Percy John Rudd

A Private with the 18th Battalion, Percy died on 10th of November 1917 at the age of 32.

Percy was born at Blundeston on 8 March 1885, a son of John and Mary Ann Rudd. In 1891 his family lived at High Street, Blundeston. By 1901 they were living at The Street, Blundeston, and Percy was a bricklayer’s labourer. Later his mother lived at Ocean Cottages, Blundeston. 

On 22 February 1911 Percy sailed on the Royal George for Halifax, Nova Scotia. 

On 28 September 1915 Percy attested for the Canadian Army at Saint Catherines. Percy had been working as a carpenter. He joined the 2nd Depot Battalion on the Canadian Mounted Rifles, service number 225636. He embarked the S.S. Olympic on 2 April 1916 and arrived in England on 12 April and was taken on strength of the Canadian Command Depot, Shorncliffe. On 17 September 1916 he was transferred to the 9th Reserve Battalion, at Shorncliffe. He was drafted to France, on 27 September 1916, and joined the 18th Battalion Canadian Infantry on 10 October 1916. 

On 17 January 1917 Percy received a gunshot wound to his face, which was categorised as ‘slight’. He was admitted to No 4 General Hospital, Camiers, on 21 January 1917. On 29 January 1917 he joined the Base Details at Etaples. He joined the 2nd Canadian Entrenching Battalion on 27 February 1917 and rejoined his unit, in the field, on 7 April 1917. Percy was admitted to No 11 Canadian Field Ambulance, on 26 May 1917, to be treated for scabies, and he rejoined his unit on 11 June 1917.

During the night of 8/9 November 1917 the 18th Battalion moved into front line trenches in the Calonne II Sector and held these positions until relived on the night of 12/13 November. The battalion war diary records that due to the weather and shell-fire the front line trenches were in very poor condition and in places water was waist deep. The front line trenches, and nearby country, was subject to frequent barrages and it became extremely difficult to evacuate the wounded.

During their tour the battalion’s casualties were:
Officers: six wounded, one gassed
Other ranks: 45 killed, 60 wounded, 25 gassed

The battalion war diary gives no indication of what exactly happened to Percy, but his service papers note that he was killed in action on 10 November.