William Rudd
1911 - hawker fruit/fish
1915 - fruit and fish seller/hawker
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
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William was the son of Charles and Ann Rudd (née Doleman).
Both his parents were born in Nottingham in about 1848. They were married at Nottingham St Mary on 12 September 1869 and had six children: Eliza (Lizzie) Jane birth registered 1874 (JFM), Mary Ann b. 1876, Ada birth registered 1878 (JFM), Ernest b, 1881, William b. 1884 and George b. 1886.
Charles, a labourer, and his wife were living in Brook Alley, Coalpit Lane, in 1871 and were at the same address (4 Brook Alley) in 1881 with their three daughters, Lizzie, Mary and Ada. Charles was now working as a bricklayer's labourer and his wife was a lace hand. The family was still living at 4 Brook Alley in 1891; the two oldest daughters were in work, Eliza a hosiery maker and Mary a frame lace clipper, Ada, Ernest and William were school age, and George was four years old.
Charles's wife died in in 1898 (ref. JFM) and he married Mary Ellen Camm in 1898 (OND). Mary Ellen had a daughter, Hilda Camm (birth registered 1894 JFM), and she and Charles had two children, Emily b. 1898 (OND) and Thomas b. 1901.
Charles, a general hawker, his wife and their children, Emily and a son (unnamed) were recorded on the 1901 Census at 4 Brook Alley. Also in the home on the night of the census were Hilda Camm, a surgical stocking finisher, and two of Charles' children by his first marriage, Ada, a hosiery mender, and George, an errand boy. Charles died in 1907 (OND) aged 59. His widow, Mary Ellen, married George Winfield in 1910 and in 1911 they were living in Bulwell with her children, Hilda Camm and Emily and Thomas Rudd.
William (21) a fruiterer, married Rosetta Stanley (20) a cigar maker, at Nottingham St Albans on 1 August 1904; they were both then living at 4 Bond Street, Sneinton. Rosetta had a son, James Stanley b. 8 June 1905, whom William later adopted. In 1911, William, a hawker fruit/fish, Rosetta and James Stanley (5), described on the census as William's nephew, were living at 55 Arnold Road, Basford.
Rosetta completed a form for the Army in 1920 listing her late husband's surviving blood relatives: Widow Rosetta Rudd, and adopted child James Stanley, 55 Arnold Road, Old Basford. Brother (full blood) Ernest Rudd and sister (full blood) Eliza Ballard (née Rudd), 13 Bombay Street, Nottingham. Brother (half blood) William-sic Stanley, 9 Rosebay Street, Old Basford.
Rosetta, a cigar stripper, and James (Rudd), a hosiery worker, were still living at 55 Arnold Road in 1921.
Her son James (James S Rudd) married Clarice Smith in 1928 and had a son, Derrick W., the following year. In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, James, a hosiery finisher, his wife Clarice and his widowed mother Rosetta, were living at 43 Harmston Rise, Nottingham. There were three other people in the household, Elsie Cooper (b. 1896 married) and Janet Cooper (b. 1935); the record of the third person remains closed but was probably that of James and Clarice's son, Derrick.
Rosetta died aged 63 in 1947 (burial 10 September).
Private William Rudd enlisted in Nottingham on 11 December 1915, aged 33y 6m. He gave his occupation as fish and fruit seller/hawker and named his wife, Rosetta, of 55 Arnold Road, Basford, Nottingham, as his next of kin.
He was posted to the Army Reserve the following day, 12 December, and was not mobilised until 11 October 1916. William was posted to the Sherwood Foresters on 13 October (63444 Private) but was transferred to the North Staffordshire Regiment on 31 December 1916 (34720 Private).
William embarked at Folkstone on 20 December 1916 and disembarked Boulogne the following day. According to his service record, he served in France until 25 September 1917 but there is a medical record showing that he was admitted to Barnet War Hospital (England) on 25 September suffering from a gunshot wound to the left shoulder and shell flesh wounds. He probably remained in hospital until 6 November and then returned to France on 19 December 1917.
On 21 December (Calais) he was posted from the 3rd Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment to the 8th Battalion and joined the 8th Battalion on 19 January 1918. William suffered a shell wound to his chest on 3 June 1918 and was medically evacuated to England for treatment the following month. He was admitted to the 2nd Southern General Hospital, Southmead Section, Bristol, on 17 July where he died on 31 July.
2nd Southern General Hospital, Southmead Section Bristol. 'Detailed Medical Report on the late 34720 Pte Rudd W 8th North Staffs. Died 31 July 1918. G.S.W. Penetrating R. Chest. 3 June 1918.Resection of the rib and drainage of Pleura in France. 1 July 1918.F.B. seen by X-rays at base of right Chest Cavits draining well on admission 24 July 1918. Temperature rose no signs of Left Pleurisy. Patient became too ill for further surgical treatment 31 July 1918. Died. Septic Pleurisy on both sides of the Chest Bronco Pneumonia both Lungs. Dry vericard, tis, F.B. found in L. Pleura.’ Signed … Capt. RAMCT for OIC 2nd NS G Hospital Bristol.'
William was buried in Nottingham General Cemetery (grave ref. 9398E).
Service: Army Reserve 11 December 1915-10 October 1916, 304d. Home 11 October 1916-30 December 1916, 81d. France 31 December 1916-25 September 1917, 369d. Home 26 September 1917-18 December 1917, 84d. France 19 December 1917-16 July 1918, 210d. Home 17 July 1918-31 July 1918, 14d. Total 2y 232d.
He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
CWGC Additional information: Husband of Rosetta Rudd, of 55, Arnold Rd., Old Basford, Nottingham.
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 2 August 1918: ‘Rudd. Died of wounds, 31st July 1918. Pte W Rudd, of North Staffords. From loving wife and son, 55 Arnold-road, Old Basford.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 6 August 1918: ‘Rudd. Died of wounds, Pte W Rudd, of North Staffs., aged 35, the dearly beloved husband of Rose Rudd. Rest in peace. Interred Top Cemetery, Wednesday 2.30.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, 'In Memoriam', 31 July 1919:
'Rudd. In loving memory of Pte. W. Rudd, 8th North Staffs., died of wounds July 31st, 1918. Upright and just in all his ways, honest and faithful to the end of his days, forgotten to the world by some he may be, but dear to our memory he ever will be. – From loving wife and son.'
'Rudd. In loving memory of our dear brother, Pte. Wm. Rudd, died of wounds July 31st, 1918. – Sadly missed by Ada, Eliza, Bill, and Ted.'
'Rudd. In loving remembrance of Pte. W. Rudd, died of wounds July 31st, 1918. Ever remembered. – [Illegible] and Fred.'
Above courtesy Jim Grundy facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Acknowledgements’, 12 September 1947: ‘Mr J Rudd and Family wish to thank friends and neighbours for their kindness and sympathy shown in their sad bereavement; also doctor for his kindness and his devoted attention.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Additional research/record amended and updated (RF Nov. 2025)
No photos