14 Queen Victoria Road, New Tupton

He was employed as a clerk at Chesterfield Tube Company. He was also a member of the Tupton Auxiliary Fire Service, before he enlisted.

In June 1940 when aged 20, Ralph joined the 1^st/5^th Battalion the Sherwood Foresters. This battalion was in the process of being refitted following the Dunkirk retreat and became part of the 18^th Infantry Division. Private Joseph Kirk from Tupton was also in the 1^st/5^th Sherwood Foresters.

In December 1941 Ralph and his battalion were on a convoy bound for the Middle East, when news came that the Japanese had entered the war attacking Malaya, The Philippines and Pearl Harbour. The convoy was diverted to reinforce the Singapore Garrison.

The 18^th Infantry Division arrived at Singapore in stages from the 29^th January to the 5^th February.  By this time the Japanese Army had advanced down the length of the Malayan Peninsular and were about to attack Singapore itself.

The battle for Singapore started on the 8^th February 1942 and was to last for 7 days. The 1^st/5^th Sherwood Foresters despite having 2 months at sea and being trained for open, not jungle warfare, were thrown straight into the battle and involved in the fierce fighting at Bukit Timah. This was to no avail, as the Japanese had overrun the food and fuel dumps for Singapore and cut off the water supply to the city.

Despite outnumbering the Japanese 2:1, being low on ammunition and supplies, on the 15^th February 1942 General Percival surrendered the city placing 85,000 British and Australian troops into captivity joining the 50,000 already captured in the earlier part of the campaign. Churchill was to comment, ‘’This was the worst disaster and largest capitulation in British History’’

Ralph would spend over 3 years in captivity until he died in a Japanese POW camp on the 24^th May 1945. This 3-year period for allied prisoners was one of brutality, suffering, starvation and death. Ralph would almost definitely have spent time in the notorious Changi prison and it was also possible that he was sent to work as forced labour on the Siam- Burma Railway (Death railway).

Despite Ralph’s obituary stating that he died in a Japanese POW camp, Ralph is buried at Sydney War Cemetery, Australia. No details as to the circumstances of his body being repatriated to this location.