Henry Douglas Eyre RALFE

Henry Douglas Eyre RALFE Update Details

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RALFE, Henry Douglas Eyre

Service Number:	Officer
Enlisted:	21 May 1915
Last Rank:	Captain
Last Unit:	No. 3 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps
Born:	Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 29 May 1890
Home Town:	Brisbane, Brisbane, Queensland
Schooling:	The Armidale School, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation:	Soldier
Died:	Killed In Action, France, 6 May 1918, aged 27 years
Cemetery:	Vignacourt British Cemetery, Picardie Plot II, Row A, Grave 4
Memorials:	Armidale School War Memorial Gates, Brisbane No 3 Squadron Roll of Honour, Queenscliff Royal Australian Garrison Artillery Third Military District Honor Roll

World War 1 Service

21 May 1915:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, Officer, Siege Artillery Brigade
17 Jul 1915:	Involvement Lieutenant, Siege Artillery Brigade, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Orsova embarkation_ship_number: A67 public_note: ''
17 Jul 1915:	Embarked Lieutenant, Siege Artillery Brigade, HMAT Orsova, Melbourne
10 Mar 1918:	Transferred AIF WW1, Captain, No. 3 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps
6 May 1918:	Involvement Captain, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: awm_unit: No. 3 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps awm_rank: Captain awm_died_date: 1918-05-06

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Biography contributed by Faithe Jones

Son of Mary Rae Johnstone Ralfe (now Hon. Mrs. Holmes a Court) and the late Henry Ralfe (Barrister-at-Law).

BELOVED SON I THANK MY GOD UPON EVER REMEMBRANCE OF YOU

HENRY DOUGLAS EYRE RALFE (29.5.1890 — 6.5.1918)
From Brisbane Qld. Step-son of the Hon. C. Holmes a' Court. Born In Sydney.
At TAS a little over 3 years from Oct. 1905 to Dec. 1908. Vice-Captain of First Cricket XI and Colours for 2 Shooting team; Corporal in Cadets. After leaving school he entered the Royal Australian Garrison Artillery in 1911 and became a Captain. At the outbreak of war he was at Queenscliff, Victoria. Served in the Australian Flying Corps No. 3 Squadron as a Flight Commander. He was awarded the Royal Flying Cross. He volunteered when War broke out but went first to the flying School at Werribee where he took his "Wings". After the destruction of Von Spee's Squadron, it was decided to send the First Siege Train to France and he was chosen as one of the officers to go and he served with them through the Battle of Somme. He went to England and won his "wings" again. From then up to the time of his death he was either instructing aviators in England or flying in France.
Killed in the air in France aged 27. F.N. Cutlack in the Official History of Australia in the War (Vol. 8 p.264) records how he was killed. He was “on Patrol at dawn on May 6th" with an observer when "they were attacked by five German machines over the Morlancourt Ridge and were shot down in flames". There were 4 bullet wounds in his body when it was recovered. His machine, fortunately, crashed down on ground that had been won the previous night by his own countrymen. His body and that of his observer Lieut. Buckland, who was with him, were buried in a cemetery with full Military Honours. He was borne to the grave by 6 of his brother pilots in the presence of the whole squadron, and many others whom distance and duty did not prevent from attending. Capt. Ralfe was a most popular Officer and the London Times says, 'He is described as the best loved man in the Corps," One of his brother Officers wrote "he was loved by everyone who knew him, and I have never heard so many expressions of regret as I have at his loss. He was a splendid pilot, brave, capable and thorough and had endeared himself to all his comrades." Another wrote "he was a Soldier - a real Soldier and he went out as a real Soldier always asks to go out - with his face to the enemy and in the thick of a hot fight against big odds." Buried English Military Cemetery Vignacourt, France. Memorial - A brass plaque in his memory on the western wall of the Chapel was donated by his mother. It states he was killed in the air while fighting four German triplanes.

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