TOPIC:

6705 BUGLER ERNEST WILLIAM DUDLEY: 1ST VOLUNTEER ACTIVE SERVICE COMPANY REINFORCING THE 2ND BATTALION WORCESTERS


Ernest William Dudley was born on 11th February 1880 in Chatham, Kent to parents Jesse and Julia Dudley. Their residence was recorded as St. Mary's Barracks.
Ernest was baptised on 10th March 1880 at the Garrison Chapel, Chatham, Kent. Ernest was born into a military family as his father Jesse was Sergeant Instructor Musketry of the 2/5th Regiment, Grans Shaft Barracks, Western Heights, Dover.

The census of 1881 finds the family now living at Mulbury House, Austcliffe Row, Wolverley, Kidderminster, Worcestershire.
The family now comprised of: parents Jesse and Julia and their offspring Clara M (12), Ernest W (11), Jessie G (10), Lionel A G (9), Mildred J (7), William H (5), Mabel E (3) and Dorothy (1). Only the latter two daughters being born in Worcestershire, the rest down south other than father Jesse, who was a Brummie.
By 1901 the family had relocated a short distance to 18 Horsefair, Kidderminster. Ernest was no longer at home (probably in South Africa with the regiment). The family were joined by Frank Seymour (5), Leonard Arthur (9), Lawrence (7), Marjorie 2) and Daisy Helen (0). So evenings without our modern television did not curtail evening entertainment!!

Ernest attested to the 1st Volunteer Battalion Worcestershire Regiment on 10th January 1901 in his home town of Kidderminster.
He was recorded as being 5' 4 3/4" in height, weighed 129lbs with a chest range of 33 1/4" to 35 1/2".
He was of dark complexion with brown eyes and dark brown hair.
Church of England was his religious denomination.
Next of kin were father Jesse H Dudley, mother Julia and brother Lionel who all resided at Horsefair, Kidderminster, Worcestershire.

His service as follows:
Home: 10/01/1900 to 22/02/1900.
South Africa: 22/02/1900 to 01/05/1901.
Home: 02/05/1901 to 23/05/1901.
Total: 1 year and 134 days.

He does not appear on any casualty lists and so appears to have returned home unscathed from his experience of conflict far from home.

For his service to the Empire the Medal Roll WO100/184 confirms Ernest's entitlement to the Queen's South Africa medal with clasps Cape Colony, Transvaal, Wittebergen and South Africa 1901.
He was also the recipient of the Worcester Tribute Medal as awarded in behalf of the citizens of Worcester to men of the Volunteer Battalion and Imperial Yeomanry who served during the South African Campaign.

Ernest (now 26) married Mary Amelia Simmonds (27) on 8th July 1906 at Kidderminster.
In 1891 the married couple were living at 55 Stourbridge Road, Kidderminster with Ernest plying his trade as an electrician and Mary was employed as an Axminster Setter. She would have been working in one of the numerous carpet factories that Kiddy was famed around the world for. Perhaps working for Brintons? Maybe Ernest worked in the carpet factories as a sparky himself? Also in the household were brother in law Joseph Simmonds a Wixman's Improver (another carpet trade) and sister in law Harriet Simmonds, also an Axminster Setter.

When the empire found itself at war against Germany, Ernest attested as Private 2640 to the Labour Corps on 18th September 1914 and gaining steady promotions upto the rank of Acting Company Quartermaster Sergeant whilst being stationed in France.
Following the armistice, he was officially discharged on 13th February 1919.

He returned to his wife in Kidderminster and the Census of 1921 has him living at 11 Radford Avenue, Kidderminster. He was now an Electrical Jointer employed by Kidderminster Electric Lighting and Power Company living with Mary (Home Duties) and children William E Dudley (13), mother in law Emma Simmonds and sister in law Agnes Sheldon.

