File:Alfred Robert Rudkin, First World War soldier (16502532189).jpg

Lance Sergeant Alfred Robert Rudkin was a soldier who served in the NZ Rifle Brigade during the First World War.

Formerly a school teacher from the West Coast of the South Island, Rudkin was awarded the Military Medal for ‘conspicuous gallantry during the fighting near Colincamps [the Somme]’ during 28, 29, 30 and 31 March 1918. Acting as a second bayonet man, Rudkin took part in three bombing attacks on the enemy trenches, clearing over 300 yards of trench. His citation notes that he worked ‘utterly regardless of danger.’

However the 23 year-old Rudkin was also seriously injured during his efforts. According to his digitised personnel file (ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServle...), on 31 March he received a large gunshot wound to his left thigh and left arm, multiple wounds to his right arm, elbow and forearm, and his face was lacerated. Some of his wounds went on to become infected and so were excised, cleaned and sutured. He later had a ‘plastic operation’ to close his face wounds, and while he slowly recovered, he was discharged as medically unfit. Rudkin died on 21 September 1968, aged 74 years. Three of his brothers were killed during the First World War.

This photograph of Alfred Rudkin comes from a set of photographs created by the National Museum. The Museum endeavoured to obtain a portrait of each New Zealander who had received a gallantry medal during the First World War. Families sent in photographic portraits of their family's medal recipient along with correspondence giving background information, and these were eventually mounted onto board and exhibited. Archives New Zealand has recently digitised these, and can be found here: www.archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewEntity.do?code=25044

Archives Reference: AALZ 25044 Box 3/ F1434 archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=24184263

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