Name
John Ruffett
6 April 1896
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
12/10/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
13619
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 2 C.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
St Mary Magdalene Church Plaque, Flaunden, St Mary Magdalene Church Scroll, Flaunden, Not on the Tewin Memorial, Ivinghoe Memorial Cross, Ivinghoe, Bucks.,
Pre War
(William) John Ruffett was born on 6 April 1896 in Flaunden, Herts, (Birth Certificate states Tewin, Herts.), the son of William Ruffett, a gamekeeper, and Susan Jane (nee Cross) and was baptised on 10 May 1896, Tewin, Herts. He was the second son, Stanley was his older brother, and Amos (born in1900) a younger brother, he also had five sisters. The family were living at High Wood, Tewin.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at Keeper's Cottage, Farley Common, Westerham, Kent were his father was the Gamekeeper. They had moved back to Hertfordshire by the 1911 Census and were living at Ivinghoe, nr Tring, Herts, where his father was a farmer.
Wartime Service
John enlisted at Watford as Private 13619 (this would be in Aug 1914 as his Pension Record is dated 1 Sep 1914). After his training he was posted to 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment landing in France on 12 Aug 1915 in a draft of 35 men.
The battalion was situated near Festubert, in October taking part in the Battle of Loos. In 1916 the battalion took part in the Battles of Albert 1 Jul 1916, Trones Wood 11 Jul 1916, Delville Wood end Jul 1916. On 12 Oct 1916 at Le Transloy the battalion was part of an attack launched at 2 p.m., under heavy return fire an advance of about 200 yards was made. John was one of 242 other ranks killed that day. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £9 and pay owing of £13 17s 9d. Pension cards exist but it is not clear if a pension was granted, or how much. There is record of a Stanley Ruffett serving in Grenadier Guards as Private 23012 from 19 Feb 1915 to 26 Apr 1917 and being discharged to wounds with Silver War Badge number 199617. (Not yet confirmed as brother to John).
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer, Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, www.bedfordshireregiment.org.uk.,www.roll-of-honour.com,
