RUDDOCK, George Henry
| Service Number: | 2907 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 15 June 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Chertsey, England, United Kingdom, 8 January 1886 |
| Home Town: | Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Boarding School at Shamley Green, Surrey, England |
| Occupation: | Valet |
| Died: | Carcinoma of Liver, 1st Southern General Hospital at Edgebaston, Birmingham, England, United Kingdom, 5 October 1917, aged 31 years |
| Cemetery: |
Molesey Cemetery, Surrey, England Row C, Grave No.90, |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 15 Jun 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2907, 2nd Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 30 Sep 1915: | Involvement Private, 2907, 2nd Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Argyllshire embarkation_ship_number: A8 public_note: '' | |
| 30 Sep 1915: | Embarked Private, 2907, 2nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Argyllshire, Sydney | |
| 16 Jun 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 2nd Infantry Battalion | |
| 5 Oct 1917: | Involvement Lance Corporal, 2907, 2nd Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2907 awm_unit: 2 Battalion awm_rank: Lance Corporal awm_died_date: 1917-10-05 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
Geoff Harrison, Australia and NZ in WWI
2907 Lance-Corporal George Henry Ruddock, 9th Reinforcements, 2nd Battalian, A.I.F. Died 5th October 1917. (carcinoma of liver)
George was born in Chertsey, Surrey. Not sure when he emigrated to Australia, but he enlisted at Liverpool, New South Wales on 18th June 1915. he embarked at Sydney on the "HMAT A8 Argyllshire" for Egypt on 30th September 1915. Presumably Gallipoli bound. He got the 1914-15 Star, but I don't believe he saw service at Gallipoli.
The 2nd Battalion landed in France at Marseilles, after which they proceeded north by railway to staging areas near Hazebrouck. They were given a "quiet" sector of the line near Armentières to gain experience of trench warfare. And here we have a typical Aussie story: It had been hoped by the high command to initially keep the Australian presence a secret in order to gain some advantage from it, however, on 23 April it became apparent that the Germans had become aware of their arrival when a signal lamp flashed a message in Morse code from the trench opposite the 2nd Battalion's position stating, "Australians go home". To this, the Australians, despite orders against responding, replied matter-of-factly, "Why?"
Anyway, George was promoted to Lance_Corporal on 16th May 1916.
The 2nd Battalion's first significant action came at Pozières in July 1916.
He transferred to the 1st ANZAC Corps School on 5th May 1917.
He had suffered from a duodenal ulcer which flared up from time to time. In August 1917 it was bad enough that he was evacuated to England where he was admitted to the 1st Soutern General Hospital at Edgbaston, Birmingham on 16th August 1917. At some point cancer was detected and sadly he died on 5th October 1917.
He is buried at Moseley Cemetery, and today, we paid our respects.
Biography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”
George Henry Ruddock was born at Chertsey, Surrey England (according to information provided by his wife for the Roll of Honour she stated that he was born at Byfleet, Surrey, England) on 8th January, 1886 to parents George & Mary Ann Ruddock (nee Mitchell).
He married Annetta Mary Annie Moss in the district of Paddington, Middlesex, England in the December quarter, 1909.
A birth was registered in the district of Kingston, Surrey, England in the June quarter, 1910 for Annetta Mary Ruddock. She was born on 14th March, 1910 to parents George Henry & Annette Mary Annie Ruddock (nee Moss).
According to information provided by his wife for the Roll of Honour – George Henry Ruddock came to Australia in 1915.
On 15th June, 1915 George Henry Ruddock enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) at Liverpool, Sydney, NSW as a 29 year old, single, Valet. His next of kin was listed as his father – Mr G. Ruddock, Shamley Green, near Guildford, Surrey, England.
Private George Henry Ruddock, Service number 2907, embarked from Sydney, NSW on HMAT Argyllshire (A8) on 30th September, 1915 with the 2nd Infantry Battalion, 9th Reinforcements.
He joined 2nd Battalion on 5th February, 1916 at Tel-el-Kebir from Reinforcements.
Private Ruddock embarked for overseas from Alexandria on 22nd March, 1916 on Troop Ship Invernia & disembarked at Marseilles, France on 28th March, 1916.
On 16th May, 1916 Private Ruddock was appointed Lance Corporal while in France.
Lance Corporal Ruddock was on leave to United Kingdom from 21st November, 1916 & rejoined his Battalion in France from leave on 7th December, 1916.
He was sent sick to 3rd Australian Field Ambulance on 21st January, 1917. Lance Corporal Ruddock was admitted with Bronchitis & discharged to duty on 24th January, 1917. He rejoined 2nd Battalion the same day.
From 2nd February, 1917 Lance Corporal Ruddock was On Command at Signalling School in France. He rejoined his Battalion on 9th February, 1917.
Lance Corporal Ruddock was Acting Sergeant (without pay) from 2nd February, 1917 & reverted to Lance Corporal on 9th February, 1917.
On 16th April, 1917 Lance Corporal Ruddock was sent sick to Field Ambulance. He was transferred & admitted to New Zealand Stationary Hospital at Amiens on 16th April, 1917 with an Abscess. He was discharged to duty on 19th April, 1917 & rejoined 2nd Battalion the same day.
He was transferred to 1st Anzac Corps School on 5th May, 1917 & was taken on strength of 1st Anzac Corps School the same day from the 2nd Battalion.
Lance Corporal Ruddock reported sick on 5th August, 1917. He was admitted to 9th Casualty Clearing Station on 6th August, 1917 then transferred to Ambulance Train 20 on 8th August, 1917 – cause P.U.O. (Pyrexia (fever) of unknown origin). Lance Corporal Ruddock was admitted to 1st Australian General Hospital at Rouen, France on 9th August, 1917. He was diagnosed with a Duodenal Ulcer & embarked for England on 14th August, 1917 on Hospital Ship Kalyan.
On 16th August, 1917 Lance Corporal Ruddock was admitted to 1st Southern General Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham, England with a Duodenal Ulcer.
Lance Corporal George Henry Ruddock died at 1.30 am on 5th October, 1917 at 1st Southern General Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham, England from Carcinoma of Liver.
The body of the late Lance Corporal George Henry Ruddock was sent to his wife’s address at 280 Walton Road, Molesey, Surrey England.
He was buried at 3.30 pm on 10th October, 1917 in Molesey Cemetery, Surrey, England – Plot number C. 90 and has a Private Headstone. His death is still acknowledged by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/molesey.html
Click images to start slideshow.