2nd Lieutenant Francis James Ralph

  • Batt -
  • Unit - Royal Air Force
  • Section - 20th Squadron
  • Date of Birth - 09/12/1892
  • Died - 03/09/1918
  • Age - 25
  • Decorations - Distinguished Flying Cross

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Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Fisher Ralph, a gas main inspector, born 1869 in Cheltenham, Glos., and his wife Charlotte Ralph (nee Bunning, married in the 2nd quarter of 1890 in the Cheltenham, Glos. district), born in the 1st quarter of 1866 in Leverington, Cambridgeshire, Charlotte was the daughter of James and Sarah Jane Bunning and was baptised on the 21st February 1866 in Leverington. Francis James was born on the 9th December 1892 in Cheltenham, Glos., his siblings were, Kate Gladys, born 1892 and John Leonard, born 1895, both his siblings were born in Cheltenham, Glos., in March 1901 the family home was at 40, Bismark Street, Leicester. In April 1911 Francis was employed as a gas fitting apprentice and was residing in the family home at 89, Harrow Road, Leicester, together with his father, a gas main inspector, his mother and siblings, Kate and John, a junior clerk. In the 4th quarter of 1915 Francis married Emma Kate Butler in the Leicester district. Francis had been employed as a draughtsman with the Leicester Co-op Gas Company in Leicester from 1910 until enlisting in 1915. Ralph enlisted into the Royal Flying Corps., his service record gives the following details. S.M.A. Worcester, 18/1/18. S.M.A. Reading, 11/2/18. Appointed Temporary 2nd Lieutenant on probation (General List), (London Gazette 5/3/18), 12/2/18. A. Sch. of G., Hythe, 11/3/18. Transferred to the newly created Royal Air Force, 1/4/18. S.A.G. New Romney, 6/4/18. E.F. 20 Squadron as Army Observer, 18/4/18. Wounded 9/5/18. Admitted to the New Zealand Stationary Hospital, Wisques, 10/5/18. Temporary 2nd Lieutenant (Observation Officer), 27/5/18. Killed in action, 3/9/18. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (London Gazette 2/11/18). Since joining the Royal Air Force he flew in Bristol Fighters (as Observer) and was Aerial Gunnery (Proficient).

Research from Michael Doyle's Their Name Liveth For Evermore
  • Unit - Royal Air Force
  • Former Unit - Royal Flying Corps
  • Cause of death - KILLED IN ACTION
  • Burial Commemoration - Villers-Brettonneux Mil. Cem., Fouilloy, France
  • Born - Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
  • Place of Residence - Doreen Cottage, Tur Langton, Leicestershire, England
  • Memorial - THE MARTYRS CHURCH, LEICESTER
  • Memorial - ST. ANDREW'S CHYRD. MEM., TUR LANGTON, LEICS
  • Memorial - ALDERMAN NEWTON GRAMMAR SCHOOL MEM., LEICESTER
  • Memorial - CITY OF LEICESTER GAS UNDERTAKING MEMORIAL