Daniel Ralph

Story:
Daniel Ralph was born in Stour Provost, Dorset, on 20 Sep 1873 and baptised there on 14 Dec 1873 the son of Alpheus John Ralph and Emily Anna Ralph (nee Myall).  He lived his early life at Stour Row Cottage, Stour Row, Shaftesbury, Dorset.  He married Elizabeth Jane Tucker at East Stour, Dorset, on 24 Nov 1894.  They went on to have three children.  By 1901 he had moved to Glyncorrwg, Glamorgan, Wales, where he worked as a Coal Hewer.  Then by 1911 he had returned to East Stour, Dorset.   He enlisted on 9 Aug 1915 and joined the Royal Engineers as a Pioneer (Service No. 110374).  He was with the 1st Labour Battalion in France and Flanders from 21 Aug 1915 ultimately working with No. 3160 Chinese Labour Corps.  He transferred to the Labour Corps on 31 Jul 1917 (Service No. 290018) and joined the 700th Labour Company.  He had suffered a rupture at one time and was granted a pension as a result on his discharge on 26 Jan 1919.  He was also awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star. His address at the time was given as 1 Fernbrook Cottage, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset.  His wife, Elizabeth, died in 1929.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living as a widower at 11 Lodbourne Terrace, Gillingham, Dorset, working as a Roadman.   His death was recorded at the Devizes, Wiltshire, Registry in 1959.