Name
Ralph Stanley Ridgeway
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/02/1915
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
2879
London Regiment *1
9th (County of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
WULVERGHEM-LINDENHOEK ROAD MILITARY CEMETERY
Plot II, Row E, Grave 22.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Watford Grammar School Memorial, Watford, Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance
Pre War
Son of William and Millicent (nee DAVIS) RIDGEWAY of Watford.
His parents married 1881 in the Watford district. Millicent died 1932 in Watford aged 75, and was buried 18 March in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; William died 20 April 1940 in Watford aged 85, and was buried 24 April, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Ralph was born 26 February 1895 in Watford. He attended first Red Lion Yard Infants’ School, Watford; then Beechen Grove Board School, Watford, from 2 February 1902 to 1 September 1908; finally Watford Grammar School from 14 September 1908 to December 1910. He resided in Watford and was employed as a clerk in the accountant's office at Euston Station at the outbreak of war.
He has an entry in the National Probate Calendar.
On the 1901 Census, aged 6 he lived in Watford, with his parents and seven siblings. On the 1911 Census, a student aged 16, he still lived in Watford, with his parents and five siblings.
Wartime Service
He enlisted September 1914 in London and trained at Crowborough; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914 Star medals, his qualifying date being 4 November 1914, and was killed in action near Wulverghem.
Additional Information
The published Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance entry reads:
“RIDGEWAY, RALPH STANLEY. School period: September, 1908, to December, 1910. Rifleman, 9th London Regiment. Enlisted September, 19:4; killed in action near Wulverghem, 27th February, 1915.”
Unfortunately, Ralph’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
There is an article about and a Death announcement for Ralph in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 13 March 1915; an article in the Watford Illustrated dated 20 March 1915; plus an In Memoriam in the Observer dated 26 February 1916. His brother Leonard died 18 April 1915 and also features on Watford Borough Roll of Honour.
*1 Probably more correctly (County of London) Bn. London Regiment (Queen Victoria’s Rifles).
Acknowledgments
Derry Warners
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
