Top Navigation

Christopher RALPH

Main CPGW Record

Surname: RALPH

Forename(s): Christopher

Place of Birth: Preston Richard, Westmorland

Service No: 13616

Rank: Private

Regiment / Corps / Service: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)

Battalion / Unit: 'A' Coy 10th (Service) Battalion

Division: 23rd Division

Age: 30

Date of Death: 1916-10-06

Awards: ---

CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 6 A and 6 B.

CWGC Cemetery: ---

CWGC Memorial: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL

Non-CWGC Burial: ---

Local War Memorial: HELLIFIELD, YORKSHIRE

Additional Information:

Christopher Ralph was the son of John and Ellen Ralph, née Farrow. John was born at Langcliffe, Yorkshire and Ellen at Banham, Norfolk.

1891 Langcliffe, Yorkshire Census: Christopher Ralph, aged 5 years, born End Moor, Westmorland, son of John and Ellen Ralph.

1901 Hellifield, Yorkshire Census: 4, Hardacre Fold - Christopher Ralph, aged 15 years, born Preston Richard, Westmorland, son of John and Ellen Ralph.

1911 Hellifield, Yorkshire Census: Hardacre Fold - Christopher Ralph, aged 25 years, born Preston Richard, Westmorland, son of John Ralph, widower.

British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte Christopher Ralph, 13616, West Riding Regiment. Theatre of War first served in: 1 - France. Date of entry therein: 26 August 1915.

Christopher is commemorated on the Midland Railway War Memorial at Derby.

Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry

View Entry in CPGW Book

Entry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:

RALPH, Chris., aged 30, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, brother of Miss Ralph, Hawgrove, Hellifield, killed in action Oct. 6, 1916.

---

Click the thumbnail below to view a larger image.

Private Christopher RALPH

Private Christopher RALPH

Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)

Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)

Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 23rd Division

Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 23rd Division

Data from Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 - 1919 Records

Soldiers Died Data for Soldier Records

Surname: RALPH

Forename(s): Christopher

Born: Preston Richard, Westmorland

Residence: Hellifield, Yorks

Enlisted: Settle, Yorks

Number: 13616

Rank: Private

Regiment: Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)

Battalion: 10th Battalion

Decorations:

Died Date: 06/10/16

Died How: Killed in action

Theatre of War: France & Flanders

Notes:

Data from Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records

CWGC Data for Soldier Records

Surname: RALPH

Forename(s): Christopher

Country of Service: United Kingdom

Service Number: 13616

Rank: Private

Regiment: Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)

Unit: "A" Coy. 10th Bn.

Age: 30

Awards:

Died Date: 06/10/1916

Additional Information: Son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Ralph, of Hellifield, Yorks.

View Additional Text

View Additional Text For Soldier Records

BRITISH BATTALIONS ON THE SOMME, by Ray Westlake (Pen & Sword Books Limited 1994)

10th (Service) Bn. Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)

To front line Le Sars (2/10). Small party entered Flers support north off Bapaume Road (4/10) – held until bombs and ammunition ran out. In support during attack on Le Sars (7/10).

[Christopher Ralph was killed in action on the 6 October 1916.]

View Additional Image(s)

Additional Photo(s) For Soldier Records

Unknown platoon of 'A' Company, 10th (Service) Battalion, Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment), Aldershot, 1914

Unknown platoon of 'A' Company, 10th (Service) Battalion, Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment), Aldershot, 1914

Photograph sent home to his parents at Bolton by Bowland by Pte Henry (Harry) Valance Killeen (13738). Henry is standing, with his hands behind his back, 11th from right. His brother, Pte Reginald Victor Whiteley Killeen (q.v.), was killed in action on the 25 January 1916

Courtesy of Paula Ann Payne (née Bailey), Barnoldswick

'A' Company, 10th (Service) Battalion The Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment), Bramshott, August, 1915

'A' Company, 10th (Service) Battalion The Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment), Bramshott, August, 1915

Courtesy of Bernard Ideson

Names of identified officers and other ranks on above photograph

Names of identified officers and other ranks on above photograph

Memorial Service card

Memorial Service card

From a display at St. Aidan’s Church, Hellifield

Unveiling and Dedication of Hellifield War Memorial, Sunday, 5 June 1921

Unveiling and Dedication of Hellifield War Memorial, Sunday, 5 June 1921

Courtesy of John Pearcy, Hellifield

Order of Service for the Unveiling and Dedication of Hellifield War Memorial, Sunday, 5 June 1921

