THE MUDDLE FAMILIES

 

THE SUSSEX MUDDLE FAMILIES THE BUXTED MUDDLES

 

Chart of Joseph & Elizabeth Muddle's Family

 

Joseph and Elizabeth’s eldest child was Spencer Henry Muddle who was born at High Hurstwood in Buxted Parish, Sussex, and baptised at the Parish Church of St Margaret the Queen in Buxted on 27 September 1863. (Spencer's birth was registered, and he was baptised, as Henry Spencer Muddle, but he seems to have always been known as Spencer Henry Muddle.) In the census of 2 April 1871 Spencer, at the age of 7, was living with his parents in one half of an unnamed cottage that no longer exists but stood behind where White Briars now stands, and was next to the Village Shop in High Hurstwood, and he was going to school. Then in the census of 3 April 1881 Spencer, now aged 17, was working as a farm labourer and continuing to live with his parents in one half of the same unnamed cottage that stood behind where White Briars now stands in High Hurstwood.

When he was 26 years old Spencer married 44-year-old spinster Jane Ann Letch at the Parish Church of St Mary Magdalene in Cowden, Kent on 30 May 1889. They were both then living at Cowden, and Spencer was still a farm labourer. Jane was the daughter of John and Jane Letch; she had been born at Great Bardfield, Essex and baptised at the Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin in Great Bardfield on 25 August 1844.

Spencer and Jane did not have any children. In the census of 5 April 1891 they were living in Oxted Road, Tandridge, Surrey, and Spencer was continuing to work as a farm labourer. Spencer died at the age of 36, his death being registered in Godstone registration district in Surrey during the 1st quarter of 1900. In the census of 31 March 1901 Jane was running her own boarding house in the High Street at Oxted in Surrey. At the time of the census she had four single men as boarders, and the three members of the Montgomery family as visitors. Jane can not be found in the 1911 census. Twenty-two years after Spencer's death Jane died at the age of 77, her death being registered in Risbridge registration district in Suffolk during the 1st quarter of 1922.

 

 

Joseph and Elizabeth’s second child was Albert Muddle who was born at High Hurstwood in Buxted Parish, Sussex, and baptised at the Parish Church of St Margaret the Queen in Buxted on 4 June 1865. Albert died when only 10 months old, and he was buried in the Churchyard of St Margaret the Queen at Buxted on 6 March 1866.

 

Joseph and Elizabeth’s third child was Louisa Muddle who was born at High Hurstwood in Buxted Parish, Sussex, and baptised at the Parish Church of St Margaret the Queen in Buxted on 21 April 1867. In the census of 2 April 1871 Louisa, at the age of 4, was going to school and living with her parents in one half of an unnamed cottage that no longer exists but stood behind where White Briars now stands, and was next to the Village Shop in High Hurstwood. In this census Louisa was also recorded as being with the family of her father's brother, Charles Muddle, at Rocks Lawn Cottage in Uckfield, where she was probably staying as a visitor.

In 1871 Louisa would have been attending Buxted School as High Hurstwood School had yet to be built, but two years later when High Hurstwood School did open she would have been amongst the first intake of pupils. Louisa, at the age of 11, was still attended High Hurstwood School when the 4 September 1878 edition of The Sussex Advertiser listed all the prizes awarded at the Buxted Annual Flower Show held at Buxted Park on Wednesday 28 August 1878. One class of prize was Colonel Harcourt's prize of books to girls of High Hurstwood School for best specimens of needlework, in which Louisa Muddle was awarded 3rd prize.

In the census of 3 April 1881 Louisa, now aged 14, was living with her parents in one half of the same unnamed cottage that stood behind where White Briars now stands in High Hurstwood, and she was still going to school. Then in the census of 5 April 1891 Louisa, at the age of 24, was working as a domestic cook and living with her parents at Old Hall Cottages in High Hurstwood.

When she was 28 years old Louisa married 29-year-old William Williams, who was from Uckfield, at the Parish Church of Holy Trinity in High Hurstwood on 4 January 1896. William was the son of James and Jane Williams; he had been born at Fletching in Sussex and his birth registered during the 3rd quarter of 1866. He was privately baptised by the Parish Church of St Andrew & St Mary the Virgin in Fletching on 22 March 1867, at the same time as his elder sister Mary Anne.

