – John, seven and William, five. By 1901 there are another two children, Alfred, seven and Gracie, aged two years. John is a working man by now and like his father is either described as a labourer or builder’s labourer. The family lost one child, Alfred in 1909 aged 17 years, then by 1911 only John and youngest child, Gracie are left at home with their parents, John still working as a labourer.
A brief obituary was found in the Herts & Essex Observer of 10th March 1917 which reads: "Puckeridge soldier killed in action – Mr & Mrs Thomas Rule, of Puckeridge, received the sad news on Monday from the War Office that their eldest son, Pte. John Rule, of the Royal Berkshire Regiment, was killed in action in France on February 17th. Only two days before he died he sent a field card to his mother stating he was well and this she received on the day of his death. His age was 34."
A week later, on 17th March a further article and photograph appeared:
"Puckeridge Soldier Killed in Action - Private John Rule – Before enlistment was employed by Mr Charles Chapman of Standon. He enlisted in the Hertfordshire Regiment on October 27th 1915 and went to France in July of the following year. He was a smart soldier and a good shot and was transferred to the Royal Berkshire Regiment. Barely two months afterwards he was badly wounded by a piece of shrapnel which went right through his left wrist. This led to his being in the hospital at Boulogne until the end of January, when he was able to rejoin his regiment. Shortly afterwards, on February 17th, he was killed in action by a shell. The deceased was a single man and 34 years of age. His parents mourn the loss of a good son, who has also done his duty as a true soldier."
Another local man, Alfred Smith (Alfred also has a biography) also in the 6th Battalion, the Royal Berkshire Regiment died on the same date as John Rule.
Following is a little background information about the action in which they fell:
The Actions of Miraumont (sometimes called the Battle of Boom Ravine) 17th – 18th February 1917 was one of a series of offensive actions in the early months of 1917, as the Allies kept up the pressure on the Germans. Three Divisions, including the 18th (incorporating the 6th Battalion Berkshires) were to attack German positions to the south and west of the village of Miraumont, aiming to capture the high ground overlooking the village. Unfortunately the Germans had obtained some intelligence about the forthcoming attack and heavily shelled the area where the attacking forces were likely to assemble. Several Battalions, including the 6th, suffered heavy casualties at this point.
Unknown to the Allied High Command, the Germans had decided a few days earlier, to withdraw to new defensive positions (the Hindenburg Line) some miles to the east; at best this action did no more that accelerate this withdrawal.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild
Malcolm Lennox, Di Vanderson, Jonty Wild
