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Sapper 26848 Frederick Samuel Rudge, Royal Engineers. Frederick was born and raised in Smethwick. On 24th August 1892, aged 19 years and 4 months, he signed on for 12 years (7 active and 5 in reserve) with the Royal Engineers. His 7 years were all spent at “home”, during which he was instructed in the use of the Brennan Torpedo (see photo) and taught to swim at Chatham. In 1898 he was based at Gravesend. On 23rd August 1899, having completed his 7 years, he was transferred to the Army Reserve. He returned to Smethwick and found employment in the fitting shop of Nettlefolds (screw manufacturers who became the “N” of the internationally famous GKN). On Boxing Day 1899 he was recalled to the colours accompanied by the “smoking cabinet” his workfellows had presented to him a few days earlier although he had only been with them for 4 months at the most. Thereafter, his service record was signed off by Lieutenant T H L Spaight, Commanding Officer of the Royal Engineers five Balloon Sections.

Frederick embarked for South Africa on 7th April 1900 and was back “home” by 1st May 1901 having spent 1 year and 25 days (less travel time) in South Africa. His medal roll records show, that whilst in South Africa, he was employed at the Balloon Repairing Factory situated at Aliwal North (about 130 miles south of Bloemfontein) and under the command of Lieutenant Eric Montague Seton Charles. His sedentary stay in S Africa meant his Queens South Africa Medal bore only 1 clasp, “Cape Colony”.

His service records do not mention one of his other attributes – his performance on the rifle range. This extract from the article in the Smethwick Telephone (local paper) reporting his “send-off” tells all:
“….many are the laurels he has won in connection with shooting competitions. In 1897 he won the Thames District Championship Jubilee Cup presented by the Corporation of Chatham, while in the same year he was a member of the team that won the Army Cup, receiving a very handsome jewel in recognition of the event. Other trophies include the South Eastern Challenge Cup and the Sir Charles Warren Challenge Shield, which he won four years in succession”. I think the last mentioned competition was limited to members of the Royal Engineers.

Also, the Army & Navy Gazette of June 25th 1898 reported on the forthcoming “Army Sixty Meeting” at Ash Rifle Ranges, Aldershot when the top sixty performers in the Army were to compete for a gold, silver & bronze medal with a total of £60 in cash divided between the top fifteen. Frederick did not make the sixty but was listed as sixth amongst the ten reserves.

One does wonder why one of the top shots in the army spent his war mending balloons, perhaps because the British Army at the time did not consider using snipers was playing the game!

On 20th September 1902 Frederick married Florence Annie Phillips in Birmingham. Their daughter was born in 1907 and her baptism certificate shows her parents lived at 190 Waterloo Road, Smethwick and her father was a “Fitter”. So, it looks as though his boss kept his promise made at Frederick’s send-off, to keep his “situation open”. I feel a lot of empathy for Frederick and his family as from 8 months to 18 years old I lived just round the corner from 190 Waterloo Road and the number of times I travelled past it, either on foot or the B82 Birmingham Corporation bus, are beyond counting!

In September 1909 Frederick & Florence emigrated to Canada where their son was born in 1912. Frederick passed away in 1944 aged 69 but Florence lived on to be 98, passing away in 1974.

I can find photos/drawings of balloons in action during the Boer War but none relating to the facility at Aliwal North - are there any?