Sydney Rudge was born at Aston near Preston Brook on 25th September 1919, the son of George Henry Rudge who was born at Brierley Hill in Staffordshire and his wife May (nee Wilkinson) who was from Dutton.
The 1921 Census recorded the family as living in the West Marsh area of Grimsby. The father was employed as a provision storeman for Letten Brothers, trawler owners and fish merchants at the fish docks in Grimsby.
Another child was born to the family in 1923, back in Aston, a daughter called Freda.
Sydney attended Dutton Methodist Sunday School. He learnt to play the piano.
The 1939 Register recorded the Rudge family living at Hill Top Cottage in Dutton. It is not known how long they had lived back in Cheshire. The father was working as a process worker in a chemical works and Sydney as a general labourer in a chemical works. May ran the household and Freda was employed as a domestic servant.
In early 1942 Sydney married Phyllis Ina Lightfoot, who was from Preston Brook. They would have two children.
Sydney served as a Lance Bombardier in the 86th Anti-Tank Regiment of the Royal Field Artillery in World War Two, with the service number 4126684. He was awarded the 1939-45 Star, the France and Germany Star, and the Defence Medal and the War Medal for his war service.
By the time the war ended, Sydney and his wife were living at Tunnel End in Preston Brook, as is evidenced from the Electoral Roll Service Register for 1945, when Sydney was still away on active service. A year later he was back home.
Sydney’s mother and father passed away in 1964 and 1978 respectively.
Sydney Rudge and his wife both passed away in 1986. Sydney was 66 years old. They had been living in Sutton Weaver.
