Rueben Gudgeon, was born on the 8th January 1900 at 105, Beaconsfield Street, Darlington, Durham, the second eldest of seven children to Rueben [Senior], Gudgeon, [born 9th October 1870, at Great Ouseburn, Yorkshire, {son of John Gudgeon, born 15th February 1843, at Great Ouseburn, Yorkshire, he died 8th October 1923, at Great Ouseborn, Yorkshire, and his wife Martha Claughton, born 1836, at Horsforth, Yorkshire, died 1881}, died on the 26th October 1944 at North Perth, Western Australia, buried at Karrakatta Cemetery], and his wife Sarah [Jeannie], Jane {nee Waud}, [born 18th January 1873, at York, daughter of Elisha Waud, born 1843 at Howden, Yorkshire, and died at Gateshead in June 1916 and his wife Catherine, born in February 1846 at Knaresborough, Yorkshire, baptised on the 24th March 1846 at Great Ouseburn, York, Death Unknown]. Rueben [Senior], married Sarah Jane in about 1897, they had seven children however one of the children died.

The other six children were Christopher , who was born at 105, Beaconsfield Street, Darlington, Durham, on the 21st September 1898, Hettie, born at 105, Beaconsfield Street, Darlington, Durham, on the 17th October 1901, [she married Albert Richard Haley, born 4th September 1900, Western Australia, Australia, died on the 7th September 1982, at Leederville, Western Australia], died 11th April 1985 at Rowethorpe, Western Australia, Australia, they had three children, Valma [born 16th October1927, Perth, Western Australia and died 2nd February 2006, Perth Western Australia, Kathleen born 17th December 1930, Leedervile, died 7th June 2000 and Dorothy Ada Haley born 1904, Leederville, Western Australia], Lily, born 2nd September 1903, Darlington, [she married Arthur Edward Perry Hendon, born 9th February 1901, Southern Cross, Australia, died 10th August 1981, Shenton park, Perth, Western Australia, they had four children], died 28th May 1977 at Shenton Park, Western Australia, Australia, Leslie, born 30th April 1906, but died on the 14th September 1906 at Darlington, Frank Waud, born 26th October 1907, Darlington, Durham, [he married Rita Doreen Carter, born 7th May 1920, Subiaco, Western Australia, and died on the 11th July 2012, at Dauncraig, Western Australia,] died 13th July 1993, Wembley, Western Australia and Winifred, born at 84 Lowson Street, Darlington, Durham, on the 27th August 1911, [she married William Charles Ginbey, born 14th November 1908, at Boulder, Western Australia, Australia, [they had three children], and died on the 27th October 1960, at Como, Western Australia, Australia], and died on the 18th March 2006 at Bibralake, Western Australia, Australia.

Rueben [senior] father John was a Farmer in 1891, Rueben his eldest son was a General Labourer. By 1891 they were working at Adwick, Near York. In 1911, John now retired, was residing at Darlington at 84 Lowson Street, Darlington, with his son Rueben and his wife and family. The family attended the Harrowgate Hill Methodist Church, which was then located in Lowson Street.

The whole family emigrated to Australia on the 26th April 1913, in the passenger manifest there are shown eight members of the family listed. They embarked at London for Freemantle, Western Australia, on board the Australian Steam Shipping Company Ltd vessel the 'Armadale' 129047. All in third class, the names listed were Rueben, age 42, Jeannie age 40, Hettie age 11, Lily age 9, Frank age 5, Winifred age 1, Christopher age 14 and Rueben age 13.

They all resided at 12 Galway Street, Leederville, Western Australia.

Rueben [junior] attested at the same camp as his brother [Christopher] at the Recruiting Tent, Blackboy Hill Camp, then age 18 years and 6 months, [he was actually 17 years and 6 months] on the 15th June 1916. His trade was a Farm hand. Rueben was 5 feet 6 inches tall, 112 lbs with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. A Methodist denomination.

His address was 12 Galway Street, Leederville, Western Australia, and he enlisted at Perth on the 26th June 1916, his rank was a private and the service number supplied was 7977. He was in the 27 wave reinforcements, 16th Battalion.

After a period of training he embarked at Freemantle on the SS Canberra from the 24th November 1917 arriving at Suez on the 21st December 1917. On the 9th January 1918 he embarked from Port Said, disembarking at Southampton on the 30th January 1918.Marched in to the 13th Training Battalion on the 31st January 1918 at Codford. Whilst he was at Codford he was transferred to the 12th Training Battalion.

Rueben was then sent overseas to France from Folkestone on the 6th May 1918 and was located at the NZ Infantry Base at Etaples. Taken on strength to the 16th Battalion on the 22nd May 1918.

Rueben was wounded in action on the 4th July 1918 with a severe gun shot wound to his left forearm. He was taken to the 13th Australian Field Ambulance then onward to the 46th Casualty Clearing Station, which was located at Fienvillers. He was sent to the 5th General Hospital at Rouen to recover.

The War Diary states : Thur 4th July. The 4th Division, assisted by the 11th and 6th Australian Infantry Brigades attacked and captured HAMEL: VAIRE and HAMEL WOODS, and the spur beyond. Narrative: Maps showing tasks: barrage tabe, etc are attached as an Appendix . Weather splendid for such an operation. Casualties not heavy.
Officers 2 Killed . 3 wounded.
Other ranks 11 Killed, 62 wounded.

On the 6th July, he was put on board the HMHS Grantillly Castle and sent to the UK as a patient of the 1st Southern General Military Hospital, at Edgbaston. On the 18th July 1918 he was discharged from hospital and sent to no 3 Convalescent Depot at Harefield.

On the 22nd August from midnight, he was absent without leave for five days, until 6.30pm 27th August. He was awarded 5 days Field Punishment no 2 and forfeited 10 days pay.

On the 20th September he was sent to Sutton Veny where he was put into an overseas Training Battalion. On the 17th October he was posted overseas to France from Southampton via Le Havre and re-joined the 16th Battalion. Rueben was detached to the Corps Workshops from the 1st February 1919. He was admitted to the 8th Australian Field Ambulance with Para Poymosis on the 5th February 1919.

On the 13th May 1919 he returned to the UK and admitted to the War Hospital at Codford. Then on the 28th July transferred to the 3rd Australian Hospital. His left hand was now septic and still under hospital care was shipped on the 22nd September to Freemantle whilst as a patient in the Ship's hospital. Disembarked on the 4th November 1919, aboard the HT Port Sydney. He was finally discharged on the 21st December 1919.

After the war Rueben now a Bricklayer, married Doris Ivy Hill, in 1929, [she died in 1973], and they had at least two children Christopher Gudgeon, a school teacher, [born approximately 1934?, he married Shirley Browning Hill, also a school teacher in about 1970, she died in 1986], and Marilyn Kaye Gudgeon. They were residing at Reserve Street, Wembley.

Rueben [junior], died on the 31st January 1969 at Wembley, Western Australia.

Research : Michael J. White/James Pasby

Rueben Gudgeon and his brother are remembered at Harrowgate Hill on H145.01.

Birmingham's Military Hospitals