Harry RUNDLE, British Army Soldier, born 1874, Luton, Bedfordshire UK

[jim1]

Hello both & welcome.
The letters are in Harry Rundle's service record which is on Ancestry.

[st cronos]

Hello

Many thanks for the tip, and i now have the letters of Alice Maud. Good insight as to what's happening to her.

Also on Ancestry and Fold3, are Harry's WWI medal entitlement card and his enlistment on 6 Jan 1893 in the South Staffs Regiment no 99871. Occupation listed as Tram cleaner Fathers address 4  Highgate Rd Camphill Birmingham. He has 16 years service until he leaves on the 5 Jan 1909.

It seems there is a Freudian slip on the attestation as its under the name Harry Rundle, but signed Harry Rumble.

[Nodrog50]

No, not a Freudian slip. My great-grandfather was born Henry Rumble in Luton in 1876 and his death certificate in 1941 gives him as Henry Rumble otherwise Rundle. Most of the family subsequently adopted the latter name. This anomaly may have initially occurred during his army days but, like some other things about him, it's far from clear!

[jim1]

From #4.

A quick recap seems to be: born 1876 to Joseph & Jane Rundle/Rumble.
Married Nov. 1899 Weymouth R.O.
Moved to B'ham by 1902.
Had children up to 1910.
Career:
1) Staffs. Regt. (joined at 16 according to letter).
2) R.A. (time served).
3) RGA(SR) from 1914-17 & re-enlisted 1917 (probably under the new law (1916) re. Territorial & Reservists).
Alice hasn't heard from him pretty much from the time he went overseas in 1917.

She did however know he had been in the UK & had visited B'ham but not to see her & their children
but to see another woman who he had children with also.
Family continued to live at 3/12 or 3/14 Bacchus Rd. at least until 1931.
Harry doesn't appear to be with them after 1920.
Harry living in Fulham Rd. Sparkhill in 1927.
Living in Aubrey Rd. Sparkbrook 1939.

He died at his daughter's home which was the same road I was born in strangely enough.

[Nodrog50]

It’s been suggested that Harry Hales died in the sinking of the hospital ship “Anglia” in 1915. Sapper Henry Hales, 22340, Second Army H.Q. Signal Coy. Royal Engineers, drowned at sea (from H.S.“Anglia”), 17th Nov. 1915. There is a memorial to many of those who lost their lives then at the Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton, on which he appears. However, this Henry Hales appears to have been born in Erith, Kent, & enlisted in London. There is a Henry Hales birth registered in 1893, Dartford reg. district. The 1911 census shows he was born in Erith. So no further on with what became of Harry Hales (still no evidence of him being in the forces in WW1) & an extra question as to how this casualty was thought to be him!

[jim1]

I believe there was some prior research done by relatives
of the poster & they arrived at this conclusion.
I did look at him at the time & discounted him.
I don't think he was around after about 1910/11 as there
were no more children & Minnie had her first child by Harry Rundle in 1912.

[Missgalaxy]

Hello. Hope you all are doing well! I just stumbled upon this thread and found it really interesting. My paternal great grandmother was Nellie L Rundle and I had no idea that her father had such a life. I have done DNA ancestry testing and have a Spinney in my DNA matches. It looks like that one of Minnie's daughters that married a Spinney in Canada was the daughter of Harry Rundle and not Hale...unless there are any other Spinney's in the family that anyone has found? I could be completely wrong but I'm pretty sure that's the connection. Looking forward to learning more!

[Nodrog50]

Well that's thrown a spanner in the works!
Ethel Mary Hales, b.26th. Dec. 1913, married a Gilbert Spinney.
I've been corresponding with one of Joseph John Rundle's daughters in Australia and I thought we were gradually sorting things out; well as much as you can with such elusive characters!
I remember 'Aunt Nell' quite well from our visits to my Gran.

[jim1]

I believe it was Ethel who made enquiries in Australia & Canada
regarding her younger siblings.
B'ham library hold the Middlemore Homes records which will tell you
the circumstances of the children of Harry Rundle being placed there.