Ruff | Leonard William
Biography
Leonard William Ruff was killed in action on 13 October 1944 in the vicinity of Overloon. He was aged 24 at the time. He was a Sergeant in the 2nd Battalion of the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry (Service No. 4033629). He was initially buried at Raayweg Kamp Zuid Overloon and re-interred on 20 May 1947 in grave II. C. 7 in the Overloon CWG Cemetery.
Military career
Leonard William Ruff (who was known as Bill) joined the 4th Battalion of the KSLI on 23 June 1936 as a boy soldier and re-enlisted in the 2nd Battalion of the KSLI as a regular soldier on 24 April 1938. At the time of his re-enlistment he was described as a Kennelman. The 2nd Battalion began the war in Jamaica, with a company detached to the Bermuda Garrison. Bill sailed to the West Indies on HMT ETTRICK on 13 January 1939. His daughter has a photograph album of his from Jamaica and Curacao.
The battalion would eventually join the 185th Infantry Brigade, which included the 2nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment and the 1st Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment. The brigade was originally assigned to the 79th Armoured Division but was then transferred to the 3rd British Infantry Division in April 1943, when the division was preparing to invade Sicily, until it was replaced by the 1st Canadian Infantry Division. The battalion took part in the D-Day landings (Operation Overlord), then proceeded through Belgium and the Netherlands and the rest of the North West Europe Campaign with the British Second Army.
Bill’s daughter has found an article in a local Shrewsbury Newspaper which mentions her father while in Belgium:
“HOW THE K.S.L.I. GAINED CANAL BRIDGEHEAD
A grim fight during the advance in Belgium during which two companies of the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry successfully crossed a canal and established a bridgehead is described by a military observer.
By the time the bridgehead had been gained the light was fading, so the troops dug themselves in for the night.
In the morning one by one, the platoons ran under heavy fire from about five machine guns.
For two and a half hours the K.S.L.I. were pinned down by the murderous fire. They gave as good as they took and quickly used up all their ammunition. Their dump was on the other side of the canal. SERGEANT LEONARD W. RUFF, of 2 Hemford, Gravels, Minsterley, Shrewsbury, accompanied by Private William Hacket, of 52, Lenton Lane, Hawkesbury, Coventry, decided to ferry ammunition across the canal. They loaded the assault craft with 3,000 rounds of small arms ammunition and full replenishment for the company in mortar and bombs and having crossed the canal, paddled along the bank for some distance to bring the ammunition nearer the company position.
‘Jerry guessed what was in the boat and dropped some mortars in the canal. They splashed harmlessly near us’ said SERGEANT RUFF.
When the Germans, outflanked, pulled out from that place, they left 30 of their dead behind.”
It is believed that this incident occurred when the 2nd KSLI were crossing the Meuse-Escaut Canal on 20 to 22 September during the military push up through Belgium and the Netherlands which was part of Operation Market Garden. They relieved the 1st South Lancashire Regiment on the bank of the Escaut Canal at 6am on 20 September near the village of Caulille. At 19:45 X and W Companies crossed the canal in Assault Boats. They faced sporadic bursts of machine gun fire. After establishing a bridgehead, they advanced south down the canal encountering heavy enemy small arms fire. At first light on 21 September the two companies attacked towards the main Caulille – Weert road but faced fierce resistance. Both companies fell back to their original positions and formed a tight bridgehead across the canal. There were 22 casualties on the British side and enemy casualties were estimated at about 30. On 22 September Z and Y Companies were able to cross the canal unopposed. Civilians reported that the enemy had withdrawn during the night of 21/22 September.
The Battalion left for a new location at Zomeren in the Netherlands early on 23 September and arrived at Asten on the 25 September. They remained in that area until 1 October. By this time, the bridgehead at Arnhem had been evacuated, leaving the Allied forces in a rather precarious narrow salient.
The Battalion left for a new location at Someren in the Netherlands early on 23 September and arrived at Asten on the 25 September. They remained in that area until 1 October. By this time, the bridgehead at Arnhem had been evacuated, leaving the Allied forces in a rather precarious narrow salient.
