CRACKNELL, Ralph Bertram Webb
| Service Number: | 1025 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 25 June 1915, Colac, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Lance Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 30th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Moonee Ponds, Victoria, Australia, 1892 |
| Home Town: | Moonee Ponds, Moonee Valley, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Ascot Vale State School |
| Occupation: | Tailor |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 20 July 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix, Bethune, Nord Pas de Calais Plot 1, Row K, Grave 69 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Colac ANA Branch No 170 Honor Roll, Colac Soldier's Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 25 Jun 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Colac, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Nov 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 1025, 30th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Beltana embarkation_ship_number: A72 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Nov 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Corporal, 1025, 30th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Beltana, Sydney | |
| 20 Jul 1916: |
Involvement
AIF WW1, Lance Sergeant, 1025, 30th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 1025 awm_unit: 30th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Lance Sergeant awm_died_date: 1916-07-20 |
|
| Date unknown: | Involvement 30th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix) |
HIS DUTY NOBLY DONE
19th October 1916 The Flemington Spectator newspaper
DUTY NOBLY DONE. The following relates to the manner in which Lance Sgt. Bert. Cracknell son of Mr. and Mrs. F Cracknell, of Moonee Ponds, met his death:
In the Field, France, 23/7/1916
Dear Mr and Mrs. Cracknell,
On the 19th July our Battalion went into action, and it is with deepest sorrow that I have to inform you that, during the course of the engagement, your son (No. 1025) L..Sgt. Ralph Bertram Webb Cracknell, met with his death. We had a most difficult task, that of connecting our own trench to the German trench by means of a sap, and while leading his section out to commence this work, bravely and cheerfully, amid a tornado of shell and machine gun fire, your son fell fighting for the glorious cause---for country and for the right. Bert's death was instantaneous; he was hit on the head. He was a cheerful and willing worker, and one of the cleanest living men I ever knew, and may he be rewarded for that in the hereafter.
We all join in your sorrow, and may God rest his soul.
Submitted 20 July 2015 by Elizabeth Allen
Biography contributed by Elizabeth Allen
Ralph Bertram Webb CRACKNELL was born in 1892 in Moonee Ponds, Victoria.
His parents were Frederick CRACKNELL and Fanny Eliza WEBB
He enlisted on 25th June, 1915 with the 30th Battalion, A Company as a Corporal - Unit embarked from Sydney on HMAT Beltana on 9th Nov. 1915 - He had also served previously with the Naval Reserve
Ralph was Killed In Action on 20th July 1916 in France and is buried in Rue Petillon Military Cemetery, France
He was promoted to Temporary Lance Sergeant on on 11th March, 1916
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal
PHOTO of his headstone
http://twgpp.org/information.php?id=2116308 (twgpp.org)
COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES
http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/298386/CRACKNELL,%20RALPH%20BERTRAM%20WEBB (www.cwgc.org)
EXTRACTS from letters sent home by Ralph plus his photo
Click images to start slideshow.