RUDGE, Arthur Edward

Arthur Rudge was born in Brierley Hill and volunteered for the Worcesters. He was sent to the 9th Battalion who were in the force which landed on Gallipoli on the 6th August 1915 to overcome the stalemate on the peninsula. It did not succeed and early in 1916 they were transferred to Mesopotamia to rescue the troops besieged in Kut. The reinforcements were unable to relieve Kut before it capitulated but the city remained the objective. Forces were built up and the decision was made to advance up the Tigris. The Worcesters attacked at Amara on the 25th January and suffered heavy casualties in terrain without cover. One of those who died was Private Arthur Rudge who was killed on that day. He is commemorated on the Basra Memorial and on the Brierley Hill and Brierley Hill church Memorials.