They moved to Mook on 2 October which is on the east bank of the River Maas, south of Nijmegen and north of Overloon. They remained in that area until 8 October. The aim had been to attack the enemy to the east in the Reichswald Forest, but priorities changed to widening the salient by heading south to take Overloon, Venray and cross the Maas at Venlo. The Battalion therefore moved down to Oeffelt then reached Rijkevoort on 12 October.
At first light on 13 October, the Commanding Officer and Company Commanders carried out a reconnaissance of the woods south of Overloon through which the Battalion was to pass while the Battalion reached its assembly position about 1,000 yds north of Overloon prior to the attack itself which began at 12 noon.
The battalion had the support of one squadron of Churchill tanks from the Coldstream Guards and an artillery barrage. The plan was for W and Z companies to be the two forward companies on the left and right respectively. Y company were to advance on the eastern edge of the woods and give protection to the attack from that flank. X Company were to be in reserve. The attack proved difficult as the Churchill tanks were bogged down or delayed by minefields and radio communication in the thick woods was abysmal. The two forward companies managed to reach approximately the intended positions, but Y company found that the edge of the woods on the map was far from clear on the ground. They managed to reach their area after much wandering about the woods. However, the War Diary reports that “Lt. Bellamy and Sgt Ruff killed and bn suffered about 17 other casualties during the day”.
Leonard William Ruff’s Birth Family and Marriage
Leonard William Ruff (known as Bill) was born on 21 December 1919 in the hamlet of Cound which is on the road to Shrewsbury, just north west of Cressage. He was the son of Richard Ruff and Elizabeth A Robinson (known as Annie) who had married in 1914 in the Shrewsbury area.
Richard Ruff had been born in Cressage on 12 September 1892. His parents had moved there from Leebotwood between 1887 and 1889 and remained there until after 1911. His father was a shepherd and in 1911 Richard was still at home and working as a farm labourer.
Annie Robinson was born on 14 June 1891 in Hanwood which lies just to the south west of Shrewsbury where her father was working as a coachman. By 1898 her parents had moved to Wellington and her father was now working as a Coal Carter. By 1911 they had moved again, to Cressage. Her father was a Waggoner on a farm. At that time, Annie had moved out of her parents’ household but was working as a general domestic servant in the household of farmer Percy and Mabel Hole at Shineton, Cressage. This is where she presumably met Richard.
Richard and Annie had 9 children in all: Richard in 1914, Margaret Joan in 1916, twins Evelyn and Marjorie in 1918, Leonard William (Bill) in 1920, Thomas H 1923, twins Alfred and John in 1925 and Gwenda M in 1928. Sadly, Thomas and twins Alfred and John died before their first birthday.
In 1921 Richard and Annie were living at Panson Cottages in Hanwood with their first five children, including Bill, all of whom were shown as being born in Cound, so it seems that the family may only just have moved to Hanwood. Richard was working as a Farm Labourer for W B Phillips Farmer, Panson.
By September 1939, Richard and Annie were living at 4 Rea Brook Terrace, Annscroft, just south of Hanwood. Richard was still working as a General Farm Worker. Only their daughter Marjorie and one other child, probably Gwenda, were still living with their parents. Margaret Joan Ruff and Evelyn Ruff had married by then.
Bill had already re-enlisted in April 1938.
In April 1942 he married Irene Elizabeth Evans in the Shrewsbury area. Irene already had a child, Brian Evans, born in 1941, from a different relationship. In May 1943 Bill and Irene had a child, Doreen Sheila Ruff, in the Shrewsbury area. Sadly, Bill was killed the following year on 13 October 1944.
A newspaper announced his death as follows:
“Gravels
Reported Killed – Official news has been received by his wife, Mrs I. E. Ruff , 2 Hemsford, Gravels, that Sargt. L.W. Ruff was killed by the enemy action in North-west Europe in October. He was a native of Hook-a-gate being the younger son of Mr and Mrs R. Ruff, 4 Reabrook Terrace, Hookagate. He was with the KSLI and went out on D Day. He married Miss I.E. Evans 2 Hemford, Gravels, the third daughter of Mr and Mrs WJ Evans. Sergt L.W. Ruff also leaves a daughter Doreen aged 1 ½ years.”
