HARWOOD, Ralph Osborne
| Service Number: | 2360 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 11 May 1915, Enlisted at Liverpool, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Liverpool, England, 1896 |
| Home Town: | Wickham, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Wickham Public School, Wickham, New South Wales |
| Occupation: | Fitter & Turner |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Gallipoli, Gallipoli, Dardanelles, Turkey, 30 November 1915 |
| Cemetery: |
Shell Green Cemetery, Gallipoli Peninsula Plot 11, Row B, Grave 3 Headstone inscription reads: He died for England , Shell Green Cemetery, Gallipoli Peninsula, Canakkale Province, Turkey |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Waratah Memorial Gates, Wickham "Citizens of Wickham" Volunteers Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 11 May 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2360, Enlisted at Liverpool, NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Jul 1915: | Involvement Private, 2360, 3rd Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Orsova embarkation_ship_number: A67 public_note: '' | |
| 14 Jul 1915: | Embarked Private, 2360, 3rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Orsova, Sydney |
Runs in the family
My father (Ralph Osborne Harwood's brother) often told the story how we (and guessing Ralph as well) were related to a British Victoria Cross winner during the Indian Mutiny. My own research suggests it was Major John Buckley VC (born 24 May 1813 – died 14 July 1876) who was awarded the medal during the defence of the magazine at Delhi on 11 May 1857. I note that none of Major Buckley's children survived so I'm guessing the relationship is somewhat distant.
Submitted 12 October 2017 by Graham Harwood
What's in a name?
My name is Graham Osborne Harwood and Ralph Osborne Harwood was my uncle. My father was not able to tell me much about his brother as he was only a couple of years old when his brother died at Gallipoli except to say that he was very much missed by his family.
My story is that I inherited the middle name. In my youth I hated that name and wished it were something more normal. In my middle age, after learning (or re-learning) that I had been named in honour of my uncle and that he had fought an died at Gallipoli, I came to embrace my middle name and feel a sense of pride whenever I got to use it.
Submitted 12 October 2017 by Graham Harwood
Biography contributed by Carol Foster
Arrived in Australia aged 2 years
Son of Ralph Osborn Harwood and Mary Frances Harwood of 10 Kerr Street, Mayfield, Newcastle, NSW. Brother of Edtih Annie Lucy Thornton nee Harwood of Warners Bay, NSW
Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Had been apprenticed to Sutcliffe & Co. of Newcastle, NSW for 2 years
He was serving in the Royal Australian Navy Reserve before he enlisted
His mother wrote that he was the grandson of Major T.N.J. Buckley VC which Major Buckley earned for blowing up and ammunition dump during the Indian Mutiny
Click images to start slideshow.