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Dec 5, 1894
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Born in Ottawa, Ontario to
Robert Ferdinand and Sarah Louise (nee Roy) Ralph
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Nov 11, 1898
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His father Robert, passed away
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Dec, 5, 1900
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Mother remarried to Hiram
Walter Ralph
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Nov 7, 1914
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Attested into the 21st
Battalion CEF in Kingston, Ontario
Ø Number 59818 (temporary number 916)
Ø Next of kin given
as Mrs. H. Ralph, mother, 273 Catherine St., Ottawa, Ontario
Ø Previous occupation
given as Agent
Ø Previous military experience
given as 43 Regiment, DCOR (Duke of Cornwall’s Own Rifles)
Ø Religion given as
Baptist
Ø Assigned to “H”
Company
o This was later
reorganized into “D” Company
The battalion trained in the
Kingston area through the winter with headquarters in the Kingston Armouries
He lied about his age as he
was not yet 18, stating he had been born in 1893
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Nov 16, 1914
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During target practice,
Private Ralph was noted as the best shot in “H” Company
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May 6, 1915
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Embarked the RMS Metagama in
Montreal, Quebec
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May 15, 1915
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Disembarked in Devonport,
England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe,
Kent to continue training
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Sep 14, 1915
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Embarked the St. Seiriol in
Folkestone
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Sep 15, 1915
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Disembarked in Boulogne,
France and the battalion proceeded to St. Omer
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Dec 20, 1915
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Paraded sick to the
battalion’s Medical Officer with abdominal pain and was sent first to the
field ambulance in La Clytte, Belgium.
From here he was transferred to the casualty clearing station in
Bailleul, France
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Dec 22, 1915
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Transferred to the No. 8
Stationary Hospital in Rouen, France where the diagnosis was changed to read
Appendicitis
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Dec 24, 1915
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Invalided to England aboard
the Hospital Ship Cambria
On arrival in England he was
admitted to the Kent and Canterbury War Hospital
Posted to the 39th
Reserve Battalion for pay purposes while in hospital
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Jan 13, 1916
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Surgery performed to remove
his Appendix
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Feb 10, 1916
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Transferred to the Monks
Horton Convalescent Hospital to continue his recovery
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Feb 15, 1916
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Transferred to the CCAC
(Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) for pay purposes while in hospital
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Mar 23, 1916
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Transferred to the Woodcote
Park Convalescent Hospital in Epsom for 4 weeks of Physical Training to
rebuild his strength
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May 3, 1916
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Discharged from hospital and
transferred to the 39th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling and
assigned to “C” Company
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May 25, 1916
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Transferred to the 21st
Battalion
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May 26, 1916
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Arrived at the CBD (Canadian
Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France as part of a draft of 65
reinforcements from England and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21st
Battalion
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Jun 1, 1916
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After leaving the base depot,
Private Ralph joined the 21st Battalion in Division Reserve in the
“B” Camp, between La Clytte and Dickebusch, Belgium
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Oct 4, 1916
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While in the front line near Le Sars,
France, Private Gordon Ralph was killed by the explosion of an artillery
shell and his remains were buried in the Regina Trench Cemetery. In late 1920, his remains were exhumed and
reburied in a new section of the same cemetery.
Following the war, the 1914-15 Star,
British War Medal, Victory Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny), Scroll and
Memorial Cross were sent to his mother, Mrs. Sarah Ralph, 273 Catherine St.,
Ottawa, Ontario
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