Dawlish World War One Project

Richard Ruddell had been employed as a groom when enlisted in the Army in London on 12 October 1914 and was passed fit for service in the Royal Regiment of Artillery. The Statement of Service shows that he joined at Aberdeen. After a period of training he was posted on 6 January 1915 to the 78^th Brigade, R.F.A.

He served with “D” Battery until 13 May 1915 when he was posted to “C” battery. This appears to have been a Reserve Brigade, but it was posted to France on 12 July 1915. He was reported absent without leave on 19 June 1915 for six days, but must have been granted leave to marry in September. He had leave again from 3 October to 17 October 1918 before returning to France. His war service lasted until 15 April 1919 when he embarked at Dunkirk for the dispersal centre at Fovant, on Salisbury Plain. On discharge he responded to the call for a One Year's Service with the North Russian Expeditionery Force.

Richard Ruddell's unit moved to the Russian Front with the 444th  Battery of the Royal Field Artillery where he is shown as a Driver.

The record file shows that on 29 July a report was sent by Captain Woodward of the VOLOGDA Force that “No 40845. Driver Ruddell R. was accidentally killed by a rifle shot on July 26th. 1919.

He was buried in the British Cemetery OBOZERSKAYE today July 27th.1919.

Court of Enquiry has been held and proceedings would reach G. H. Q. through the usual channels.”

He is remembered on the special memorial B119 in the Obozerskaya Burial Ground, Arkhangel. (His name is spelled Ruddle on the town War Memorial, Dawlish)

Richard Henry Ruddell was born in Islington, London, to Henry and Sarah Ruddell.
He enlisted in London as a Gunner with the Royal Horse Artillery. It is possible that his unit was sent to Devon for training and he married Elsie Louisa Adams at the Register Office, Exeter on 11 September 1915.  They had their first child Herbert Richard Frederick John Ruddell on 30 June 1917 at Dawlish. A second child Sadie Ethel Ruddell was born on 11 August 1919, also at Dawlish. When Richard returned home they were at 1 Commercial Road, Dawlish.