Ruffell, C W (Charles William)
Ruffell, C W (Charles William)
Fusilier Charles Ruffell was the son of Charles William and Grace Ruffell, of Londonderry.
Charles was training with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion who had served in France from 1939 to 1940 and fought many desperate rear-guard actions before being evacuated from Dunkirk.[1]
They would not serve abroad again until 1942 when they left for the East Indies. Unfortunately, Fusilier Ruffell had accidently drowned at Corr and Dunavally[2] prior to this.
On the 30th of April 1941, three Fusiliers by the names of Charles Ruffell, Michael Davis[3] from Dublin and William Murray[4] from Donemana, Co Tyrone along with six others who were in training for the British army were practising how to embark and disembark collapsible boats. The soldiers had practised during the day with no issues and at 10pm they were to attempt the same procedure at night.
There were no issues with them boarding the boats and the crossing of the river went well, the issues arrived when they had to get off. As the front three got out the back six did not move forward quick enough and the boat capsized. Six men were now in the water with all their equipment, the river was 20 feet deep.
Two men were rescued by grabbing a branch held by Fusilier Megaw (who was one of the first to disembark) and one by grabbing a rifle held by Sergeant Taylor. The other three were dragged under the water by the weight of what they were carrying and an extraordinarily strong undercurrent. Their bodies were recovered quickly, around 10-15 minutes later. They had all drowned.
Charles was buried with a full military funeral.
Date of Death: 30/04/1941 (Aged 18)
Service: Fusilier, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion, United Kingdom
Service Number: 6980547
Burial Location: Londonderry (or Derry), City Cemetery, Sec. N. Class B. Grave 635.
[1] British suffered around 68,000 killed or captured at the Battle of Dunkirk, around 340,000 where rescued.
[2] Corr and Dunavally is in County Armagh, Northern Ireland.
[3] Michael Davis has no family details and was buried in county Armagh at St, Patrick’s Roman Catholic cemetery. Service Number 6980787.
[4] William J. Murray was the son of John and Susan Murray, of Donemana and was buried at Aughabrack Roman Catholic churchyard. Service Number 6979399.