Order of Service for the Unveiling and Dedication of Hellifield War Memorial, Sunday, 5 June 1921

Courtesy of John Pearcy, Hellifield

Order of Service for the Unveiling and Dedication of Hellifield War Memorial, Sunday, 5 June 1921

Order of Service for the Unveiling and Dedication of Hellifield War Memorial, Sunday, 5 June 1921

Courtesy of John Pearcy, Hellifield

Order of Service for the Unveiling and Dedication of Hellifield War Memorial, Sunday, 5 June 1921

Order of Service for the Unveiling and Dedication of Hellifield War Memorial, Sunday, 5 June 1921

Courtesy of John Pearcy, Hellifield

View Craven Herald Articles

View Craven Herald Articles

Craven Herald and Wensleydale Standard Logo

12 May 1916

HELLIFIELD

Home on Leave – Pte. C. Ra1ph, of the 10th Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, has been spending a week’s leave at home. He joined the corps formed by Captain Tunstill in September, 1914, and has been in France since last July.

27 October 1916

RALPH – Killed in action on the Western Front on October 6th. Pte. Chris. Ralph, of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, son of the late Mr. John Ralph, of Hellifield, aged 30 years.

27 October 1916

HELLIFIELD – PRIVATE C. RALPH KILLED IN ACTION

Information was received on Friday morning by Miss Ralph, of Haw Grove, Hellifield, that her brother, Private Chris. Ralph, had been killed in action on the Western Front on October 6th. The sad news was conveyed in letters from two Hellifield comrades in the same Company.

Pte. T. Bownass wrote:– “It is with the deepest regret that I have to tell you of the death of your brother, Kit, which occurred whilst we were in action on the 6th inst. He was at the time acting as guide to the party who relieved us in the front line on that date, and was killed instantly by a shell bursting in the trench they were proceeding along. He was well liked by all the lads of the platoon, as he always had a cheery word and looked on the bright side of things, and we all miss him badly. The lads wish me to tender you their deepest sympathy in your great loss, and trust that God will sustain and comfort you in your dark and lonely hours.”

Pte. Harley Bentham, in a letter says:– “I have been asked by some of the lads to write and tell you how sorry we are and how we sympathise with you in your great loss. Kit was a fine chap and a good soldier, and I am sure we all liked him. Our Battalion had been in the line four days and were being relieved that night. Kit had volunteered to act as guide to the men who were to relieve us, and he was leading them up the communication trench when a shell burst right on the parapet close to your brother and hit him. Death would be instantaneous; he would not suffer any pain. He has been buried close to the place where he fell. He often used to talk of you, and look forward to your letters coming. I ask you to accept the sympathy of myself and his pals from Long Preston and district.”

Pte. Ralph, who was 30 years old, was the eldest son of the late Mr. John Ralph, of Main Road, Hellifield. He enlisted with Captain Tunstill’s men in the Duke of Wellington’s in September 1914 and went to the Front the following August. Before joining the Forces he was in the employ of the Midland Railway as a goods shunter. He was of a bright disposition, and was formerly a member of the Church choir and Sunday School.

05 October 1917

RALPH – In loving memory of Private Christopher Ralph of the 10th Duke of Wellington’s (W.R.) Regiment, of Hellifield, who was killed in action in France on October 6th 1916.

No mother’s care did him attend,
Nor o’er him did a father bend;
No sister there to shed a tear,
No brother by, his words to hear.

Sick, dying, in a foreign land,
No father there to take his hand,
No mother near to close his eyes
Far from his native land he lies.

From Sisters and Brothers, Haw Grove, Hellifield.