Moving on to the 1939 Census, Ernest and Mary were possibly living under the roof of his son and wife Margaret E Dudley at 104 Baxter Avenue, Kidderminster.
William had followed into his father's trade as a Plumber Jointer of Electric Cable. Ernest at 59 years old now had a wealth of experience in the electrical trade which gained him the prestigious post of Maintenance Foreman Electricity Supply.

Ernest of 104 Baxter Avenue, passed away on 20th January 1951 just shy of his 71st birthday. His estate valued at £492 19s 8d was inherited by his wife Mary.



Obverse of the Worcester Tribute Medal showing some minor damage to the enamelling. The 'shadow' of where the suspension claw once was attached can be seen at 12 o'clock. The majority of the remaining examples of this tribute are minus the suspension claw.


Reverse of the medal, having been polished somewhat, inscribed this:
"PRESENTED BY
THE CITIZENS OF WORCESTER
TO
BUGLER E.W.DUDLEY
IN RECOGNITION OF HIS
SERVICE WITH THE
WORCESTER VOLUNTEERS
SOUTH AFRICAN WAR
1899 1900 1901"



Close up of rank and naming. It would appear that Ernest was the only Bugler awarded the Worcester Tribute from the 1st VBWR.
The Medal Roll has 6706 Bugler Frank Finch listed, who served with the 2nd V.B.W.R. He was from Evesham, Worcestershire and attested on the same date as Ernest, but at Worcester. Bugler Frank Finch also received a Worcester Jewel.

For a concise background and list of recipients of the Worcester Tribute please go to the Tribute Medal section of the ABW Forum as compiled and posted by Neville C.

As for Ernest's QSA and Great War medal group, I have no idea whether they remain extant. However, I will continue to hope that they are out there somewhere!

Steve – you wrote Bugler Dudley returned home in 1901 “unscathed”. I think he also returned home a hero.

Worcester Journal, 3 November 1900:



Worcestershire Chronicle, 4 May 1901:



For more info about the engagement at Boschfontein on 10 September 1900 follow this link to newspaper clipping in previous post:

www.angloboerwar.com/forum/11-research/3...asualty-or-not#98942

Regards, David.

A huge thank you to you David, for finding these two newspaper items. The first article has made my day! It places him at the action at Boschfontein for certain.
I also have the medal group and Worcester Jewel awarded to Sergeant Darby of Oldbury aswell!
Cheers Steve

Sgt. Darby and Bugler Dudley may also be listed on the Boer War commemorative board at Kidderminster Territorial Army Drill Hall in Kiddy.
Worth a look.

The following article was published in the Kidderminster Shuttle of November 3rd 1900 page 8.

"BUGLER DUDLEY MENTIONED FOR GALLANTRY"

"In official despatches from the seat of war published in the newspapers on Saturday last, Bugler Ernest Dudley of Kidderminster was mentioned for gallantry in the Boschfontein engagement, together with Sergeant Darby of Oldbury. Dudley who is twenty years of age was born at Chatham, and had lived in Kidderminster for sixteen years, his father was for many years one of the local Sergeant -Instructors and is now the landlord of the Cock In the Horsefair. Young Dudley was a great favourite among the local volunteers and was for seven years Bugler of the company. When the call to arms was sounded he was one of the first men to volunteer for active service.
He went out to South Africa as a member of the composite Volunteer Company, which left Kidderminster on January 20th under command of Captain Bucknall he had always expressed a desire for a military career, and was at once appointed Bugler to the Company. Dudley was employed as an assistant to the Setting Foreman at the Brussel Street Works of Messrs R. Smith & Son, and before he left home he was the recipient of a purse of money presented to him by the workpeople at the Brussel Street carpet works and also a shaving outfit given him by the firm. His letters home have been written in a cheerful tone. He has enjoyed excellent health, and so far has escaped injury. Our readers will remember that a few weeks ago we printed a letter from Bugler Dudley which he had addressed to Mr. Viney cashier at Messrs Smiths Works."