George Henry RUDDY

RUDDY, George Henry

Service Number: 2177
Enlisted: 26 February 1916, Newcastle, New South Wales
Last Rank: Corporal
Last Unit: 5th Pioneer Battalion
Born: Catherine Hill Bay, New South Wales, Australia, 1893
Home Town: Merewether, Newcastle, New South Wales
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Miner
Died: Killed in Action, Belgium, 29 September 1917
Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium, Poperinghe New Military Cemetery, Poperinghe, Flanders, Belgium
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Cook's Hill Superior Public School , Menin Gate Memorial (Commonwealth Memorial to the Missing of the Ypres Salient), Merewether Public School Roll of Honour
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World War 1 Service

26 Feb 1916: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2177, Newcastle, New South Wales
3 May 1916: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2177, 1st Pioneer Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Clan McGillivray embarkation_ship_number: A46 public_note: ''
3 May 1916: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2177, 1st Pioneer Battalion, HMAT Clan McGillivray, Sydney
29 Sep 1917: Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 2177, 5th Pioneer Battalion, Polygon Wood, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2177 awm_unit: 5 Pioneer Battalion awm_rank: Corporal awm_died_date: 1917-09-29

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Biography contributed by Evan Evans

From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery

Cpl George Henry Ruddy
 
One of the saddest aspects of my research is locating families who lost a son or sons during The Great War that are buried at Sandgate Cemetery who have a headstone, but there is no memorial inscription to tell us of the supreme sacrifice of their son for God, King and Country.

126 gravesites located so far, many more to locate, this is a typical example.

Corporal George Henry Ruddy, 5th Australian Pioneer Battalion (Reg No-2177), miner from 53 Morgan Street, Merewether, New South Wales, father of one (George Alan), was killed in action on the 29th September 1917 at the Battle of Polygon Wood, age 24.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138745505 - reported George KIA.
https://www.awm.gov.au/people/rolls/R1663778/ - Roll of Honour.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article159090805 - photo of George.
Born at Catherine Hill Bay, New South Wales on the 3rd August 1893 to George (died 1931) and Ellen Mary (died 1942) Ruddy of Alice Street, Merewether, N.S.W.; husband of Mildred Ruddy nee Jones (married 1915, died?), George enlisted February 1916 with the 1st Australian Pioneer Battalion at Newcastle, N.S.W.

Wounded in action - 20.7.1916 (multiple GSW, slight, Battle of Fromelles, George’s name has been inscribed on The Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial (Panel 31), Belgium. Memorial Service for George was held at the Morgan Street Presbyterian Church.

Mr Ruddy’s name has also been inscribed on the Merewether (Mitchell Park) Memorial Gates, Merewether Public School Roll of Honor, Merewether Advance Football Club Roll of Honor -  Merewether School of Arts Roll of Honour -  Merewether U.A.O. Druids (Rock of Hope branch) and the Cooks Hill Superior Public School Roll of Honour. Name would be inscribed on the South Newcastle Rugby League Football Club Roll of Honour. Name not inscribed on the Merewether St. David's Presbyterian Church Roll of Service/Roll of Honour.

There is no memorial inscription on the headstone of George’s parents, and I am unable to place a memorial cross, so I have placed poppies in remembrance of the supreme sacrifice of their son. PRESBYTERIAN-13SW. 92.

Younger brother Joseph Alexander (8th Battalion, Reg No-6852, born 1895, died 1961) also served 1st A.I.F.
Brother-in-law Edward (Jack) Stamford Jones (57th Battalion, Reg No-66227, DOD 3.2.1919) memorialised at the cemetery, METHODIST 3 (UNITING) G. 9., no memorial inscription.

Lest We Forget.

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