Sgt.  Henry Ralph  1885 – 1948

Henry Ralph emigrated to Canada from Goodnestone England in 1908 and joined the 48th Highlanders at the outbreak of WW1.

At the second battle of Ypres he was captured and was sent into Germany as a POW. In his  letter home he states they were let down by the French troops and ridiculed by the Germans for his kilt.  Loaded  60 men to a rail car and subjected to many abuses for two days.  They had no food or water, no bathroom facilities and standing room only, they were sent to Geissen.  They were made to work constantly, roads and canal work, farming and such.  He was repatriated on Feb 1918.

Henry reenlisted in 1939 and lied about his age.  He was sent on the hijacked train to St. Malo in 1940 where the 48th made it back to England after the aborted attempt to join the front that the Germans were  advancing to the coast.

His health deteriorated and he was discharged by 1944.

Henry Ralph died of a stroke in 1948