Name
Ralph Thomas Dover
17/11/1883
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/09/1917
33
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
G/15568
Royal Sussex Regiment
12th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panel 86 to 88.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Hoddesdon and Rye Park Town Memorial, Hoddesdon, St Catherine and St Paul’s Church Memorial, Hoddesdon, Broxbourne C Of E Primary School Memorial, Broxbourne (*1), Diocese - Book of Remembrance, St Albans Cathedral, St Albans, Diocese of St Albans - ROH, St Albans Cathedral, St Albans, Not on the Brickendon memorials (*2)
Pre War
Ralph Thomas DOVER Jr. was born in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, on 17th November 1883, son of Ralph Tom Dover a Domestic Gardener and Amelia Dover (nee Groom). One of their six children although one died in infancy. His parents were married on 11th June 1881, in Thundridge, Herts.
He was Baptised on 13th January 1884, in the Parish of Hoddesdon, Herts.
1891 Census records Ralph Jr. aged 7, living with his parents, brothers James (9) and William (4) at Gardeners Cottage, Lord Street, Hoddesdon, Herts.
1901 Census, Ralph Jr. (18) is working as a Domestic Gardener, living with his parents, two brothers and two sisters at the Gardeners Lodge, High Leigh, Hoddesdon, Herts. His mother Amelia died between 1903 & 1905.
1911 Census, Ralph (27), is a Forman Gardener, living at The Gardens, Rhinefield, Brockenhurst, Hampshire.
Ralph Jr. married Edith Rhoda Simpkins, the daughter of Edgar Arthur and Rhoda Simpkins, in April 1916, in Poplar, London.
Wartime Service
Ralph Jr. travelled to the County Town of Hertford to enlist in January 1915, posted to the Hertfordshire Regiment and issued with the service No. 4569, later transferred to the 11th (Service) Battalion (2nd South Down), Royal Sussex Regiment and issued a new service No. G/15568, later posted to the 12th (Service) Battalion (1st South Down) Royal Sussex Regiment.
Ralph Jr. served on the Western Front, he was Killed in Action on 23rd September 1917, aged 33, during the Battle of the Menin Road, (Battle of the Menin Road 20th – 25th September 1917) he has no known grave he commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the missing in Belgium. Panels 86 to 88.
Additional Information
His widow Edith was awarded a grant of £5, on 8th December 1917, a widow’s pension of 13s/9d, a week from 22nd April 1918, and his effects of £8-00s-09d, pay owing and his war gratuity of £12.
Edith’s Widows Pension record card gives her address as 30 Bath Street, Poplar, London.
1921 Census records Edith as a widow. Edith and her youngest sister Rhoda Simkins as boarders at 75 Blair Street, Poplar, London.
*1 Believed educated at Broxbourne C Of E Primary School, Broxbourne..
*2 The St Albans Cathedral Diocese records suggest a connection to Brickendon (Rural).
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Malcolm Lennox
