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Six strokes with a birch-rod; John Ardley of the Rifle Brigade 8 years 3 months ago #44875

Rory
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Ardley was quite a character and was often, at a younger age, in scrapes with the law.

John Ardley

Private, 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade – Anglo Boer War
Lance Sergeant, Rifle Brigade (Home service) – World War I

- Queens South Africa Medal to 308 Pte. J. Ardley, Rifle Brigade with clasps Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal and Laing’s Nek

John Ardley was born in Earls Colne, near the town of Halstead in the county of Essex on about 1871 and was the son of Joseph Ardley and his wife Sarah.

According to the 1871 England census the family lived at The Green in Earls Colne where Joseph was an Agricultural Labourer. This was not, however, his only claim to fame as, going on the strength of the many petty sessions where he was in the dock we know, courtesy of the Chelmsford Chronicle, that he was also an accomplished and inveterate poacher. Many was the night, one can imagine, that a young John came home from playing with his friends to find a rabbit or grouse simmering in the pot for supper courtesy to his father’s skill and the local landowners.

The household had the makings of a large one with Charles Ardley (17), Eliza Ardley (17), Emma Ardley (11) Annie Ardley (7), Alfred Ardley (2) and baby John (2 months) living with their parents along with lodgers Walter Potter and Edward Bull.

It would appear that from an early age a youthful John had a mischievous streak – the Chelmsford Chronicle of Friday, 7 May 1880 carried an article entitled “Damage by School Boys” wherein it was mentioned that,

“Percy Catling, Henry Hurrell and John Ardley were charged with damaging turnip seed belonging to Mr Matthews at Earls Colne. Prosecutor stated that he had been subjected to a great annoyance, for many years past, by boys who attended a school close to where he lived, and he had complained to the master who said he had no authority over the boys out of school. The bench, in inflicting a nominal fine upon the lads, expressed their dissent from such a view of a school masters duty.”

Six months later it was the turn of the 1881 England census and John, now a strapping lad of 12, was in the house at The Green along with his parents and siblings Annie (17), Alfred (14) and younger brother William (4). All those above the age of 14 were employed either as Domestic Servants or Agricultural Labourers – common enough for the times in which they lived.

It wasn’t long before John was making the papers for the wrong reasons again – the Essex Standard, Saturday, July 28th 1883 carried and article – Halstead Petty Sessions, 24 July – where in it was stated that,

“Before J. Brewster Esquire in the chair; John Ardley and Thomas Brewer, boys of Earls Colne, were summoned for placing stones along the metal of the Colne Valley Railway at Burrell’s Bridge, Earls Colne on the 14th instant. Defendants pleaded guilty and, after hearing the evidence of Mr George Copus, Manager of the line, Henry Bartholomew engine-driver of Haverhill, Police Constable Halsey, and James Walker, a companion of the defendants, who was present at the time of the offence, the bench ordered the defendants to each receive six strokes with a birch-rod, in the presence of their fathers.”

Perhaps the odd run-in with the law decided him that this wasn’t the life that he had imagined for himself and so it was that an 18 year old John enrolled at Colchester on 8 June 1889 with, at first, the South Wales Borderers and then the 4th Battalion of the Rifle Brigade for service in the British Army. According to the Attestation Papers he completed he had done Militia service with the 3rd Essex Regiment and was a Labourer by occupation. Physically he was a diminutive 5 foot 3 ½ inches weighing a slender 113 pounds and with a sallow complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair. He had the figure of a woman tattooed on the front of his right forearm and an anchor and dots on the front of his left forearm.

With the Doctor stating that “he was likely to become efficient” he was passed as Fit for the army and assigned no. 2667 with the South Wales Borderers. A short four months later authority was granted for his transfer to the 4th Battalion of the Rifle Brigade with no. 308. Initially based at the Depot Ardley was posted to the 3rd Battalion on 26 November 1901 – the day he set sail with his regiment for India. He was to spend a total of 5 years and 87 days in the sweltering heat of the Far East in a non-combative role, before being brought home to England on 15 February 1897 where he was placed on the Army Reserve.

With time at his disposal he wed Eve Spurgeon on 8 April 1898 in Halstead. She was the daughter of a Bricklayer who lived not far from the Ardley residence.

Few in England would have known, at this stage and as they went about their daily business, that trouble was brewing on the horizon between Great Britain and the two Boer Republics of the Orange Free State and the Transvaal in far-away South Africa. The public would have been made aware by the odd snippet in the daily papers but, by and large, wouldn’t have paid undue attention to the reports. It probably came therefore as a bit of a surprise when, on 12 October 1899 war was declared between the two protagonists.