William and Louisa lived at Uckfield in Sussex and had one child, a daughter, born in 1896. William was a labourer at the time of his marriage but was described as being an engineer at the baptism of their daughter. In the census of 31 March 1901 they were living in New Road, Ridgewood, Uckfield, with their young daughter. William was described as a potteries stationary engine driver working at home, so they must have been living at Ben Ware’s pottery works in New Road. Living with them was William’s nephew Owen Thomas Avis who was to marry Louisa’s sister Ada in 1905, and they also had potter Walter Butts as a boarder.

Louisa died at Uckfield, at the age of 39, of cancer, and she was buried in Uckfield Cemetery on 14 December 1906. Four years later William married her sister Agnes, see the section on Agnes for further details.

 

William and Louisa’s only child was Elsie Louisa Williams who was born at Uckfield in Sussex on 6 October 1896 and baptised at the Parish Church of Holy Trinity in High Hurstwood on 15 November 1896. In the census of 31 March 1901 Elsie, at the age of 4, was living with her parents at Ben Ware's pottery works in New Road, Ridgewood, Uckfield. Elsie's mother died in 1906 and her father then married her mother's sister. In the census of 2 April 1911 Elsie, now aged 14, was going to school and living with her father and stepmother at 2 Brickyard Cottage, New Road, Ridgewood.

When she was 23 years old Elsie married 28-year-old George Ernest Gaston at the Parish Church of St Mary in Newick, Sussex on 7 February 1920. George was the son of George and Lydia Gaston, and he had been born at East Chiltington in Sussex on 3 March 1891. Elsie had met George when she worked as a maid at Goldbridge House near Newick, and George worked for Richards the Newick coal merchants. They lived in a cottage at The Green in Newick, where they had their only child, a son, who was slightly mentally retarded due to problems at his birth. Later George, Elsie and their son moved to Kingston Gorse, which is an exclusive housing estate on the coast between Worthing and Littlehampton in West Sussex for wealthy and famous people that included members of the Crazy Gang. George was caretaker and gatekeeper for the estate and they lived in the gatehouse bungalow.

When George retired they moved to Lancing where Elsie died at the age of 74, her death being registered in Worthing registration district during the 1st quarter of 1971. Elsie was cremated at the Downs Crematorium in Brighton. George and his son then went to live next-door to George's relative, Ivy Pearl Moon née Gaston, and her husband Arthur at Gordon Road in Buxted, George having bought this pair of houses. George died while they were living at Buxted when he was just on 91 years old, his death being registered in Uckfield registration district during the 1st quarter of 1982. He was cremated at the Downs Crematorium in Brighton.

 

George and Elsie’s only child was Maurice George W Gaston who was born at Newick in Sussex on 18 May 1921. Maurice was slightly mentally retarded due to problems at his birth. He moved with his parents to Kingston Gorse on the coast between Worthing and Littlehampton in West Sussex where he worked as a refuse collector. When his father retired Maurice moved with his parents to Lancing where his mother died in 1971. Maurice and his father then moved to Gordon Road in Buxted where his father died in 1982. Maurice then went to live with the daughter of his father's sister Ruby at Newick, but she put him into a home where he died, having never married because of his over-protective father. Maurice died at the age of 62, his death being registered in Windsor and Maidenhead registration district in Berkshire during March 1984.

 

Joseph and Elizabeth’s fourth child was Ernest Edward Muddlewho was born at High Hurstwood in Buxted Parish, Sussex, and baptised at the Parish Church of St Margaret the Queen in Buxted on 27 June 1869. In the census of 2 April 1871 Ernest, at the age of 1, was living with his parents in one half of an unnamed cottage that no longer exists but stood behind where White Briars now stands, and was next to the Village Shop in High Hurstwood. Then in the census of 3 April 1881 Ernest, now aged 11, was living with his parents in one half of the same unnamed cottage that stood behind where White Briars now stands in High Hurstwood, and he was going to school.

In the census of 5 April 1891 Ernest, at the age of 21, was a domestic groom boarding with the family of widow Martha Colgate at Stable Cottage, Chafford, Penshurst, Kent. Then in the census of the 31 March 1901 Ernest, still single at the age of 31, was a domestic groom boarding with coachman George Quarterman and his wife at 10 Kensington Court Mews in Kensington, London. Ernest can not be found in the 1911 census.

It's thought that Ernest never married and that he later worked as a lift attendant in London. He is said to have changed his name to Moody, but his death is recorded under the name Muddle; he died at the age of 66, and his death was recorded in Chelsea registration district in London during the 4th quarter of 1935.

