Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Rudkin, a bricklayer’s labourer, born 1852 in Blaby, Leicestershire and his wife Rosa Rudkin (nee Ellis, married on the 27th July 1875 in the parish church, Countesthorpe), born 1857 in Countesthorpe, Leicestershire. Arthur Joseph was born in the 2nd quarter of 1895 in Blaby and was baptised on the 27th February 1898 in the parish church, Blaby, his siblings were, Edward John, a shoe trade finisher, born 1878 and baptised on the 30th June 1878 in the parish church, Blaby, Eliza, a hose knitter, born 1881 and baptised on the 25th September 1881 in the parish church, Blaby, William Allen., a farm labourer, born 1883 and baptised on the 27th February 1898 in the parish church, Blaby, Mary Jane, a stocking seamer, born 1886 and baptised on the 27th February 1898 in the parish church, Blaby, Leonard, born 1888 and baptised on the 27th February 1898 in the parish church, Blaby, Ethel Lucy, born 1890 and Samuel Thomas, born 1892, all his siblings were born in Blaby, in March 1901 the family home was at New Street, Blaby. In April 1911 Arthur was employed as a shoe trade worker and was residing in the family home in New Street, Blaby, together with his father, a builder’s labourer, his mother and siblings, Mary, a hosiery trade worker, Ethel, a hosiery trade worker and Samuel, a chauffeur. On the 22nd July 1915 in the Blaby, Leicestershire district, Arthur married Florence May Spencer, Florence was born on the 18th September 1896, they had a son, Leonard Arthur, born 22nd June 1916 in Enderby. In the 1st quarter of 1920 in the Blaby, Leicestershire district, Arthur’s widow married Alfred Cyril Woodhouse. In 1939 Florence resided at 32, Green Lane, Whitwick, Leicestershire, together with her husband Arthur, a coal miner, born 2nd April 1898 and their children, Vera Doris, a hosiery trade worker, born 7th June 1920 and Raymond, a schoolboy, born 30th June 1928.
Arthur attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (For the Duration of the War, with the Colours and in the Army Reserve.) on the 10th December 1915 in Enderby. He gave his full address as Chapel Street, Enderby, Leicestershire, his age as 20 years and 9 months and his trade or calling as shoe hand, he confirmed that he was married. He gave his wife, Florence Rudkin of Langtons Row, Chapel Street, Enderby as his next of kin. His medical examination took place on the 10th December 1915 in Enderby and recorded his place of birth as Blaby, Leicestershire, his apparent age as 20 years and 281 days and that he was 5 foot 6 inches in height, weighed116 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 28½ and 31 inches. His physical development was described as fair. After attestation on the 10/12/15 in Enderby he was transferred as Private, service number 28256 to the Army Reserve on the 11/12/15. Mobilized on the 14/4/16. Posted to the Leicestershire Regiment Depot on the 14/4/16. Posted to the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 14/4/16. Transferred to the 9th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, and allotted the service number, 23848 on the 28/4/16. Transferred to No. 11 Infantry Works Company, Durham Light Infantry, and allotted the service number, 5568 on the 31/12/16. Transferred to the Depot, South Staffordshire Regiment, on the 6/2/17. Posted to the Depot Leicestershire Regiment on the 8/2/17. Transferred to the 4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, and allotted the service number, 7615 on the 10/2/17. Transferred to the Machine Gun Corps and allotted the service number, 90982 on the 29/3/17. Granted Class II rate of pay on the 14/4/17. Embarked from Folkestone to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 20/5/17. Disembarked Boulogne on the 20/5/17. Joined Brigade Depot at Camiers on the 21/5/17. Joined the 86th Company, Machine Gun Corps, in the field on the 6/6/17. Wounded in action, in the field on the 2/12/17. Wounded and missing, in the field on the 2/12/17. Regarded for official purposes as having died on or since the 2/12/17. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 10/12/15 – 19/5/17, 1 year 161 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 20/5/17 – 2/12/17, 197 days. Total service, 1 year 358 days. He was awarded the British War and Victory medals. Arthur’s widow and child were granted a weekly pension of twenty shillings and five pence to commence on the 12th August 1918. The following information was provided by Arthur’s brother Leonard Rudkin on the 20th May 1919, and was witnessed and signed by W. Young, Magistrate, Blaby Road, Enderby on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Widow of soldier, Florence May Rudkin of Langtons Row, Chapel Street, Enderby, Leicestershire. Children of soldier, Leonard Arthur Rudkin, born June 22nd 1915 of Langtons Row, Chapel Street, Enderby, Leicestershire. Father of soldier, none. Mother of soldier, Rose Rudkin of New Street, Blaby, Leicestershire. Full blood brothers of soldier, Edward Rudkin, age 42 of Rawson Street, Enderby. William Rudkin, age 38 of 20, Hall Street, Crewton, Derbyshire. Leonard Rudkin, age 32 of New Street, Blaby, Leicestershire. Samuel Rudkin, age 26 of 20, Wigston Road, Blaby, Leicestershire. Full blood sisters of soldier, Eliza Rudkin, age 40 of 45, Allestree Street, Crewton, Derbyshire. Ethel Rudkin, age 29 of 7, Granby Road, Aylestone, Leicester. Mary Rudkin, age 33 of New Street, Blaby, Leicestershire. Arthur’s surviving service documents are in poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 2 Dec-17 – IN THE LINE. The Company stood by for a further counter-attack but were not called upon. During this night the Company were relieved by the -?- Company and proceeded to billets in RIBECOURT.
The following casualties occurred.
90770 Pte. Fyles T. W. killed.
12067 Pte. Wallace J. killed.
115983 Pte. Brindley W. killed.
90982 Pte. Rudkin A. wounded and missing.
5 Other Ranks missing.