Walter Lynn Ralph

Story:
Walter Lynn Ralph was born in Stour Row, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 20 Mar 1896 the son of James Ralph and Eva Ralph (nee Pike).  He lived his early life at Yew Tree Farm. Stour Provost, Shaftesbury, Dorset.   He enlisted with the Royal Navy as a Boy Class II on 3 Jan 1912 but was invalided out on 3 Feb 1912.  He was married at a very early age to Marion Jane Guy at Blandford, Dorset, on 27 Oct 1913.    They went on to have two children. He had enlisted and joined the 2nd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 15164) and was  posted to the Egyptian Theatre of War.  He was killed in action in Palestine on 19 Sep 1918 and buried in the Ramleh War Cemetery, Hamerkaz, Israel, (Grave ref: F.46).  He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  His widow received allowances for her children up until 1932 but had herself re-married Ivor John Rose on 10 Jun 1919 at Todber, Dorset. 

Walter is mentioned on the Memorial Plaque in St. Michael and All Angels Church, Stour Provost, Dorset and on the All Saints Church war memorial, now in the Stour Row Village Hall, along with the name of his brother, Edward Tom Ralph, who also died in the conflict.  Brother, Ivor Harry Ralph, served and survived.