 

Joseph and Elizabeth’s fifth child was an unnamed son who was born at High Hurstwood in Buxted Parish, Sussex on 12 April 1872. He died soon after birth and was never baptised. His death was registered in Uckfield registration district during the 2nd quarter of 1872. There is no record of his burial at either Buxted or High Hurstwood.

 

Joseph and Elizabeth’s sixth child was William Valence Muddle who was born at High Hurstwood in Sussex, and baptised at the Parish Church of Holy Trinity in High Hurstwood on 31 August 1873. William died at High Hurstwood when only 19 months old, and he was buried in the Churchyard of Holy Trinity at High Hurstwood on 23 February 1875.

 

 

Joseph and Elizabeth’s seventh child was Agnes Muddle who was born at High Hurstwood in Sussex on 2 December 1875, and baptised at the Parish Church of Holy Trinity in High Hurstwood on 9 April 1876. In the census of 3 April 1881 Agnes, at the age of 5, was going to school and living with her parents in one half of an unnamed cottage that no longer exists but stood behind where White Briars now stands, and was next to the Village Shop in High Hurstwood. Then in the census of 5 April 1891 Agnes, now aged 15, was a live-in domestic servant to the family of Edward Page at the village shop and post office in High Hurstwood. In the census of 31 March 1901 Agnes, at the age of 25, was working as a housemaid and living back home with her parents at Old Hall Cottages in High Hurstwood.

When she was 34 years old Agnes married 44-year-old William Williams, who was the widower of her sister Louisa, at the Parish Church of Holy Trinity in High Hurstwood on 1 October 1910. In the census of 2 April 1911 they were living at 2 Brickyard Cottages, New Road, Ridgewood, Uckfield, Sussex with William's daughter from his first marriage, and William was working as a stationary engineman at Ben Ware's Brick and Tile Works in Ridgewood. Their own child, a son, was born at Uckfield in 1912.

William died at the age of 79, while living at 36 Framfield Road in Uckfield, and he was buried in Uckfield Cemetery on 29 November 1945. Nineteen years later Agnes died at Woodlands Park in Stoke D'Abernon, Surrey on 21 January 1965, at the age of 89, from senile myocardial degeneration.

 

William and Agnes’ only child was Laurence Henry James Williams who was born at Uckfield in Sussex, and baptised at the Parish Church of Holy Cross in Uckfield on 6 October 1912. Laurence started an apprenticeship at Durrants the building firm in Uckfield but did not complete it. When he was 26 years old Laurence married 19-year-old Dorothy H Chubb in Brentford registration district in Middlesex during the 4th quarter of 1938. Dorothy was the daughter of Sydney and Kate Chubb and her birth had been registered in Cranbrook registration district in Kent during 3rd quarter of 1919. Laurence and Dorothy had one child born in Brentford registration district in 1941 before their marriage ended when Dorothy divorced Laurence, who, at the age of 38, then married Dorothy M Blackman in North Eastern Surrey registration district during the 1st quarter of 1951. Laurence lived in London where he had several jobs including that of prison warder.

 

Joseph and Elizabeth’s eighth child was Ada Muddlewho was born at High Hurstwood in Sussex on 9 July 1878, and baptised at the Parish Church of Holy Trinity in High Hurstwood on 10 November 1878. In the census of 3 April 1881 Ada, at the age of 2, was living with her parents in one half of an unnamed cottage that no longer exists but stood behind where White Briars now stands, and was next to the Village Shop in High Hurstwood. Then in the census of 5 April 1891 Ada, now aged 12, was living with her parents at Old Hall Cottages in High Hurstwood, and she was going to school. In the census of 31 March 1901 Ada, at the age of 22, was working as a housemaid and continuing to live with her parents at Old Hall Cottages in High Hurstwood.

who was a labourer, at the Parish Church of Holy Trinity in High Hurstwood on 8 July 1905. Owen was the son of Owen and Jane Avis; he had been born at Fletching in Sussex on 1 March 1877 and baptised at the Parish Church of St Andrew & St Mary the Virgin in Fletching on 6 May 1877. Owen and Ada had three children; the first two were born at Framfield in Sussex in 1906 and 1908. Then in the census of 2 April 1911 they were living in New Road, New Town, Uckfield, Sussex with their two children and Owen was working as a general labourer at Ben Ware's Brick and Tile Works in Ridgewood, Uckfield. Owen and Ada's third child was born in Uckfield in 1913. As well as working at the Brick and Tile Works Owen also did gardening for the owner Ben Ware. Ada worked at the Uckfield mortuary.

