Description
Kabul to Kandahar Star, 2104 Private James Ruddington, 2nd 60th “60th Rifles” Foot, who fought in Afghanistan and then the First Boer War of 1881.
Reverse Officially impressed: “2104 PRIVATE JAS: RUDDINGTON 2/60 FOOT”
With full copy service papers. Confirmed on medal roll.
Also earned the Afghanistan Medal, 2 bars, Ahmed Khel, Kandahar.
James Ruddington, was born circa 1858 in Clonoff or Clooncraff (Cluain Creamha), County Roscommon, Ireland.
Attested for service at Winchester on 9th November 1878.
Campaign fought: “Afghanistan 1878-79-80, Mari Country 1880, South Africa 1881”
Service:
Home, 7th Nov 1877 – 29th Oct 1878
India, 30th oct 1878 – 8th Dec 1879
Afghanistan 9th Dec 1879 – 7th Oct 1880
Mari Country, 8th Oct 1880 -14th Nov 1881.
India, 15th Nov 1880 – 24th Jany 1881.
South Africa, 25th January 1881 – 11th Jany 1882
Home, 12th Jany 1882 – 6th Nov 1883.
Following this he joined the 1st Class Army Reserve, at Galway District from 7th Nov 1883 – 20th May 1884
Then Rifle Depot from 21st May 1884 – 31st March 1885.
Medals earned from service records: “Afghan War Medal and clasps for Ahmed Khel and Kandahar, Bronze Star.”
However the Police Gazette of 18th November 1885 has a listing for him as a Deserter of his duties in the Army Reserve.
It notes that he deserted his regiment on 1st April at Cloonoff, Roscommon, and there is no note of his recovery in his papers.
Missing for over 5 months, he looks to have done what many Irishmen did and hopped on a boat to the United States of America.
On 2nd November 1887, a James Ruddington Born during 1858, became a Naturalised Subject of the United States, “Supreme Court Melville New Jersey, November 2nd 1887.”
Later in 1921 he set off from the port at Cobh (Queenstown) on the S.S. Cedric, to go back to New York in the Third Class Cabin sailing from 11th September 1921.
It looks like he returned to Ireland, probably to visit family.