On 13 November 1899 Ardley, his services required, was recalled to the colours being posted, on the same day, to his old 4th Battalion. Soon after the start of the new year of 1900 they were in South Africa (3rd January) and he was reassigned to the 1st Battalion which is where he saw most of the action he took part in.

Having landed at Durban the 1st Rifle Brigade were sent up to Colenso where their losses were trifling in relation to some of the other units involved. At Vaal Krantz on 5th and 6th February their casualties were 5 men killed and 5 officers and 76 men wounded.

The battalion took part in the heavy work between 13th and 27th February 1900 winning the commendation of General Buller. In his telegram of 20th February the general mentioned 3 infantry battalions, one of which was the 1st Rifle Brigade.

On 18th February the Durham Light Infantry and 1st Rifle Brigade were given the task of attacking the nek between Greenhill and Monte Cristo. They wasted no time, and were soon in the laager behind the nek. On the 23rd these two battalions crossed the river, and in the forenoon received orders to support Hart's attack on Inniskilling Hill, but the attack was over before they arrived at the hill-foot. During the next four days, except on the 25th, the battalion was constantly fighting, being the leading battalion on the left of the line in the final assault on the 27th. In the fourteen days' fighting the Rifle Brigade's losses, including those of officers and men in the Composite Rifle Battalion, were approximately 14 men killed, 8 officers and 117 men wounded.

The 4th Brigade took part in the turning movement via Helpmekaar in the first half of May 1900, and while the 2nd, 10th, and 11th Brigades turned the Laing's Nek position via Botha's Pass, the 4th sat in front of it. After Alleman's Nek on 11th June, the 4th Brigade was sent along the Pretoria Railway. On 28th July Major General Cooper with the Rifle Brigade and 3rd King's Royal Rifles took over Heidelberg from Hart. They were stationed in that town for a long period.

On 9th October 1900 a disastrous incident occurred. The railway had been cut south of Heidelberg, and the same day Captain Paget, 2 other officers, a colour sergeant, and 14 riflemen went down the line on an engine to reconnoitre. 200 Boers were lying in wait, and had the little party completely at their mercy. Two officers and 1 man were killed, the others were wounded.

In General Buller's despatch of 9th November 1900 4 officers and 4 non-commissioned officers and men of the 1st Battalion were mentioned, and several officers of the regiment were also mentioned for good staff work. Twenty officers and 38 non-commissioned officers and men were mentioned in Lord Roberts' final despatch. These commendations embraced both 1st and 2nd Battalions.

On 26th December 1900 a part of the battalion had very severe fighting near the Oceana Mine, the company guarding the baggage being attacked while the others were out clearing farms. That day 10 men were killed and 2 officers and 40 men wounded.

Throughout 1901 the battalion was generally in the neighbourhood of the Transvaal - Natal Railway. In January and February a lot of marching was done, sometimes with a column, sometimes taking convoys to Ermelo and other places for other columns. After February they were chiefly engaged in watching the railway, having latterly about forty miles in safe keeping.

Ardley would have been in the thick of things earning for himself the Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek and Transvaal clasps to his Queens Medal. After 1 year and 186 days his service in South Africa was at an end and he was returned home on 8 July 1901 where, after a period of 146 days he was placed on the Army Reserve having amassed a total of 13 years 176 days under the Colours.

Life having returned to normal he and his wife set about making a family and, according to the 1911 England census a 40 year old Ardley was in residence with his wife and children Percy John (11), Ivy May (9) and Herbert Victor (7). Having never strayed far from his roots he was still living at The Green in Earls Colne and was employed in a General Engineering Works as a Moulder.

On 4 August 1914 the world was plunged into what was termed the “War to end all wars” and Ardley, no longer a spring chicken at 43 years and 6 months volunteered for the Army Reserve (Special Reservists) for one year’s service on 17 October 1914 at Colchester. Confirming that he was a Rifles Brigade Pensioner he was now 5 feet 6 inches in height, weighed 140 pounds and had blue eyes and brown hair. The tattoo of a lady still adorned his left forearm and hadn’t dimmed with the passage of time. Having been passed Fit he was assigned no. S 5028 deployed to the Depot. Promotion to Lance Corporal came on 8 January 1915 to be followed by elevation to Lance Sergeant later that month on 30 January.

It wasn’t all plain sailing though and a glimpse of the old and mischievous Ardley surfaced on 16 July 1915 when he was tried by a District Court Martial for fraudulently misapplying public goods. Having been found guilty he was reduced to the ranks. This proved too much for Ardley who then took his discharge later that same month “at his own request” on 26 July 1915 having served for 283 days. Unsurprisingly his conduct was regarded as “Indifferent”

John Ardley went on to survive the vagaries of life until being called to eternal rest in 1937 at the age of 66.