Owen died at Uckfield on 19 November 1939 at the age of 62, and then seventeen years later Ada died at Uckfield on about the 9 February 1957 at the age of 78. They are buried together in an unmarked grave in Uckfield Cemetery.

 

Owen and Ada’s eldest child was Leonard Owen Avis, known as Len, who was born at Framfield in Sussex on 1 June 1906. In the census of 2 April 1911 Len, at the age of 4, was living with his parents in New Road, New Town, Uckfield, Sussex. When he was 27 years old Len married 24-year-old Violet Irene Barrett at the Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin in Ringmer, Sussex on 9 September 1933. Violet was the daughter of George and Mary Barrett and she had been born at Bermondsey in London on 17 October 1908. Len and Violet lived in Uckfield, Sussex where they had two children, both sons, born in 1934 and 1936. Len worked at Ben Ware's Brick and Tile Works in Ridgewood, Uckfield and then later at the army supplies dump at Isfield, Sussex. Len died at Uckfield on 31 May 1991 at the age of 84, and was cremated.

 

Owen and Ada’s second child is Irene Ada Avis who was born at Framfield in Sussex on 7 August 1908. In the census of 2 April 1911 Irene, at the age of 2, was living with her parents in New Road, New Town, Uckfield, Sussex. When she was 25 years old Irene married 25-year-old William Thomas Hall at the Parish Church of Holy Cross in Uckfield on 1 June 1934. William was the son of Isaac and Frances Hall and he had been born at Glyndebourne in Sussex on 17 January 1909. William and Irene first lived just to the south of Uckfield in Lewes registration district where their two children were born in 1937 and 1940, before they moved to Ringmer where William had a transport business. In 1960 William got contracts for the transport requirements of the London orchestras, and the family moved to London. When William retired, they moved to Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk. William died on 16 May 1991 at the age of 82; he was cremated and his ashes were buried in the Churchyard of St Leonard in Horringer, Suffolk. Eleven years later Irene died at the age of 93, her death being registered in East Yorks registration district in Yorkshire during July 2002.

 

Owen and Ada’s third child was Reginald Eric Avis, known as Reg, who was born at Uckfield in Sussex on 5 July 1913. When he was 28 years old Reg married 21-year-old Gwendolen Frances May Drake at the Parish Church of Holy Cross in Uckfield on 5 July 1941. Gwendolen was the daughter of Francis and May Drake and she had been born in Uckfield registration district on 10 March 1920. Reg and Gwendolen lived in Uckfield and had four children born between 1943 and 1948, the first two being twins. Reg worked as a gardener for Ben Ware the owner of the Brick and Tile Works at Ridgewood. Gwen died at Uckfield on 4 December 1963 at the age of 43, and then twelve years later Reg died at Uckfield on 14 August 1975 at the age of 62. They are buried together in Uckfield cemetery; where their grave is marked by an inscribed stone.

 

Joseph and Elizabeth’s ninth child was Emma Muddle who was born at High Hurstwood in Sussex on 12 March 1880, and baptised at the Parish Church of Holy Trinity in High Hurstwood on 16 May 1880. In the census of 3 April 1881 Emma, at the age of 1, was living with her parents in one half of an unnamed cottage that no longer exists but stood behind where White Briars now stands, and was next to the Village Shop in High Hurstwood. Then in the census of 5 April 1891 Emma, now aged 11, was living with her parents at Old Hall Cottages in High Hurstwood, and she was going to school. In the census of 31 March 1901 Emma, at the age of 21, was working as a laundress and boarding with the family of farm labourer Charles Pankhurst at Springwell Cottage in Maresfield, Sussex. Then in the census of 2 April 1911 Emma, at the age of 31, was living with the family of laundryman Joseph Taylor at Bramley House, Barfields, Bletchingley, Surrey and she was working as an assistant in the laundry business.

When she was 43 years old Emma married 40-year-old Allan Douglas Taylor, known as Douglas, who was a gardener, at the Parish Church of Holy Trinity in High Hurstwood on 27 October 1923. Douglas was the son of Jesse and Margaret Taylor; he had been born at Lindfield in Sussex and his birth registered during the 2nd quarter of 1883. Douglas and Emma never had children, Emma being 43 when they married. They first lived at Old Hall Cottage in High Hurstwood with Emma's father, who Emma is thought to have looked after since his wife died in August 1911. Sometime before the death of Emma's father in 1929 they moved to 6 Hillside at the bottom end of Whitehill Road in Crowborough, Sussex, where they lived until their deaths.

