Private David Strudwick

 

Thank you to Lenka Cathersides for the following research.

David was born on the 1^st of May 1881 in Dorking, Surrey to roadman labourer Charles Strudwick and Rosetta Strudwick nee Giles. He was baptised on the 26^th of June 1881 at St Paul´s church in Dorking. At the time of the baptism Charles was working as a labourer and the family lived at Falkland Road.

At the time of the 1891 Census, the family lived at Falkland Road, Dorking. Charles was working as a roadman labourer and Rosetta was at home. Of their children: Ellen was working as a laundry maid, William and Alfred were general labourers and Joseph and David were at school.

David´s father Charles Strudwick died in 1901 and was burried on the 27^th of February 1901 at the Dorking Municipal Cemetery.

At the time of the 1901 Census, the family lived at 24 Falkland Road, Dorking. Rosetta was at home. Of her children: William was working as a bricklayers labourer, Alfred was a wood machinist, Lilly was a laundry maid and David a bricklayers labourer.

David Strudwick married Annie Jackson on the 10^th of September 1904 at Dorking Registry Office. Annie was born in the 1^st quarter of 1883 in the Registration District of Rugby, Warwickshire.

David and Annie had six known children: David Gerald Strudwick born on the 16^th of March 1903 in Dorking, Surrey; Daisy Annie Strudwick born on the 29^th of November 1905 in Dorking, Surrey; George Aubrey Strudwick born on the 27^th of February 1908 in Dorking, Surrey; Gordon Charles Strudwick born on the 17^th April of 1909 in Dorking, Surrey; Norman Talbot Strudwick born on the 12^th of July 1912 in Dorking, Surrey and George Andrew born on the 18^th of April 1915 in Dorking, Surrey.

At the time of the 1911 Census, the family lived at 38 Orchard Road, Dorking. David was working as a bricklayers labourer and Annie was looking after their children: David Gerald, George Aubrey and Gordon Charles. The accomodation had four rooms. Annie stated that she had given birth to five children of whom four were still alive.

David Strudwick enlisted for the duration of war into the 12^th (Reserve) Battalion the Queen´s Royal West Surrey Regiment on the 10^th of December 1915 in Dorking, Surrey. He was a Private with regimental number G/13824. At the time of his enlistment he lived at 77 Orchard Road in Dorking. Later the family moved to 63 Orchard Road. In 1916 his wife Annie Strudwick lived at 135 Lisson Grove, Marylebone, London.

David was mobilised on the 3^rd of June 1916.

On the 1^st of September 1916 the 12^th (Reserve) Battalion the Queen´s became the 97^th Training Reserve Battalion of the 23^rd Reserve Brigade. On the 7^th of October 1916 David Strudwick was transferred into the Queen´s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) of the British Expeditionary Force and embarked to France. On the 24^th of October 1916 he joined the 6^th Battalion the Queen´s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). He was a Private with the new regimental number G/17654.

He went missing in an action on or since the 17^th of July 1917 in France. His body was never found.

In 1917 David´s wife Annie Strudwick lived at 4 Mint Gardens in Dorking. There she received news that her husband was missing. David´s Captain wrote: ´On July 17^th the Company delivered an attack on the German trenches. The trench was taken and the object gained, not without casualties. I am afraid I can give you no definite information. Your husband may, of course, be a prisoner in the hands of the enemy, in which case you will receive due notification from the War Office.´

The last letter Mrs Strudwik received from her husband was dated July the 14^th.

David Strudwick is commemorated at the Arras Memorial in France on Bay 7.

He left to his wife Annie Strudwick £2, 19s and 8d on the 7^th of November 1918 and a further £4 on the 28^th of November 1919 in Soldier´s Effects.

David Strudwick had four brothers serving in France and one in England.

He was awarded the British War and Victory medals.

Strudwick Family History

David´s father Charles Strudwick was born in 1828 in Westcott, Surrey to labourer Robert Strudwick, born 1791 in Dorking, Surrey, and Anne/Ann Strudwick born about 1791 in Dorking, Surrey. Charles was baptised on the 4^th of April 1828 in the Poor Law Union of Dorking. At the time of the baptism the family lived at Westcott and Robert was working as a labourer.

David´s mother Rosetta/Rosa Giles was born in the 1^st quarter of 1840 in Shere, Surrey to labourer William Giles born about 1806 in Shere and Mary Giles born about 1816 in Shere. Rosetta/Rosa was baptised on the 9^th of February 1840 in Abinger. At the time of the baptism the family lived at Shere.

Charles Strudwick married Mary Knight on the 11^th of February 1855 in the Registration District of Dorking. Mary was born about 1832 and died in 1857. She was burried at Holy Trinity church in Westcott.

The couple had a daughter, Emma Strudwick. Emma was born about 1856 in Westcott, Surrey.

Charles Strudwick re-married Rosetta/Rosa Giles on the 19^th of June 1859 at St Martin´s church in Dorking. At the time of the marriage the couple lived at Westcott and Charles was working as a labourer.

David had 1 known half sister and 8 known blood siblings: Emma Strudwick born about 1856 in Westcott, Surrey (half sister); Jesse Strudwick born about 1863 in Dorking, Surrey; Ellen Strudwick born about 1868 in Dorking, Surrey; William Strudwick born about 1869 in Dorking, Surrey; Rosetta/Rosa Strudwick born about 1871 in Dorking, Surrey; Alfred Strudwick born about 1873 in Dorking, Surrey; Lilly Strudwick born about 1875 in Dorking, Surrey; Minnie Strudwick born about 1877 in Dorking, Surrey and Joseph Strudwick born about 1879 in Dorking, Surrey.

At the time of the 1871 Census, the family lived at Westcott Common, Guildford Road, Dorking. Charles was working as a labourer and Rosetta/Rosa was looking after their children: Emma, Jesse, Ellen, William and Rosetta/Rosa.

At the time of the 1881 Census, the family lived at Falkland Road in Dorking. Charles was working as a Highway Board labourer and Rosetta/Rosa was at home. The household further comprised of their children: gardener Jesse, Ellen, William, Rosetta/Rosa, Alfred, Lilly, Minnie and Joseph.

Annie Strudwick was awarded a pension of 31/3 a week for herself and her 5 children, with effect from the 18^th of March 1918. In November 1918 Annie Strudwick lived at 24 Markham Street in Chelsea, London. Annie Strudwick re-married George Simmons in the 3^rd quarter of 1919 in the Registration District of Hammersmith, London. In 1919 Annie Simmons lived at 31 Carthew Road, Brackenbury Road, Hammersmith.

 

Born	Dorking, Surrey
Son of	Charles and Rosetta Strudwick nee Giles of Falkland Road, Dorking
Husband of	Annie Strudwick (nee Jackson)
Enlisted	Dorking
Regiment	6th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment
Number	G/17654
Former Regiment	13824 12th (Reserve) Battalion, Q.R.W.S Regiment
Date of Death	17th July 1917
Place of Death	France
Cause of Death	Killed in Action
Age	36
Memorial	Arras Memorial, France