Robert Ralph (1893-1917)

Post date: Apr 18, 2017 6:46:35 PM

Robert Charles, born in Wateringbury in the third quarter of 1893, was the youngest child of the 5 children still at home of Thomas, a game keeper at the time of the 1901 census, and Amelia Ralph who lived close to the North Pole pub. They were still living at the same place in 1911, but Robert's father's occupation is now a "brewer's labourer" and Robert himself is a "brewer's bottler". The cottage they live in has 5 rooms and his mother, Amelia, had had 11 children born alive of whom 8 were still living although now only 3 are at home. 

Robert attended Wateringbury School and in 1906 at the Empire Day celebrations was presented with a K.E.C. medal by Sir George Wolseley. Robert is commemorated on the School war memorial. 

Robert enlisted at Wakefield in the 1st/5th Battalion of the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry but we do not know when, as his army service record is not available. However he is not on the vicar's lists of men serving until January 1917 so we might speculate that he joined up in 1916, possibly as a conscript. 

By the time of his death on 19th July 1917 he was a lance-corporal. The parish magazine reported his date of death as the 17th. Both dates are during the allied bombardment from 16th July to 31st July in preparation for the Passchedaele assault on 31st July. 

He is buried at Ramscappelle Road Military Cemetery, located 2 Kms east of Nieuwpoort on the N367, grave reference I.C.5

A Memorial Service at Evensong was held for him in the Church on September 9th 1917.