Emma died at the age of 72 (not 73 as given on her death certificate), her death being registered in Uckfield registration district during the 2nd quarter of 1952. Just on a year later Douglas died as the result of a fall down stairs when he was 70 years old (not 72 as given on his death certificate), his death being registered in Uckfield registration district during the 2nd quarter of 1953.

 

 

Joseph and Elizabeth’s tenth child was Henry Muddle who was born at High Hurstwood in Sussex, and baptised at the Parish Church of Holy Trinity in High Hurstwood on 11 November 1883. Henry died at High Hurstwood when only 28 months old, and he was buried in the Churchyard of Holy Trinity at High Hurstwood on 20 December 1885.

 

Joseph and Elizabeth’s eleventh child was Lois Muddle who was born at High Hurstwood in Sussex, and baptised at the Parish Church of Holy Trinity in High Hurstwood on 25 April 1886. In the census of 5 April 1891 Lois, at the age of 5, was living with her parents at Old Hall Cottages in High Hurstwood, and she was going to school. Then in the census of 31 March 1901 Lois, now aged 15, was still living with her parents at Old Hall Cottages. In the census of 2 April 1911 Lois, at the age of 25, was a live-in lady's maid to the family of retired insurance broker and underwriter Alfred Faber at Offerton in Forest Row, Sussex. Lois then went to London to work as a domestic servant, and she was living at 6 Balham Grove in Balham when in 1913, at the age of 27, she had an illegitimate son, whose father was probably named Wheeler and is understood to have died as a young man of tuberculosis.

During the First World War, Lois, at the age of 30, married an Australian soldier called William Gillespie at St Mary's Church in Balham, London on 27 December 1916. At the time of their marriage they were both living at 86 Endlesham Road in Balham. They didn't have any children, and when William went back to Australia Lois refused to go with him.

Lois remained in London, and while working as a waitress on trains of the GWR Paddington to Birmingham line, she met William Henry Aston, known as Harry, who was a rich Birmingham businessman in the steel fabrication industry. Harry was about 30 years older than Lois, his birth having been registered in Stourbridge registration district, near Birmingham, during the 3rd quarter of 1856. He was married at this time so he installed Lois in a luxury flat in London. Lois tried to divorce her husband, William Gillespie, but he could not be traced, so after seven years he was presumed dead and she was declared free to marry again. When Harry's wife died he married Lois in Pancras registration district in London during the 4th quarter of 1929. Harry was then 73 and Lois 43. They lived in a grand house at Barnet in north London until Harry died at the age of 80; his death being registered in Marylebone registration district in London during the 2nd quarter of 1937. Lois then moved to Crowborough in Sussex where she lived next-door to her sister Emma Taylor at the bottom of Whitehill Road, until her death.

 

Lois’ illegitimate son was Henry George Wheeler Muddle, known as Harry, who was born at 6 Balham Grove in Balham, London on 28 August 1913. When he was nearly 27 years old Harry married 20-year-old Margaret Wells, known as Peggy or Peg, at the Border Register Office in Cumberland on 24 August 1940. They were both then living at Hadrian's Camp in Houghton, Carlisle, where Harry was Private 3384935 in the Lancashire Fusiliers and Margaret was a canteen assistant. They had two children; the first born in Millom registration district in Lancaster in 1942 and the second in Carlisle registration district in Cumberland in 1947. They were living in Millom when Harry died in Barrow-in-Furness Hospital, at the age of 50, from gastroenteritis; his death being registered during the 1st quarter of 1964. He was buried in the graveyard of the Parish Church of St George in Millom. Margaret then married John Rundle Warren at Rutherglen, Lanarkshire, Scotland in 1966. John had been born at Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, Scotland in 1899. They lived on Richmond Drive in Rutherglen until John died in 1974. Margaret then moved back to Millom where she lived at 10 Newton Street until her death at Millom on 20 May 1982, at the age of 61, from cancer. She was buried with her first husband in the graveyard of the Parish Church of St George in Millom, where their grave is marked by an inscribed headstone.

