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 bricklayer, born in the April quarter of 1848 in Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire and baptised on the 25th December 1848 in Holy Trinity Church, Barrow upon Soar (son of William Rudkin, 1821-1897 and Eliza Bonser, 1822-1886) and his wife Emma Rudkin (nee Firth, married on the 14th August 1877 in Christ Church, Leicester), born in the July quarter of 1845 in Leicester and baptised on the 13th September 1846 in St. Margaret’s Church, Leicester (daughter of George Firth, 1811-1871 and Ann Hancock, 1818-1893). John Samuel, a schoolboy was born in the October quarter of 1882 in Leicester, he had one sibling, a brother, William Henry, a schoolboy, born in the October quarter of 1880 in Leicester and baptised on the 26th June 1881 in St. Saviour’s Church, Leicester, in April 1891 the family home was at Chatsworth House, Orange Street, Wigston Magna, Leicestershire.
In March 1901 John was employed as a bricklayer and was residing in the family home at 7, Clifford Street, Wigston Magna, together with his father, a bricklayer, his mother and brother William, a bricklayer.
John’s father died, aged 61 on the 26th October 1909 in South Wigston.
In April 1911 John was employed as a bricklayer and was residing in the family home at 7, Clifford Street, South Wigston, together with his widowed mother and brother William, an insurance agent, also residing in the family home was his brother’s wife, Mary Jane Rudkin (nee Aspell, married on the 1st June 1909 in the Church of St. Thomas the Apostle, Glen Parva and South Wigston), born in the January quarter of 1883 in Lutterworth, Leicestershire and baptised on the 7th October 1883 in St. Mary’s Church, Lutterworth (daughter of Thomas William Aspell and Ruth Loyly) and their son, Harold William Firth, born on the 27th October 1910 in South Wigston, Leicestershire and baptised on the 18th December 1910 in the Church of St. Thomas the Apostle, Glen Parva & South Wigston.
John married Laura Harrison on the 3rd April 1915 in All Saint’s Church, Wigston Magna, Laura was born in the April quarter of 1882 in Wigston (daughter of George Harrison, 1840 and Ann Bruin, 1843). John and Laura had a son, William John, born on the 10th May 1918 in Wigston and baptised on the 23rd June 1918 in All Saint’s Church, Wigston Magna.
John enlisted/attested into the Regular Army on the 11th December 1915 in Leicester, and was allotted the regimental service number 30468. He gave his age as 33 years 26 days. His marital status was given as married and his trade or calling as bricklayer. He gave his present address as 80, Cherry Street, Wigston Magna, Leicestershire.
He confirmed that he had previously served with the Coldstream Guards, 12 years.
His medical history was compiled during an examination that took place in Glen Parva Barracks, Leicester on the 27th May 1916 and recorded his birthplace as Leicester, declared age as 33 years 195 days, trade or occupation as bricklayer, that he was 6-feet 1½ inches in height, weighed 190 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 38½ and 40½ inches, his physical development was described as [not recorded], his vision was described as R.E.-V=6. L.E.-V=6. Enlisted at Leicester on the 11th December 1915. Joined on enlistment Leicestershire Regt. Regimental No. 30468. Transferred to 16th Labour Battalion Yorkshire Regt. Regimental No. 31759.
His description on enlistment recorded his apparent age as 33 years 26 days, height 6-feet 1½ inches and chest measurement of between 38½ and 40½ inches. The following distinctive marks were noted, [none recorded].
He gave his next of kin as his wife, Laura Rudkin, 80, Cherry Street, Wigston Magna, Leicestershire.
The compilation of events that occurred during his period of military service are taken from the following sources: - Casualty Form – Active Service (B.103). Statement of the Services of. Military History Sheet.
Attested. 11/12/15.
To Army Reserve. 12/12/15.
Mobilized. 7/7/16.
Posted. To Depot Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 7/6/16.
Transferred. To 20th Labour Bn. Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regt. Pte. 10/6/16.
Transferred. To 16th Labour Bn. Yorkshire Regt. Pte. 10/6/16.
Posted. To Brocklesby Camp. 11/6/16.
Appointed. Lance Corporal (paid). 19/6/16.
Embarked. To join the British Expeditionary Force, France. 11/7/16.
Disembarked. 12/7/16.
Admitted. To Canadian Stationary Hospital, Le Havre, V.D.H. Mitral, Date not known.
Transferred. To England per Hospital Ship Maheno. 16/10/16.
Admitted. To Mercers Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. 18/10/16.
Posted. To Depot Yorkshire Regt. L/Cpl. 18/10/16.
Transferred. To Princess Patricia’s Hospital, Bray, Ireland. 16/12/16.
Discharged from hospital to furlough. Fit for duty I. 29/12/16.
Posted. To 3rd Bn. Yorkshire Regt. L/Cpl. 13/1/17.
Transferred to Army Reserve Class “W” under the conditions of A.C.I. 327 of 1917 and N.C. Order No.339 of 1917. 31/3/17.
Discharged no longer physically fit for war service under A.C.I. 550 of 1917. As amended by A.C.I. 1038 of 1917. V.D.H. Mitral incompetence. 7/9/17.
The date from which any pension this man may be awarded has effect is. 21/4/17.
Not to be compulsorily posted for service under the Military Service (Review of exceptions) Act 1917 in accordance with A.C.I. 1105 of 1917.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 11/12/15 – 10/7/16. 212 days.
France. 11/7/16 – 17/10/16. 99 days.
Home Service. 18/10/16 – 30/3/17. 164 days.
Home Service. 31/3/17 – 7/9/17. 161 days
Total Service. 1 year 271 days.
He was awarded the British War Medal, Victory Medal and Silver War Badge No. 128805.
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.
[recognitum IV-III-MMXXIV]