ALBERT ERNEST RUDGE
From May through to September 2026, Andrew will be fulfilling his dream to hike the iconic Land’s End to John O’Groats! You are all warmly invited to follow Andrew’s epic journey on his Facebook page, “Andrew Beal LEJOG” https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577588795730
As Andrew hikes the 1,300+ miles, he will raise funds for the Ipswich War Memorial Project to help finance our future exhibitions and research of the brave Ipswich men and women who lost their lives in conflict. If you would like to make a small donation, please click on the link: https://gofund.me/5d4a50570
Thank you for your love and support. Andrew & Helen – I.W.M.P.
Born: 1874, Northampton, Northamptonshire.
Baptised on the 25th January 1874, at The Holy Sepulchre Church, Northampton – family home at Princes Street, Northampton.
Died: 27th May 1917; age: 43; died at Brompton Barracks, Kent, from Somnambulism – stepped through a barrack window, thinking he was stepping over the tent curtain.
Kent Messenger and Gravesend Telegraph – Saturday, 2nd June 1917 – SOLDIER’S FATAL SOMNAMBULISM – TRAGIC END TO PRAISEWORTHY CAREER – Acting-Sergeant Albert Ernest Rudge, of the Royal Engineers, was found lying dead in the basement under his bedroom window at Brompton Barracks, on Sunday morning. At the inquest, on Tuesday, it was stated he had a tendency to somnambulism, and until recently had been constantly under canvas. On Saturday afternoon, he was somewhat overcome by heat and lay on the top of his bed. The next morning, his body was found as described, the skull being fractured. It was assumed that he rose in his sleep and stepped out of the window under the impression he was stepping over the tent canvas. Albert Rudge served two years in the South African War. He also served in India, and in the Tibet Expedition and had spent two years in France. He was 42 years of age and completed 20 years of service four months ago, when, but for the war, he would have retired on pension. A week ago, he was presented with the Military Medal on the Barrack Square at Old Brompton. The Jury in returning a verdict of “Accidental Death,” expressed the hope that the deceased’s pension would be awarded to his widow, seeing that he had actually earned it, and that, but for the war, he would not have been exposed to risk.
Residence: 35, Beaconsfield Road, Ipswich.
Occupation: Soldier for the British Army for 20 years.
Enlistment Location: Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk.
Date of Entry Therein: 5th October 1914.
Albert served in India and in the Tibet Expedition, two years in the South African War, and had served two years in France.
Rank: Sergeant; Service Number: 29884
Regiment: Royal Engineers, ‘F’ Coy, 1st Reserve Battalion.
Medals Awarded: Victory, British War + Military Medal.
Gazetted on the 13th June 1916, page 5933. Mentioned in Despatches (2nd Corporal).
Gazetted on the 10th November 1916, page: 10929 – Military Medal.
Grave Reference:
BA.I.59.
Ipswich.
CENSUS
1881 16, Princess Street, Northampton, Northamptonshire.
Albert was 7 years old and living with his parents, brother & maternal uncle.
Charles Rudge, 48, a Printer, born Hereford, Herefordshire.
Arabella Jane Rudge (nee Wright), 38, born Northampton, Northamptonshire.
Arthur Charles Rudge, 6 months.
Alfred Bowdett, 46, a retired Grocer, born Ledbury, Hereford, Herefordshire.
1 domestic servant
1 nursemaid.
1891 21, Ainslie Road, South, Ipswich.
Albert was 17 years old, a Cabinet Maker. He was living with his parents & brother.
Charles, 58, a Printer – Machinist.
Arabella, 49.
Arthur, 10.
1901 3, Richmond Road, New Brompton, Kent.
Albert was 28 years old, a Carpenter. He was married.
Mary, 14.
1911 Royal Engineers Barracks, Brompton St. Mary’s, Chatham, Kent.
Albert was 36 years old, a Soldier ranked Sapper, in the Royal Engineers. He was married and a Carpenter.
In 1911, Albert’s family were living at the married quarters at the Royal Engineers Barracks, Brompton St. Mary’s, Chatham, Kent.
Mary, 36.
Winifred, 9.
Rodney, 5.
Edna, 2.
In 1900, in Medway, Kent, Albert married Mary Alice Hulme, born 1876, Leek, Staffordshire – daughter of William Hulme, a grocer and shopkeeper – own account, and Sarah Ann Hulme (nee Baker), of Paull Street, Paull, Yorkshire.
Mary and Albert had eight children:
Winifred Alice Rudge, born 19th June 1901, Gillingham, Kent.
Rodney Albert Rudge, born 24th October 1905, Bangalore, Madras, India and baptised on the 5th November 1905, at Bangalore, Madras.
Clara Margaret Rudge, born 6th December 1906, Bangalore, Madras, India and baptised on the 7th December 1906, at Bangalore, Madras – died in January 1907, Bangalore, Madras.
Edna Eleanor Rudge, born 5th June 1908, Bangalore, Madras, India.
John Ridge, born 2nd June 1909, Bangalore, Madras, India and baptised on the same day at Bangalore, Madras – died on 3rd June 1909, Bangalore, Madras.