 

Joseph and Elizabeth’s twelfth child was Frederick Joseph Muddle, known as Fred, who was born at High Hurstwood in Sussex on 18 June 1888, and baptised at the Parish Church of Holy Trinity in High Hurstwood on 14 October 1888. In the census of 5 April 1891 Fred, at the age of 2, was living with his parents at Old Hall Cottages in High Hurstwood. Then in the census of 31 March 1901 Fred, now aged 12, was continuing to live with his parents at Old Hall Cottages. In the census of 2 April 1911 Fred, at the age of 22, was working as a domestic gardener and still living with his parents at Old Hall Cottages.

During the First World War Fred was at 27-year-old gardener living at High Hurstwood when he enlisted at Uckfield on 5 February 1916 for the duration of the war, as Gunner 130360 in the Royal Field Artillery. He was then described as 5ft 7ins tall, weighed 130lbs, had a 35ins fully expanded chest and good physical development. He was mobilized at Eastbourne on 28 March 1916 and posted to No 3 Depot of the Royal Field Artillery on 31 March 1916. The following day, 1 April 1916, he was posted to No 13 Reserve Battery of the Royal Field Artillery and then on 7 July 1916 he was posted to the 4'A' Reserve Brigade. On the 24 July 1916 he embarked for France as part of the 21st Reserve Battery, where on 3 August 1916 he was posted to the 33rd D.A.C. (Divisional Ammunition Column), Section 4'B' Echelon. On 7 December 1916 Fred was admitted to hospital with sciatica and was unable to walk; he was evacuated to England on Hospital Ship Glenart Castle on 29 December 1916. He was in England for 11 months during which time he was at the Southern Military Hospital in London until 19 June 1917 and then at the Convalescent Hospital in Eastbourne until 21 August 1917. He embarked for France again on 7 December 1917 where he joined the 20th D.A.C. and was posted to 92nd Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery on 11 December 1917. Within a month Fred was again suffering from sciatica and was evacuated to England again on 12 January 1918 where he was at the Military Hospital in Bagthorpe, Nottingham until 4 March 1918 and then the Royal Bath Hospital in Harrogate until 10 May 1918. Fred must have been cured of his sciatica this time because he embarked for France yet again on 14 August 1918 and served in Europe for exactly 13 months, returning to England on 14 September 1919. While in Europe this time Fred was part of the Army of the Rhine occupying Germany, he was first posted to 'C' Battery of 70 Brigade and then joined C/51 Brigade on 19 April 1919, from which he was granted leave to England from 2 to 16 August 1919. The one entry in Fred's Regimental Conduct Sheet was for overstaying his embarkation leave on 9 August 1918 before he left for France for the third time, for which he was deprived of 1 day's pay. Fred was demobilized and transferred to the army reserve at Woolwich on 12 October 1919 and returned to live with his parents at Old Hall Cottages in High Hurstwood. For his service during the war Fred was awarded two campaign medals, the Victory Medal and the British War Medal, which he received on 31 October 1921.[1]

 

 

When he was 32 years old Fred married 25-year-old Eva Ann Kempton at the Parish Church of St Catherine & St Paul in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire on 20 December 1920. Eva was the daughter of Frederick and Elizabeth Kempton and she had been born at Hoddesdon on 4 March 1895. Fred and Eva had met while Eva was working as a domestic servant in Sussex. They first lived at Burnt Oak, which is just over the boarder of High Hurstwood Parish in Crowborough Parish, where their three daughters were born in 1921, 1924 and 1930, and where Fred worked as head gardener for Mrs Tate-Smith at Brook House. When Mrs Tate-Smith lost a lot of her money in 1930 she had to dismiss most of her employees. Fred lost his job and the house they lived in. So they went to live in Hoddesdon where their son was born in 1931, and Fred worked in the factory owned by the husband of his sister Lois. Fred hated working in the factory, and when in 1940 he was offered the job of gardener for Mr Braby at the Hermitage in High Hurstwood, they moved to the Hermitage Lodge. They stayed there until Mr Braby died in 1948 after which they moved to Hailsham in Sussex.

Fred died at Hailsham on 19 September 1972, at the age of 84, and was cremated at Eastbourne. Eva, who was ill with diabetes and had had a leg amputated, went to live with her married daughter Nellie at Hoddesdon, where she died on 20 February 1974, at the age of 78, and was cremated at Enfield in north London.

