Corporal Wilfred Ralph
M2/177042 Army Service Corps (Motor Transport)
Died of Wounds 25th September 1917, aged 31
Lived at 22 Piccadilly Road
Buried in Lijssenhoek Military Cemetery, Belgium
Burnley Express 29th September 1917 - 29th September 1917

Personal data
• Name RALPH
• Initials W
• First name WILFRED
• Place of birth Burnley
• Country Lancashire, England
• Last residence Burnley
• Family Husband of Elsie Ralph, of 2, Piccadilly Rd., Burnley
One daughter
Military service
• Place & date of enlistment Burnley
• Service number M2/177042
• Rank Corporal
• Regiment and unit 330th - Siege Bty. - Royal Garrison Artillery -
• Army - Corps - Division ?
• National force B.E.F.
• Attached or transferred from Mechanical Transport Coy. - Royal Army Service Corps
Death
• Wounded 24 September 1917
• Type of wounds Two pieces of shell had struck him in the head.
• Date of death 25 September 1917
• Died at the age of 31
• Grave reference Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery XXV - F - 8A

Corporal M2/177042 Wilfrid Ralph (1886-1917)
Army Service Corps

Wilfrid Ralph was born in Burnley the son of Joseph Ralph and was the husband of Elsie Ralph of 2 Piccadilly Road Burnley. He enlisted at Burnley and served as Corporal M2/177042 in the Mechanical Transport, Army Service Corps attached to the 330th Siege Bty., Royal Garrison Artillery. He died from wounds aged 31 on Tuesday 25th September 1917. He is buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Poperinghe. Belgium Grave XXV f 8A His family had the inscription “A very gallant gentleman” inscribed on his gravestone.

The Burnley News of October 3rd 1917 reported:-
“Popular Corporal. Well Known Burnley Cricketer’s Death in Hospital.
General public regret will be felt sat the news, which reached Burnley yesterday morning, of the death of Corporal Wilfrid Ralph (177042), which occurred in hospital in France on Tuesday morning. Only the barest details of Corporal Ralph’s death have been received by his wife, an army chaplain having written to state that death was due to wounds in the head, and occurred a few hours after admission. It is presumed that at the time of his death he was carrying out his duties in the Motor Transport A.S.C. and it may be some little consolation to his relatives to know that he was not conscious to pain after receiving the injury. His death will cause a great sense of regret in many quarters of the town, for he was well known and a general favourite.
Corporal Ralph was the elder son of Mr and Mrs Joseph Ralph of Landseer Street, his father being connected with the firm of Messrs. T Burrows and Son, Britannia and Bell Vue Mills and now an enthusiastic member of the 1/11 Battalion Lancashire Volunteer Regiment.
The deceased young man, who was thirty years of age, was prior to entering the army, about April of last year, was engaged as cloth salesman and Manchester man for Messrs Thomas Burrows, Ld. He was a grandson of the late Alderman Thos. Burrows, J.P. He married only a few years ago, Miss Elsie Lea, daughter of Mr Ed. Lea, tea dealer, Westgate who along with a little daughter of two years survives him. Previously the deceased Corporal was connected with Mount Pleasant Church and Sunday School, and since his marriage has attended St. Peter’s Church.
He has been on active service in France for about five months. A sad circumstance with regard to his death is, that by the same post that the letter was received announcing his death, another letter, written by him evidently only a few hours before his injury, was also received by his wife, stating that he was in good health.
As a member of the Burnley cricket team and formerly with Lowerhouse, Corporal Ralph was well known throughout the Lancashire League. For a good few years prior to 1912 he played for Lowerhouse, principally with the second team, but in 1912 he threw in his lot with Burnley, but it was not till the middle of the 1915 season that he secured a regular place with the first eleven. In his 1914 season playing with the second eleven at Bacup he made 76 with the bat, 48 at Accrington, 37 against Lowerhouse at Turf Moor and 24 at Lowerhouse. His analysis with the bat was 12 innings, twice not out, most in an innings 76, total runs 254, average 25.4. He also captured 29 wickets at a cost of 9.93 runs.
His younger brother Robert is in the Army Pay Corps at Perth.

Notes
Wedding on 22/4/14 at St Peter’s Church. Wilfrid Ralph, aged 27 bachelor, Salesman of ‘High Cliff’, Burnley son of Joseph Ralph manufacturer married Elsie Lea, aged 23 spinster of 22 Piccadilly Road daughter of Richard Sutley Lea, Tea Dealer. Witnesses were Robert Edward Ralph, R L Lea and J Ralph.