James TUDDENHAM

‘The Westmorland Gazette’ (4 December 1915)

(Kindly supplied by Sedbergh & District History Society)

A SEDBERGH SOLDIER’S DEATH: MEMORIAL SERVICE

Sorrow for the untimely, but heroic, death of Lance-Corpl. Bennett, of the West Riding Regiment, only son of Mr. and Mrs. Bennett of Sedbergh Station, and respect for his bereaved parents and sister, were manifested at the memorial service in the Sedbergh Parish Church on Wednesday afternoon. As already reported, Lance-Corpl. Bennett was shot through the head by a German sniper on the 19th ult., while endeavouring to rescue a wounded comrade and carry him into the trench. The service was largely attended, almost every part of the valley being well represented. The ordinary burial service was used, and the hymns ‘Fight the good fight’ and ‘On the resurrection morning’ were sung, Mr. A.E. Thorne being at the organ. The officiating clergy were the Revs. J. Montague Cadman and H.F.D. Selby. There was a full detachment of Boy Scouts present, and the church flag hung at half-mast. The Rev. J.M. Cadman, vicar, said Lance-Corpl. Bennett was the first of their men whom they knew to have fallen. They grieved over the shutting off of a bright young life, full of promise, brave, cheerful, willing, thoughtful for others, who had endeared himself to his comrades and won the respect of his officers. The qualities which he had showed there as a Boy Scout had developed in degree. The devotion to duty and the self-sacrifice of the dead was a type and self-reflection of the great Self-sacrifice. Therefore they must not sorrow as those who had no hope. A life of full service, however brief, crowned by a death of willing sacrifice, was one which they might envy. At the end of an impressive service, the organist played the ‘Dead March in Saul,’ the congregation standing.

THE TESTIMONY OF COMRADES

Second-Lieut. Harris, A Co. of the 10th Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regt., writing from the trenches to Mrs. Bennett on the 20th November, says: “It is with the deepest regret that I have to tell you of your son Noel’s death. It was yesterday morning that it happened. There was one of our men [Private John Cardwell] out sniping in front of our lines, when the other man out with him returned to tell us he had been hit. When your son heard this, he was out after him, but as where the man lying wounded was in a very exposed position, they saw him, and, poor chap, he was hit through the head, and death was instantaneous. Words of mine are inadequate to you in your terrible loss, but he died like a man and a soldier, trying to rescue a wounded comrade. Your son had been in my platoon ever since he joined the battalion. He was always a good worker and always of good cheer. In him I have lost one of my best men. I shall always remember him as a fearless lad. He was always one of the first to come forward on any work that was at all risky. I myself used always to want him, because he could be relied on. He was most popular with everybody. The chaplain will write and tell you where he is laid to rest. May I take this opportunity of conveying to you, his parents, my deepest sympathy and condolences.” Another letter from a comrade tells how Lance-Corpl. Bennett was buried, he and Capt. [Corpl.] H.L. Mason, another Sedbergh man, being present. A cross has been put on his grave, also his name Noel in small pieces of red brick. He lies next to the man he tried to save. The writer says that less deeds than Noel Bennett’s have been awarded the V.C.–From the chaplain, 21st November, 1915: The Rev. W.L. Henderson, chaplain 69th Field Ambulance, in the course of his letter, says:–Noel Bennett was buried in a little cemetery immediately behind the trenches. A small cross will be put up to the memory of him and the soldier who lies beside him, and the ground for ever kept sacred. The cemetery is in Northern France near the town of Chapelle d’Armentières. Both officers and men joined with him in expressing their deep sympathy. The chaplain goes on to tell Mr. and Mrs. Bennett that their son will be greatly missed by all, but that in their sorrow it will be some comfort to them to know that he died so nobly and that their sorrow is shared by others.–Mr. and Mrs. Bennett have also had letters from Private J. Tuddenham, A Co., 10th W.R. Regt., and also from Corpl. H.L. Mason, of Sedbergh, who expresses his sympathy and then describes how his friend met his death. “He was a good soldier and a good pal, always bright and cheerful even under the most trying conditions. I shall miss him greatly because we have been pals ever since I joined A Company.”–Preaching at the Vale of Lune Chapel on Sunday afternoon, the Rev. H.F.D. Selby said Noel Bennett had fought the good fight and won the eternal crown. All hearts in the parish would go out to his sorrowing parents and sister.

England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966

1937

TUDDENHAM Elizabeth of Rose Cottage Gretna Green Dumfries (wife of James Tuddenham) died 5 February 1937 Administration Carlisle 5 April to the said James Tuddenham retired gamekeeper. Effects £217 5s. 6d.

1948

TUDDENHAM James of 51 Henderson-road Carlisle died 30 March 1948 Probate Carlisle 14 April to Christopher Finlayson Tuddenham departmental under-manager. Effects £186.