 

Fred and Eva’s eldest child was Nellie Muddle who was born at Burnt Oak, which is just over the boarder of High Hurstwood Parish in Crowborough Parish, in Sussex on 21 October 1921, and baptised at the Parish Church of All Saints in Crowborough on 9 April 1922. Nellie went to High Hurstwood School, starting on 10 January 1927 at the age of 5, and leaving on 30 August 1930 at the age of 8 when her family moved to Hoddesdon in Hertfordshire where she completed her education.

When her parents moved back to High Hurstwood in 1940 Nellie was working as a bookkeeper in central London so she stayed on in Hoddesdon with one of her aunts. She travelled to work on the railway line into Liverpool Street Station but when this started to be out of action too often because of bombing she went to stay with another aunt in Balham, London. However this aunt was a member of the Peace Pledge Union that didn’t believe in war and she didn’t have an air raid shelter so Nellie was terrified and I don’t stay there long.

Nellie was called up to serve with the ATS and as a suitable candidate to be trained to track the radio signals of German bombers as they took off she was sent for this training on the Isle of Man. After training she served at one or more of tracking stations that were feeding information into the then secret decoding operation at Bletchley Park. Nellie told her son that once her training was complete she could identify individual German pilots by the way they tapped out their Morse code.

While visiting her parents at High Hurstwood Nellie met up with Fred Ruffle, whom she had known from their school days together at High Hurstwood, and in the early 1940s they started a relationship. This resulted in Nellie, at the age of 21, marrying 21-year-old Frederick Henry Ruffle, known as Fred, who was then a sergeant in the RAF, at the Parish Church of Holy Trinity in High Hurstwood on 25 February 1943. Fred was the son of William and Ellen Ruffle, and he had been born in Eastbourne registration district in Sussex on 22 August 1921. He was living with his parents at 2 Parkhurst Cottages in High Hurstwood when he started attending High Hurstwood School on 28 September 1926, at the age of 5. He left High Hurstwood School on 27 September 1933, at the age of 12, when he got a scholarship. His mother became a teacher at High Hurstwood School in 1940 and early in the war Fred volunteered to serve in the RAF.

Soon after her marriage Nellie became pregnant so she left the ATS and went to live with her parents at Hermitage Lodge in High Hurstwood. This resulted in Fred and Nellie’s only child, a daughter, who was born in early 1944. Nellie was at Hermitage Lodge when she went into labour and the car taking her to Crowborough Hospital crashed in the blackout, but finally arrived at the hospital where her daughter was safely delivered.

 

 

During the Second World War Fred served in the R.A.F.V.R. (Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve), his Service No. was 175408. Fred was a navigator on twin-seater mosquito bombers; he flew as part of the defence of Malta during its siege and was nearly starving by the time the siege ended. He then flew during the Sicily landings and then the D-Day landing. He was later in one of the pathfinder squadrons that went in to take out the anti aircraft guns before the heavy bombers came in to bomb the dams and canals in the German industrialised areas. He was on the Dortmund Ems Canal raid that was a part of the Dambuster missions. It was for his actions during a raid on the Kiel Canal that Fred, as a Pilot Officer in 515 Squadron, was awarded the DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross), on a mission that resulted in DFCs for four of his fellow officers and DFMs for two airmen, and was described in the Third Supplement to The London Gazette of 28 November 1944 (published on 1 December 1944) as follows:

One night in October, 1944, these officers and airmen took part in an operation involving a minelaying mission. Their task, which necessitated a high degree of skill and perfect co-ordination, was to detract the concentrated fire of the defences. Gun positions and searchlight defences were relentlessly attacked and a number of them put out of action. The results obtained reflect the greatest credit on the ability and resolution displayed by these officers and airmen, whose efforts contributed materially to the success of a hazardous mission.

The actual recommendation for Fred to be awarded the DFC was as follows:

Over a total of 61 sorties on Intruder Operations, comprising of two tours, P/O Ruffle has always displayed qualities of an exceptional Navigator. His courage and skill have to a great measure, contributed to the successful operations carried out by himself and his pilot.

These qualities were well in evidence on the night of 5/6th October 1944, when he was the Navigator of an aircraft detailed to harass and silence the ground defences of the Kiel Canal, and so assist the successful minelaying operations. In order that the fullest support should be given to the minelaying aircraft, it was necessary that his aircraft should arrive only a few seconds in advance of the mining force. That this was accomplished and the defences silenced, was in no small measure due to the determination and skill of Pilot Officer Ruffle. P/O Ruffle also participated in a similar operation during the mining of the Dortmund-Ems Canal on the night of 9/10th August 1944.

The Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 28 November 1944 (published on 1 December 1944) recorded that Fred had been promoted from Pilot Officer to Flying Officer on 2 November 1944. He was now serving with a squadron set up to intercept and disrupt German aircraft radio and radar transmissions. Later that month Fred had the rank of Flying Officer when he was killed on 23 November 1944, at the age of 23. He was flying as navigator on Mosquito DD736 piloted by Flying Officer James Preece from Hardisty, Alberta, Canada, who was training on a system known as Serrate. This was a British radar device that enabled the Mosquito crew to detect and home in on a German night fighter’s airborne radar transmissions. They had taken off from Little Snoring Airfield in Norfolk and crashed into Middleton Fen near East Winch, Norfolk. The aircraft was seen spiralling out of cloud, righted itself and then spun into the ground killing both pilot and navigator. Fred was buried in the Churchyard of Holy Trinity at High Hurstwood on 29 November 1944; where his grave is marked by a kerb with an inscribed headstone. Fred’s death is also recorded on the War Memorial inside Holy Trinity Church at High Hurstwood. The aircraft was excavated from the site where it had crashed in the late 1970s and parts of the aircraft were taken to the Tower Museum at Bassingbourn, Hertfordshire.

Fred’s DFC was posthumously received from the King at Buckingham Palace by his widow and his father on 3 December 1946. Nellie with her young daughter and Fred’s parents, Mr & Mrs Ruffle, all travelled up to Buckingham Palace but only Nellie and Mr Ruffle were allowed in to meet the King, Nellie’s daughter and Mrs Ruffle had to stand outside the palace gates.

Nellie was recorded in the High Hurstwood School Log Book on 28 April 1947 as Mrs Ruffle jun starting work as a Clerical/Canteen Assistant; Nellie remained in this employment for about eleven months until her remarriage. It was three years after Fred’s death that Nellie, at the age of 26, married 35-year-old widower Alfred Charles Kemp at the Parish Church of St Margaret the Queen in Buxted, Sussex on 27 March 1948. Alfred, who was the son of William and Julia Kemp and had been born at Hackney in London on 20 December 1912, was then a railway worker (a plumber for London Midland Railways and then British Railways) living at South Tottenham in London, and he had one child, a son named Roger, from his first marriage.

 

 

Alfred and Nellie lived at Tottenham in North London where they had one child, a son, in 1951. Alf later worked at the Post Office in London, then in 1968 they moved to Hoddesdon in Hertfordshire and Nellie worked as a civil servant at Enfield Royal Small Arms Factory. They moved to Eastbourne in Sussex during 1980, where Alfred died on 26 May 1999, at the age of 86. Nine years later Nellie died at Enfield in North London on 22 March 2008, at the age of 86. She was cremated and her ashes were scattered at Burnt Oak near the cottage where she was born.

 

Fred and Eva’s second child is Winifred Elizabeth Muddle, known as Winnie, who was born in 1924.

 

 

Fred and Eva’s third child is Eveline Muddle, known as Eve, who was born in 1930.

 

Fred and Eva’s fourth child was Frank John Muddle who was born at Hoddesdon in Hertfordshire on 29 December 1931. Frank went to Rye Park School in Hoddesdon, and then when his parents moved to High Hurstwood in Sussex he went to High Hurstwood School, starting on 24 June 1940 at the age of 8, and leaving on 23 April 1943 at the age of 11 to go onto Buxted Senior School.

When he was 27 years old Frank married 27-year-old Barbara Hannah Martin at the Parish Church of Holy Cross in Uckfield, Sussex on 26 September 1959. Barbara was the daughter of Alfred and Winifred Martin and she had been born in Uckfield registration district on 23 August 1932. Frank and Barbara had three children, all sons, born in Uckfield in 1961, 1963 and 1964. Frank was a bricklayer and they lived in Cambridge Way, Uckfield.

Frank died in Haywards Heath Hospital in Sussex on 15 September 2002, at the age of 70, after a long illness. He had been diabetic and had heart problems. Frank was cremated at Eastbourne Crematorium on the 26 September 2002. Seven years later Barbara died on 25 August 2009, at the age of 77, and her funeral service was at the Parish Church of Holy Cross in Uckfield on 7 September 2009.

Copyright © Derek Miller 2008-2015

Last updated 8 May 2015