FEATHERSTON, Ralph
| Service Number: | 2165 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 March 1916, Enlisted Townsville, Queensland |
| Last Rank: | Lance Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 47th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Richmond, Victoria, Australia, 3 May 1891 |
| Home Town: | Richmond (V), Yarra, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Central State School, Richmond, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Manager |
| Died: | Bundalong, Victoria, Victoria, Australia, 16 August 1978, aged 87 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Melbourne Banksia, Wall G, Niche 411 |
| Memorials: | Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Mar 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2165, 47th Infantry Battalion, Enlisted Townsville, Queensland | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Aug 1916: | Involvement Private, 2165, 47th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Boorara embarkation_ship_number: A42 public_note: '' | |
| 16 Aug 1916: | Embarked Private, 2165, 47th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Boorara, Brisbane | |
| 11 Apr 1917: | Honoured Military Medal, Bullecourt (First) | |
| 19 Jul 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Sergeant, 47th Infantry Battalion | |
| 5 Apr 1918: | Imprisoned Dernancourt/Ancre |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Ralph was the son of John and Elizabeth Featherston of Camberwell, Victoria and had been born and raised in Richmond. He gave his occupation as manager when he enlisted at Townsville in Queensland in 1916.
He was taken on strength of the 47th Battalion in France on 18 February 1917. Within two months he was awarded a Military Medal. The recommendation, which was actually for a French Croix de Guerre, reads
“At Bullecourt on 11 April 1917 for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When his Company was forced to evacuate the first obejective in the Hindenberg Line by an overwhelming enemy counter attack Pte. Featherston, who was No.1 in the Lewis Gun section, took up a position to cover the retirement. His gun was disabled by enemy shell fire, he at once secured another Lewis Gun and took up a second position in a shell hole, from which he covered the retirement of our men until they reached their original position. He then retired himself and brought both guns in with him.”
Ralph was promoted to Lance Sergeant and was sent to England for a time as an instructor. He was sent back to France in time for the Battle of Dernancourt on 5 April 1918, where he was in of the units on the Dernancourt railway embankment which was overrun by the attacking Germans, and Ralph Featherston was taken prisoner of war. After his release during December 1918 he gave evidence of the death of one his mates, Private Arthur Luke.
“We were on a railway embankment in front of Dernancourt 5 April 1918. About 7.30 a.m. I saw Luke killed by a shell. We were captured at about 8 a.m. and had to leave Luke where he fell. Sgt. R. Featherston”
Ralph’s older brother, Pte. John Featherston M.M. 23rd Battalion AIF, was killed in action at Mont St. Quentin on 2 September 1918, aged 31. Another younger brother, 1249 George Milburn Featherston had joined the Royal Australian Navy as a boy in 1911 and had served in action against the Germans in New Guinea during 1914.
After Ralph was treated for debility in England for some time he was given leave to find work there during early 1919. Ralph managed to get himself married in England on the 28 August 1919 to Isabel Mary Silver. They returned to Australia in February 1920 and Ralph was discharged from the AIF a month later.
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