His father, Richard Ruff, died on 9 June 1945 in the Shrewsbury area and his mother, Elizabeth Annie Ruff, on 13 March 1985 in the same area. Both are buried at Annscroft Church.
Irene Evans’ Birth Family
Irene Evans was born on 11 January 1920 in Hemford, Shropshire which is just inside the English border with Wales, north east of Montgomery. Her parents were William John Evans and Emily Evans (nee Hall).
William John Evans was born on 7 May 1886 in Worthen, Shropshire. His father was working as a Lead Miner. By 1896 William’s family had moved to Wigan in Lancashire where, in 1901, William’s father was working as a hewer underground in a coal mine and William and one of his brothers were working on haulage, also underground in a coal mine. William married Emily Hall in 1909 in Wigan.
Emily had been born on 13 February 1887 in Aspull which is just north east of Wigan. Her father was a Brakesman on the railway in 1891, living in Ince in Makerfield. He progressed over the years first to a Railway Foreman and finally to a Railway Inspector with the LNW Railway.
In 1911 William and Emily were living at 116 Beech Hill Lane, Wigan with their first child, May Evans, born 1910 in Ince in Wigan. William was now working as a Hewer in a Coal Mine. They went on to have three more children in this area: Emily in 1913, Harold Alfred in 1915 and William John in 1918.
However, Irene was born in Shropshire in 1920 and by 1921 William and Emily were living at 2, Hemford, Gravels. With them were their first five children, including one month old Irene. Willliam was now working as a Road Stone Quarry Labourer. William and Emily went on to have two more children in this area: Rosamond H in 1923 and Noel in 1929.
In September 1939, William and Emily were still at the same address and William was still working as a Road Stone Quarrier. With them were their children Harold, William (Jnr) and Noel. Harold and William (Jnr) were working as a Motor Lorry Driver and his mate. At this time, Irene had left home and was working as a Domestic Servant in the household of John E and Eileen E Hathaway at Sumpter Mead, Slough Road, Datchet, Eton R.D., Buckinghamshire. John Hathaway was a Clerk in the Insurance Industry and born on 21 July 1903 while his wife was born on 27 Oct 1909.
Not only did Irene lose her husband in WW2, she also lost her brother, William John Evans. He was a Lance Bombadier in the 21 Anti Tank Regiment of the Royal Artillery (Service No. 944460). He died of wounds on 29 Jun 1944 in France and is buried at the Ryes War Cemetery, Bazenville. He left a wife, Mildred Emily Evans.
Irene’s mother, Emily Evans, died in 1962 in the Shrewsbury District while her father, William John Evans, died in 1973 in Shropshire.
Irene and Doreen Ruff after WW2
After Bill’s death, Irene Ruff married Frederick S Adams in 1951 in the Clun district of Shropshire. He was the son of Robert and Louisa Adams who were both born in Derbyshire, but by 1921 they were living at 1, Station Terrace, Minsterley, with six of their children, including Frederick who was born in Minsterley in 1916. The first three children were born in Hognanston, Derbyshire and the last three in Minsterley, suggesting they moved to the area between 1910 and 1912. Frederick’s father was a Cheese Maker at the Walter Bros Creamery and his eldest brother was an Assistant Cheese Maker at the same firm. Robert was widowed by September 1939 but still a Dairyman and still living at the same address with two of his sons, one of whom was Frederick, and a married Housekeeper. Frederick was working as a Horseman on a farm. Fredrick also served in WW2.
Irene and Frederick Adams went on to have two children of their own: Janet E E Adams in 1951 and Kevin P S Adams in 1954, both in the Shrewsbury district.
Bill’s daughter was therefore brought up with two half brothers and a half sister. She married Michael G Harding in the Shrewsbury area in 1963 and they have since moved to Cornwall.
Frederick Adams died in 1985 in the Shrewsbury area and Irene in the same area in 2000.
