A Tragic Accident In The Trenches.

British War Medal 1914 - 20. 

9640 Pte. F. L. Rudall, Middlesex Regiment.

The birth of Frank Leonard Rudall was registered in Keynsham in early 1897. He was the son of Charles and Laura Rudall, who are recorded on the 1901 Census as living at 11 Mendora Road, Fulham, with their children Arthur Charles (8), Iva Laura (6), Leonard Frank (sic) (4) and George Henry (11 mths). By the time of the First World War, the family had moved to 3a Holt Villas, Embankment, Putney, and another daughter, Gladys Winifred, had been born. Frank Rudall joined the army in November 1915 and after a period of training was sent to France, where he joined the 1/7th Middlesex Regiment on 6th November 1916. The Battalion had been on the Western Front since March 1915 and had fought throughout the Somme Battles as part of the 56th (1st London) Division. Frank would have been one of the many replacements needed to bring the unit back up to strength following several costly attacks in the later stages of the Somme fighting.

In the winter of 1916/17, the Division was in the Neuve Chapelle sector, supposedly a "quiet" area, where the task of absorbing new drafts could be undertaken more easily. According to the 56th Division History, November was a quiet month, but cold and wet, and patrolling in No Man's Land was difficult due to the water-logged ground. On 30th November, the 1/7th Middlesex were raided by the enemy but successfully drove off the attackers. However, just after 7.00am on the morning of 12th December, a fatal accident was about to take place. Sergeant Hutson was preparing to inspect the rifles of his platoon in Elgin Post. In his statement to the subsequent court of enquiry, he said, "I was just going to inspect the rifle of No.9640 Pte Rudall F. L., and was turning the corner of the trench, when I heard the report of a rifle slightly to my left rear. The bullet whizzed past me and hit Pte Rudall. As soon as I heard the shot I looked to see where it had come from, and saw No.2812 Pte Wingfield A. H. standing with his rifle in his hand and pointing in the direction of the deceased. I then went to help Pte Rudall and found his tunic about the stomach covered with blood, but did not look at the wound. I then went on with my inspection, after giving orders that Pte Wingfield should be put under arrest, as I thought he had fired the shot." A second witness, Lance Corporal Albert Merry, stated "At about 7.05am on 12th January 1917, I was examining the rifles of the guard in Elgin Post, of which I was in charge. This was being done in accordance with an order issued by my Company Commander to the effect that "all rifles must be examined by a non-commissioned officer before being cleaned." On examining the rifle of No.2812 Pte Wingfield, I found a live cartridge in the breech and saw him eject it. Pte Wingfield then took out his magazine, still leaving the bolt open. He then removed the bolt. I am certain there was then no round in the rifle. After cleaning his rifle, I saw him replace first his magazine, which was loaded, and then the bolt. He then proceeded to close the bolt, at the same time pressing down the cartridges in the magazine with his left thumb. As he did this he slipped on a broken duck board and in falling let go of his rifle with his left hand. The rifle fired and the bullet hit Pte Rudall, who was standing at the other end of the traverse. Pte Wingfield dropped his rifle, the fall knocking the magazine out of the rifle. I immediately ran to fetch the stretcher bearers. I allowed Pte Wingfield to replace his magazine when loaded because he was actually on sentry duty at the time. At the time of the accident Sgt Hutson, Pte Rudall, Pte Wingfield and myself were the only men in the traverse."

Private Rudall's body was examined by Captain B. T. Edge, the RAMC Medical Officer, who found a wound in Rudall's right wrist and another in his abdomen corresponding to those caused by a rifle bullet. In his opinion, death was caused by shock and haemorrhage as a result of the abdominal wound, and death probably followed within a few minutes of receiving the wound. The following day, 13th January, a court of enquiry was arranged by Lieutenant Colonel E. F. King, where the witnesses quoted above gave their evidence and it was decided that Private Rudall's death had been "due to negligence." On 19th January, Private Alfred Wingfield was tried by Court Martial and found guilty of "negligently discharging a rifle and causing the death of a comrade." He was sentenced to three months Field Punishment No. 1. Frank Rudall, just 19 years old, was laid to rest in Pont-Du-Hem Military Cemetery at La Gorgue.