Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Rudkin, a general labourer, born on the 24th December 1843 in Empingham, Rutland and his wife Catherine Rudkin (nee Phillips, married in the 4th quarter of 1867 in the Oakham, Rutland district), born 1849 in Southampton, Hampshire. Henry Lovick Faulkner was born in the 1st quarter of 1892 in Empingham, and was baptised on the 3rd January 1892 in the Parish Church, Empingham, his siblings were, John Thomas, a groom and gardener, born 1878 and baptised on the 21st April 1878 in the Parish Church, Empingham, George, a Private, serving with the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, born 1880 and baptised on the 12th September 1880 in the Parish Church, Empingham, Eliza, born 1888 and baptised on the 5th August 1888 in the Parish Church, Empingham, Emily Ada, born on the 2nd November 1889 and baptised on the 4th November 1889 in the Parish Church, Empingham and Douglas, born on the 1st June 1894 and baptised on the 8th July 1894 in the Parish Church, Empingham, all his siblings were born in Empingham, in March 1901 the family home was at Oakham Road, Empingham. In April 1911 Henry was absent from the family home at Empingham, residing there was his father, an estate woodman, his mother and siblings, Maria born 1882 in Empingham and baptised on the 24th September 1882 in the Parish Church, Empingham and Douglas, a gardener, Henry was employed as an assistant domestic gardener and was residing as a boarder at Glebe Cottage, Canwick, Lincolnshire. Henry also had the following siblings, Mary Elizabeth, born 1868 in Empingham and baptised on the 6th September 1868 in the Parish Church, Empingham, Sarah Ellen, born 1870 in Empingham and baptised on the 3rd April 1870 in the Parish Church, Empingham, Henry James, born 1872 in Little Bytham, Lincolnshire and baptised on the 10th August 1872 in the Parish Church, Little Bytham, John William, born 1874 in Empingham and baptised on the 26th April 1874 in the Parish Church, Empingham, Fred, born 1876 in Empingham and baptised on the 2nd July 1876 in the Parish Church, Empingham, Ada, born 1883 in Empingham and Eveline Sophia, born 1886 in Empingham and baptised on the 3rd October 1886 in the Parish Church, Empingham.
Henry enlisted/attested into the Regular Army on the Sheffield in 4th September 1914, and was allotted the regimental service number 11725. He gave his place of birth as Empingham, near Stamford, Rutland and age as 22 years. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as gardener.
His medical examination took place in Sheffield on the 4th September 1914 and recorded his apparent age as 22 years, that he was 5-feet 7¾ inches in height, weighed 140 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 33 and 36 inches, his complexion was described as fresh, he had brown eyes and his hair colour was dark brown and his physical development was described as good. The following distinctive marks were noted, scar, forefinger left hand.
During his period of military service, the following events of note occurred: -
Attested. 4/9/14.
Posted. To East Yorkshire Regt. Pte. 4/9/14.
Joined. At Beverley. 5/9/14.
Posted. To 7th Bn. East Yorkshire Regt. Pte. 5/9/14.
Promoted. To Lance Corporal. 11/?/14.
Promoted. To Corporal. 9/?/14.
Appointed. To Lance Sergeant (paid). ?/?/?.
Promoted. To Lance Sergeant. ?/?/?.
Posted. Lance Sergeant. ?/?/?.
Embarked. With 7th Bn. East Yorkshire Regt. 14/7/15.
Disembarked. 14/7/15.
Promoted. To Sergeant. In the Field. 22/10/15.
Admitted. To 53rd Field Ambulance, rheumatism. In the Field. 6/1/16.
Discharged. From 53rd Field Ambulance. 11/1/16.
To Duty. In the Field. 11/1/16.
Admitted. To 24th General Hospital, gunshot wound little finger left hand. Etaples. 13/7/16.
Embarked. Per S.S. Stad Antwerpen to England. 16/7/16.
Posted. To 7th Training Reserve Bn. Lance Sergeant. Allotted Regimental No. T.R./5/25334. ?/11/16.
Died. In Military Hospital, Cannock Chase, Staffordshire, acute pulmonary tuberculosis. 24/3/17.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 4/9/14 – 12/5/15. 251 days.
British Expeditionary Force, France. 13/5/15 – 12/7/16. 1 year 61 days.
Home Service. 13/7/16 – 24/3/17. 255 days.
Total Service. 2 years 202 days.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
SERVICE RECORD NOTE: In September 1940, as the result of a fire caused by an incendiary bomb at the War Office Record Store in Arnside Street, London, approximately two thirds of 6.5 million soldiers’ documents for the First World War were destroyed. Those records which survived were mostly charred or water damaged and unfit for consultation and became known as the “burnt documents.” As a consequence, the content and condition of the surviving records can range from good to extremely poor. The hand written information is, in some instances barely legible, and the number of pages that should comprise a full record, in some cases are either badly damaged or missing entirely, however where possible the available information has been transcribed so that it may at least offer the reader a little descriptive insight into some, if not all of the events and background information surrounding the period of service.