Memorials & Monuments
on the Isle of Wight
- Biography -
- Theodore Algernon Drudge -

Mr. S. Parkinson, of Gustar and Co., appeared in support of the application of Mr. Theodore Drudge, an employee, for temporary exemption for six weeks, as he had an important contract for making carpets. He now asked for a further exemption for a fortnight as the carpets had been delayed in transit to Ventnor.
Colonel Guild. - Not a good tale for the men in the trenches.
Mr. Drudge said he was quite willing to go if an allowance was granted to his mother whom he had to help support.
The Chairman said he had no doubt relief could be obtained through the Soldiers and Sailors Families Association.
Exemption was granted to Oct. 15th, this to be final.

Before his sermon last Sunday morning, the vicar of Ventnor referred to the death of Pte. Theodore Drudge (who was a member of the choir) in sympathetic turns (sic) and said how deeply they condoled with the family. Many in the congregation were somewhat startled when the Vicar went on to say that news had been received by telegram that morning of the reverse of British troops near Cambria. It was lamentable in the face of this intelligence to realise that British working men at Coventry were on strike.

The news of the death of Pte. Theodore Drudge, of Ventnor, was received on Sunday with the deepest feelings of sorrow. A quiet and steady young man with a disposition that attracted everyone, he will be greatly missed. Private Drudge was the last surviving son of the late Mr. Harry Drudge, builder, of Ventnor, and Mrs. Drudge, Alta Vista, Newport Road. He was a member of the Parish Church Choir, and of the Voluntary Fire Brigade, and for sixteen years was employed at Messrs. Gustars'. He joined the 5th Hants. Regt. on 20th October, 1916, going to France in June of this year. He was subsequently transferred to the 8th Batt., Royal Berks Regiment. Together with several of his colleagues he was sheltering in a shell hole in France, when the whole party were killed by a shell. He was 34 years of age, and leaves a widow and boy of eight. The greatest sympathy is felt for the wife and the widowed and aged mother. The family have already received many expressions of the deep sorrow of the inhabitants in their bereavement, and a message of condolence has been sent by the Fire Brigade. The Chaplain of the Regiment writes to his wife as follows: "I have been for some time getting definite information of your husband's death and how it all happened. It appears that the company was to make an attack on the afternoon of the 16th, and they took up their places on the previous night, waiting in old shell holes for greater safety. At 7.30 a.m., while they waited - four of them in one shell hole - another shell pitched amongst them and killed them all instantaneously. It was all over before any of them could realize what was happening. It was impossible to move in daylight across the open, and as the attack took place as soon as it was dark, the bodies had to be buried on the battlefield. This we all regret, but there could not be any more honourable place for a soldier to lie who fell in the midst of doing his duty. His soul we commend to the keeping of Our Heavenly Father, who will, I trust, comfort you and yours in this time of great sorrow. Your husband had not been with us such a long time as some of our men, but quite long enough to know his worth, and the battalion will miss him - particularly those with whom he was closely associated."
We received at this office this morning a returned postal packet addressed to the late Pte. Drudge in France.

The Chairman said he was sorry to say there were further reports of local men having been killed in action and died for their country, Rifleman Godsell, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. Godsell, C.-S.-M. Jenkins, son of Sergt. and Mrs. C. Jenkins, who were killed in Palestine, Pte. Milligan, who they all knew, and Pte. Drudge. Nothing they could say could compensate the parents and relatives of those who had given their lives, but they offered them all the sincerest sympathy in their bereavement. The Councillors stood in their places as a mark of sympathy in their bereavement.

Mrs. Theodore Drudge, 2, Ashley Terrace, Newport Road, wrote thanking members of the Council for the kind vote of sympathy passed with her in the loss of her husband.

On Friday last the members of the Ventnor Fire Brigade, past and present, held a dinner at Booth's Restaurant, to mark the home-coming of several members from active service. There were about forty present.
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Responding to the toast "The Brigade", Captain Pearson said he had hoped to have called the members together much earlier this year, but demobilization as regards the brigade members had been very slow and consequently the meeting had been delayed. When the war broke out and men were called upon to do their duty to King and country, the Ventnor brigade was hit pretty hard. Every member of the brigade was called up, excepting himself (the Captain) being above the age limit, and Fireman R. Spencer, who went up for examination three times, but was ultimately rejected on account of deafness. Other townsmen were called on and nobly came forward to form a temporary brigade (applause). That, of course, entailed a lot of extra work in the way of drill, etc. In course of time, as the war went on, several of these temporary members were called up, which meant more drilling to keep the brigade in a fairly efficient state. So it went on. Fortunately they had no serious outbreak of fire, but those that did occur were very soon attended to (applause). The speaker went on to express his personal thanks to those who so willingly came forward to fill the places of those who had been called away. All had done their utmost to keep the brigade as efficient as possible (applause). During the war they lost four members. Fireman J. Wheeler and Turncock George Pearson had passed away through sickness. Two others - one of their enrolled members, and one of the temporary members - he referred to Coy.-Serg.- Major Jack Jenkins and Theodore Drudge - had given their lives for King and country, both being killed in action. All honour to them. Others had been wounded but happily had recovered and were with them on that occasion (applause).
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