NATION, Ralph George
| Service Number: | 149 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 30 January 1915, Keswick, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 7th Field Company Engineers |
| Born: | Magill, South Australia, Australia , 1892 |
| Home Town: | Magill, Campbelltown, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Magill Public School and Norwood High School |
| Occupation: | Carpenter |
| Died: | Died of Wounds, Etaples, France, 6 March 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
Etaples Military Cemetery Plot XXI, Row N, grave number 3 |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Norwood Baptist Church WW1 Honour Rolls, Norwood War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 30 Jan 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 149, Keswick, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 May 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 149, 27th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: '' | |
| 31 May 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 149, 27th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Geelong, Adelaide | |
| 12 Sep 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 149, 27th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 11 Mar 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 7th Field Company Engineers | |
| 28 Feb 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 149, 7th Field Company Engineers, The Outpost Villages - German Withdrawal to Hindenburg Line |
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Ralph Nation served for Australia in WW1 in the 27th Battalion along with his two brothers Clifford and Eric. He was a man with a dark complexion, grey eyes and dark hair. Growing up, Ralph attended Magill Public throughout primary school and Norwood High school. Ralph was 5'9 and weighed 63kg. Ralph passed away due to wounds in France. He was 25 at the age of his death and passed away on the 6th of March 1917. Ralph is now buried in Estaples Military Cemetery in France. He enlisted on the 30th of January 1915 at the age of 24.
Ralph embarked for his journey to serve for Australia in WW1 on the 31st of May, 1915 on the HMAT A2 in Geelong. He first landed in Gallipoli and later embarked to the Western Front.
Ralph served along side his two brothers and cousins. Both his brothers were killed in action this bought huge devastation to the Nation family. The three sons who enlisted were the only children in that family so this brought much stress upon the parents.
Ralph was a much liked man before he enlisted as he had three notices left in the newspaper due to him passing away. One was inserted by one of his good friends whom were also serving at this time, his family as well as one of his friends back at home who's message read; "In loving memory of Ralph who died from gunshot wounds in France, March 6, 1917. I think of his life a duty done, manly, unselfish, brave. Inserted by his friend, Alice L. Parker."
During his journey Ralph picked up an infection leaving him in hospital requiring treatment for a total of 66 days. This was a very serious case and put him out of action of the war for that 66 days. Ralph was later wounded on the 3-3-17 where he either had shrapnel wounds to his thigh or he was shot in the thigh. This was often difficult to tell as shrapnel and gunshot wounds often looked similar in victims. He was admitted to hospital but as the wound became infected by tetanus he then passed away on the 6-3-17. Tetanus was an infection to his wound which caused him to pass away causing many muscle spasms.
From the death notes left in the newspaper by loved ones it was evident that Ralph was a caring, brave and an unselfish individual. He always cared for others and was a gentleman. He cared much for his family and friends and this was portrayed in his service in WW1. He was a loyal companion and a man true to himself and also suggested by these notes he passed away the way he would have wanted, fighting for his country. Also these notes propose that he also had friends serving as one Stanley Quicke MM had posted in his death notices whilst he was serving.
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