Olive Mary Rudge, born 13th August 1911, at the Military Families Hospital, Brompton, Kent – family home at 7E Block, St. Mary’s Barracks, Gillingham, Kent – father Albert Rudge, a Sapper.
Freda Nellie Rudge, born 11th December 1912, Tempe, South Africa.
Bertha Irene Rudge, born 1st June 1914, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
Soldiers’ Effects to Mary Rudge – widow.
Albert’s only brother, Arthur Charles Rudge, died after an accident on the 29th April 1917, aged 36 years. Arthur, of 9, Surrey Road, Ipswich, was married with nine children.
Evening Star – Tuesday, 1st May 1917 – A GASFITTER’S TERRIBLE FALL – THROUGH A ROOF ON TO CONCRETE – The Ipswich Borough Coroner will hold an inquest on the body of a gasfitter, whose home was in Surrey Road, named Arthur Charles Rudge. He was the victim of a deplorable accident on Sunday afternoon. The deceased was working on a roof at the Orwell Works when he fell through, fracturing his skull on the concrete floor beneath. In an unconscious condition, he was taken to the East Suffolk and Ipswich Hospital, but he died almost immediately after admission, without having regained consciousness.
……
Chatham, Rochester and Brompton Observer – Saturday, 2nd June 1917 – FATAL SOMNAMBULISM – SOLDIER’S TERRIBLE END. MILITARY MEDALIST WALKS THROUGH A WINDOW – An inquest was held on Tuesday afternoon in the Holy Trinity Schools, Old Brompton, by Mr. C.B. Harris, the County Coroner, touching the death of Corporal (Acting-Sergeant) Albert Ernest Rudge, of the Royal Engineers, stationed at Brompton Barracks, who was found dead outside his room window at the Barracks on Sunday morning, under singular circumstances. Mr. T. Pilcher was elected foreman for the jury.
Sergeant Arthur Ernest Togwell, R.E., identified the body. Albert was 42 years of age and had 21 years’ service. He was two years in South Africa during the war, and he had served in India and on the Tibet Mission. He had been two years in France, returning to this country four months ago. He would have been entitled to retire on his pension four months ago but for the war, awarded to him in France on his tunic in the barrack square at Brompton.
Acting-Sergeant Frederick Charles Yeo, R.E., who had known Albert some months, and at one time slept in the same tent, said he had a habit of walking in his sleep. He frequently got up and went out of the tent in the night.
Second Corporal George Rodgers, R.E., said he had known Albert Rudge since he returned from France. He described the room in which he slept, which was on the ground floor, but there was a basement floor beneath. He slept to the right of the door, with the window on his left, about 16 or 18 feet away. The windows were kept open top and bottom through the night. At about 11 o’clock on Saturday, Albert Rudge spoke to the witness respecting his duties. He was perfectly sober then, and there was nothing in any way strange in his appearance. The following morning at a quarter to 8, one of the men in the room reported to him that the deceased was lying in the basement, and he went there. The deceased was dressed in a shirt, trousers and socks, and it appeared as though he had “turned in” in them. He was dead, lying on his back and bleeding from the right side of the head. There was no light in the room during the night.
Sergeant Arthur James Gillett said he had known Albert Rudge for 18 or 20 years, and had been comrade and friend, having served with him in India and elsewhere. He always had a tendency to roam about anywhere during the night. The weather on Friday and Saturday would be likely to have an effect upon a man who had been a long time in the East. He believed the deceased got up in the night, thinking he was in a tent. He might have been asleep or half-asleep, and he would probably have taken the window for the wall of the tent and stepped over it. If he had been half awake, he would have mistaken the light of the window for the open tent door. Witness spoke of the deceased’s service in various parts of the world and of the Military Medal he had received four weeks ago, adding that he had aged greatly in appearance recently. He was sure, however, the deceased had had nothing on his mind, and he could scarcely have worried over a prospect of returning to France, with his age and record.
Captain Henry Jamieson, R.A.M.C., attached to the Casualty Hospital, described the deceased’s injuries, which included a fracture of the base of the skull and a possible dislocation of the neck. He agreed that the weather might have had some effect upon a man who had been long in the East.
The Jury returned a verdict of “Accidental Death,” and added a recommendation that his pension should be made over to his widow, seeing that but for the exigencies of service he would have been in receipt of it at that time, and not exposed to the chances of the death that had befallen him.
E.A.D.T. – Monday, 4th June 1917 – MILITARY FUNERAL AT IPSWICH – On Friday afternoon, the funeral took place of Sergeant Albert Ernest Rudge, Royal Engineers, whose death took place under tragic circumstances on Sunday last at Chatham. Full military honours were supplied. The coffin, covered with the Union Jack, was borne on a gun carriage supplied by the Royal Field Artillery, whilst the firing party and buglers were drawn from the Northumberland Fusiliers. A party of the deceased soldier’s comrades acted as bearers. On arrival at the Cemetery, the Reverend C.J. Howard officiated, the interment subsequently taking place in the Field of Honour. There was a large number of floral tributes, including a large artificial one from the late Sergeant’s regiment. The coffin is of polished oak with brass fittings.
The funeral arrangements were in the hands of Messrs. Hastings and Son, of Berners Street, under the supervision of Mr. P. Hastings.
Royal Engineers
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