Harold Edgar Ralph

Private – 17th Coy. Labour Corps

Died: 15th April 1918

Aged: 26 years old

Killed In Action in the Amiens area

Harold Ralph was born in Cheltenham on 29th November 1892, the sixth son of ten children of Charles Ralph, a Market Gardener and Ellen Ralph. In 1911 Harold was working with his father in the Market Gardening business at Donegal Villa, Shurdington Road next to The Greenway Lodge.

On 2nd September 1916 Harold married Ethel Dorothy Grist at Christ Church, Cheltenham. His wedding certificate gives us the information that at the time of his wedding his father had died. Harold gave his occupation as a Munitions Worker and his address as 2 Victoria Parade, which is now 130 Gloucester Road in Cheltenham.

Harold enlisted in Cheltenham in the Royal Field Artillery in December 1916 at the age of 23 years. Whilst serving overseas he was wounded three times and transferred to the 6th Labour Company of the Devonshire Regiment and latterly transferred to the 17th Coy. Labour Corps. It is thought that the transfers may be due to his injuries when he was probably medically down graded.

On the 15th April 1918, aged 26 years old, Harold was killed during the German Spring offensive of 1918. He is buried at St. Pierre Cemetery, Amiens, France.

It is very sad that his widow Ethel had not seen her husband since he enlisted, neither had Harold seen his child who was born after he left England.

Private HAROLD EDGAR RALPH

The Fallen