The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Ralph
- First Name:
- Henry Waldock
- Nick Name:
- aka Henry R
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX20068
- Company:
- ‘E’ Company, Special Reserve Company
- Enlisted:
- 22.09.1941
- DOB:
- 23.02.1919
- Place of Birth:
- Toodyay, Western Australia
- Father's Name:
- Henry Waldock Ralph
- Mothers's Name:
- Rose Ellen Ralph
- Religion:
- Church of England
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Farmhand
- Memorial:
- Epitaph, Singapore Memorial, Column 136, Age 22.
- Cause of Death:
- Killed in Action
- Place of Death:
- South-West Bukit Timah
- Date of Death:
- 11.02.1942
General Description
Henry Ralph was brought up by his grandparents James and Julia Ralph at Toodyay. They were parents to Rose Ellen Ralph who later married Edward Lord.
19 January 1939 Ralph aged 29 years enlisted with 10th Light Horse Regiment Militia W20340. He was Gen Red’s 13 Traning Btn until 22 Sep 1941.He recorded NOK his Grandfather. J. Ralph of Toodyay. His Service No.was 279249. He was discharged 18 August 1939 when he enlisted AIF 22 Sept 1941.
He recorded NOK, his Grandfather. J. Ralph of Toodyay. He became a reinforcement for 2/4th MGB, boarding ‘Aquitania’ at Guage Roads, Fremantle on 15th January to sail to Singapore. Henry had about 3 months training at Northam, a little more than some.
4-5 months later Henry was KIA South West Bukit Timah on 11 February 1942 when ‘E’ Company ran into a Japanese ambush. He was just 22 years old. Tragically there was a huge loss of life. In today’s world would new and inexperienced soldiers be sent to the battle front in one Battalion?
Please read further about ‘E’ Company.
The Japanese forbid the Australian soldiers from recovering their dead. It wasn’t until Dec 1942 that some of 2/4th were permitted to search – given a very short time frame it was impossible to recover many bodies. This was the cause of great angst for the Battalion.
Above: Henry’s name is inscribed at Kranji Singapore Memorial, Column 136. Other 2/4th soildiers include Radburn, Purchon, Pratt and Mussman.
The above notice is from Rose Ellen’s sister Ida who married 1924 to Edward J Butler, Gin Gin.
