Arthur Henry Ruffell was born circa 1891/2 in Deptford, London. In 1911 he was living at 31A Dalmain Road, Forest Hill, Lewisham, 19 years old and a carpenter. By 1914 he was a wheeler working for the Darracq Motor Works in Fulham and living at 25 Dalmain Road with his wife Emily, whom he had married at Lewisham Registry Office on 2 August 1913. He had two children, Emily and Arthur George Ernest. Arthur first attested for the 1st London Division Army Service Corps at Plumstead on 17 August 1914, aged 23 years 3 months and was given the regimental number 823. At that time his height was recorded at 5 feet 7 ¼” and his chest measurement as 33”; his physical development was recorded as ‘good’. He then re-enlisted into the 28th Divisional Train ASC, Regular Army, on 8 December 1914 at Maresfield, East Sussex, receiving his new number of T4/037782. Interestingly, his measurements had changed to 35” chest measurement and 5’ 9” height. He gave as his next of kin his wife, Emily. Whilst he attested as a Driver with 170 Company ASC, he was immediately promoted Staff Sergeant Wheeler, in which capacity he would have overseen the repair of wheels and woodwork of carts and wagons.
He proceeded overseas to the France and Flanders theatre on 17 January 1915, thus being entitled to the 1914-15 Star. His rank (and appointment) at the time was Wheeler Staff Sergeant and this is impressed on the reverse of the Star, which he would probably have received some time in November 1919.
His unit upon entry into theatre was the Headquarters Company of the 28th Divisional Army Service Corps, which would have involved him in support for the Battles of Second Ypres and Loos in 1915 as part of the 28th Division’s Divisional Train. The divisional train comprised a headquarters and four Horse Transport Companies, charged with baggage transport as well as carrying stores and supplies (including ammunition) from the divisional refilling point (brought from the divisional railhead by motorised transport) to the transport of the brigades of infantry and artillery and other attached units – divisional troops such as engineers, etc – to be taken over by the units’ quartermasters. Other duties included occasional carrying duties for Royal Engineer Stores and drawing horses from the ASC Remounts depots.
On 23 November 1915 W-SSgt Ruffell was posted to the 33rd Divisional Train (33rd Division Army Service Corps). For the 33rd Division, the Train was made up of the 170th, 171st, 173rd and 8th Horse Transport Companies, A.S.C. The first three of these Companies were originally raised to serve with the 28th Division, and accompanied it overseas between 15 and 17 January 1915, before being transferred to the 33rd Division in November 1915. It is not entirely clear which unit within the 33rd Divisional Train W-SSgt Ruffell served with for the majority of his overseas time, however by March 1918 his leave to the UK was being authorised by the Officer Commanding 1 Coy, 33 DT, which would presumably indicate 170th Company ASC. Certainly by 1919 the 170th was the Company he was serving with. With the 33rd Division he would have been involved in support for the Battles of the Somme in 1916, Arras and Passchendaele in 1917, and the Lys and the Final Advance in Flanders in 1918.
His entry on the London Borough of Lewisham Absent Voters List for 1918 read as follows:
Rank W S/Sgt.
Electoral Date 1918
Electoral Place London Borough of Lewisham, Lewisham, London, England
Regiment 33rd Div., A.S.C.
Service Number T4/037782
The list gave his address as 25 Dalmain Road, in the Forest Hill Ward of Lewisham West Division.
He was discharged upon demobilisation to the Army Class ‘Z’ Reserve (established to provide for the easy call-up of men in the event of resumed hostilities with Germany) on 18 July 1919, having passed through the Dispersal Unit at Crystal Palace. At the time he was on the strength of 170 Company ASC.
He would have received his British War Medal and Victory Medals, impressed with his rank of Staff Sergeant, some time after March 1920.
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