View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles

View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles

West Yorkshire Pioneer Logo

25 September 1914

THE ROLL OF HONOUR

The following men have answered the appeal by joining the Settle Company of the 10th Battalion of the Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment:–

From Austwick – William Hoyle, Wilson Pritchard, Samuel Shepherd, Fred Swale, John William Thistlewaite, George Thistlewaite.
Airton – Kayley Earnshaw.
Arncliffe – Percy Hodgson, John Simpson.
Bolton-by-Bowland – Irvine Clark, Jim Coates, Richard Davies Ellison, Harold Greenhow, Edward Victor Grubb, James Mason, Robert Singleton, Joseph Chapman Syers.
Bell Busk – Leonard Fox.
Clapham – Albert Edward Drury, Arthur Herbert Procter.
Grindleton – William Irvin Bell, James Wilding Clarkson, Joshua Crossley, William Walker.
Gisburn – Anthony Lofthouse, John Robinson.
Hellifield – James John Angus, Charles Graham, Thomas Harding, Charles Harwood, Sidney Hoar, John Ernest Linnett, Joseph Edward Preston, Thomas Procter, Christopher Ralph, Norman Roberts, Fred Graham.
Horton – John Bruce Davidson.
Ingleton – Hugh Robinson.
Longpreston – Arthur Bailey, Thomas Garnett, John Henry Hitchin, Henry Edward Horner, William Jones, James Kayley, Job Kayley, Arthur Lawson, William Henry Metcalfe, Joseph Parker, William Procter, William Rawlinson.
Langcliffe – Richard Butler, Thomas Henry Edmondson.
Marton – John Beckwith.
Malham – James Swinbank.
Newsholme – Thomas Edward Askew, Carl Parrington Branthwaite, Benjamin Ashton Butler, William Henry Scott.
Otterburn – Harry Gilbert Tunstill.
Settle – Robert William Bell, Ernest Campbell, George Clark, John Thomas Cockerill, Robert Cresswell, Herbert Dickinson, William Edward Gibson, George Jellett, Thomas Laytham, Robert Henry Maunders, Robert Newhouse, Walter Umpleby, Thomas Walsh, Solomon Richard Webb.
Stainforth – Walter Dinsdale.
Slaidburn – Edwin Isherwood, Walter Isherwood, Abel Moore, Charles Edward Parker, George Whitfield.
Wigglesworth – Fred Metcalfe, George Oversby.
Waddington – Joseph Barrett Hartley, Albert Hird [Herd], Harry Smith, Thomas Rigby, William Watson.

27 October 1916

RALPH – October 6th, on the Western Front, Pte. Chris. Ralph, of Hellifield, aged 30.

27 October 1916

TWO HELLIFIELD MEN KILLED

Information was received on Friday morning by Miss Ralph, of Haw Grove, Hellifield, that her brother, Private Chris. Ralph, had been killed in action on the Western Front on October 6th. The sad news was conveyed in letters from two Hellifield comrades in the same Company. Pte. T. Bownass writes as follows: “It is with deepest regret that I have to write you these few lines, and they are accompanied with my heartfelt sympathy. I am sorry to have to tell you of the death of your brother, Kit, which occurred whilst we were in action on the 6th inst. He was at the time acting as guide to the party who relieved us in the front line on that date, and was killed instantly by a shell bursting in the trench they were proceeding along. He was well liked by all the lads of the platoon, as he always had a cheery word and looked on the bright side of things, and we all miss him badly. The lads wish me to tender you their deepest sympathy in your great loss, and trust that God will sustain and comfort you in your dark and lonely hours.”

Pte. Harley Bentham, in a letter says:– “I have been asked by some of the lads to write to you and tell you how sorry we are and how we sympathise with you in your great loss. Kit was a fine chap and a good soldier, and I am sure we all used to like him. Our battalion had been in the line four days and were being relieved that night. Kit had volunteered to act as guide to the men who were to relieve us, and he was leading them up the communication trench when a shell burst right on the parapet close to your brother and hit him. Death would be instantaneous; he would not suffer any pain. He has been buried close to the place where he fell. He often used to talk of you, and look forward to your letters coming. I ask you to accept the sympathy of myself and his pals from Long Preston and district.”

Pte. Ralph, who was 30 years old, was the eldest son of the late Mr. John Ralph, of Main Road, Hellifield. He enlisted with Captain Tunstill’s men in the Duke of Wellington’s in September 1914 and went to the Front the following August. Before joining the forces he was in the employ of the Midland Railway as a goods shunter. He was of a bright disposition, and was formerly a member of the Church choir and Sunday school.

Submit a Correction

    Name (required)

    Email Address (required)

    Telephone (required)

    Soldier Reference - Name:

    Soldier Reference - URL:

    Details of the correction to be made (required)

    Comment on this Soldier Record

    You can leave comments on this soldier record. Please note all comments will be manually approved before they appear on the website.

    No comments yet.

    Leave a Reply

    Pin It on Pinterest

    Share This