RALSTON, Arthur James
| Service Number: | 38380 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 19 May 1917 |
| Last Rank: | Gunner |
| Last Unit: | Field Artillery Brigades |
| Born: | Annandale, New South Wales, Australia, 1899 |
| Home Town: | Manly, Manly Vale, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Fort St SPS and Sydney Technical High School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Insurance clerk |
| Died: | Manly, New South Wales, Australia, 2 September 1977, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Sydney Technical High School WW1 Roll Of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 19 May 1917: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Gunner, 38380, 14th Field Artillery Brigade | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Nov 1917: | Involvement Gunner, 38380, Field Artillery Brigades, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: SS Canberra embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 16 Nov 1917: | Embarked Gunner, 38380, Field Artillery Brigades, SS Canberra, Sydney |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Sydney Technical High School
Arthur James Ralston (1899-1977) was born in Annandale, New South Wales(1) in 1899 to William Ralston (1862-1915) and Louisa Chappie Ralston (1890-1957)(2). He grew up a short walk away from Manly Beach (3) as the youngest of a family of 7 with one older brother, William Alfred C Ralston (1887-1956) and 3 older sisters, Mary E Ralston (1889-1919), Violet S Ralston (1885-1950), Hilda Ralston (1892-1956)(4). The Ralstons were also devoted Presbyterians(5). When Arthur Ralston was just 16, his father, William Ralston (1862-1915) passed away.(6) Out of high school, Arthur became an iIsurance Clerk at 16 and like the many patriotic teens of the era, he immediately enlisted into military service at once he turned 18.(7)
Arthur James Ralston initially studied at Fort Street High School in 1912 before transferring to Sydney Technical High School where he studied from 1913- 1915.(8) He studied many offered subjects including core subjects, sciences and woodworking/metalworking.(9) The outbreak of World War One in 1914 imbued the Australian youth with a major sense of duty. Like many of his peers, Arthur Ralston was eager to serve. At just 17 years old-18 years old, Arthur prepared to sacrifice his career as an insurance clerk as he enlisted in the Nominal roll with parental permission. (10) A month later on the 19th of May 1917, He officially joined the 2nd military district of the Australian Imperial army as a gunner for the 32nd reinforcements of the 14th Field Artillery Brigade. (11)
On the 16th of November the same year, Ralston under service number 38380 embarked from Sydney aboard the SS Canberra bound for England. (12) After further training in England he proceeded to France arriving 28 June 1918.
In 1918, a large German force freed from their duty in the east due to the collapse of the Russian empire launched a powerful attack on France.(14) Ralston along with his brigade were sent south from Belgium down to a commune near the river Somme. They were pivotal in securing flanks around the subsequent Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux.(15) In October 1918 Ralston was transferred to the 14 Field Artillery Brigade.
He returned to Australia disembarking in Sydney 15 October 1919 and was discharged 14 November 1919
On the 3rd of July 1925, Arthur James Ralston married Agnes Lillian Morrison at St. Stephen's Presbyterian Church. In December of the same year, the couple birthed their only known child, Pauline Ralston (1925-2015)(18). He also transitioned into working as a Statistician.(19) Following the death of his mother and siblings in the following years Ralston's wife Agnes passed away on the 21st of April 1957. Finally, at the age of 78 Australian combat Veteran Arthur James Rolston passed away on the second of September 1977.(20)
Endnotes
(1) Military Records
(2) Ibid.
(3) Ibid.
(4) Ibid.
(5) Ibid.
(6) Ibid.
(7) Australian Imperial Force, Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad, Ralston Arthur James (Service No. 38380), National Archives of Australia, Barcode 8026058.
(8) Military records
(9) THS 1915 class 2C June Arthur – Left.JPG.
(10) Australian Imperial Force, Nominal Roll, Ralston Arthur James (Service No. 38380), National Archives of Australia.
(11) Ibid.
(12) Australian War Memorial, Embarkation Roll: Ralston Arthur James (Service No. 38380), https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1809801.
(13) Virtual War Memorial Australia, Ralston, Arthur James (Service No. 38380), https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/88523.
(14) Stevenson, K., Research on the German Spring Offensive 1918, Google Drive Archive.
(15) Australian War Memorial, Frank Hurley Photograph: 14th Brigade of Australian Field Artillery entering Péronne, France, 6 September 1918, AWM Collection, E03183.
(16) Pedersen, Peter, ANZACS on the Western Front: The Australian War Memorial Battlefield Guide (John Wiley & Sons, 2012).
(17) Australian Government, First World War Service Records – Ralston Arthur James, Service No. 38380, Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal, National Archives of Australia.
(18) New South Wales Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Marriage Certificate of Arthur James Ralston and Agnes Lillian Morrison, 1925.
(19) Commonwealth Electoral Roll, New South Wales, 1949, entry for Arthur James Ralston, statistician.
(20) New South Wales Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Death Certificate of Arthur James Ralston, 1977.
Bibliography
Australian Government. First World War Service Records – Ralston Arthur James, Service No. 38380, Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal. National Archives of Australia.
Australian Imperial Force. Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad, Ralston Arthur James (Service No. 38380). National Archives of Australia, Barcode 8026058.
Australian Imperial Force. Nominal Roll, Ralston Arthur James (Service No. 38380). National Archives of Australia.
Australian War Memorial. Embarkation Roll: Ralston Arthur James (Service No. 38380). https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1809801
Australian War Memorial. The 14th Brigade of Australian Field Artillery entering the town of Péronne, France, 6 September 1918 [Photograph] / Frank Hurley. AWM Collection, E03183.
Commonwealth Electoral Roll, New South Wales, 1949. Entry for Arthur James Ralston.
New South Wales Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Marriage Certificate of Arthur James Ralston and Agnes Lillian Morrison, 1925.
New South Wales Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Death Certificate of Arthur James Ralston, 1977.
Pedersen, Peter. ANZACS on the Western Front: The Australian War Memorial Battlefield Guide. John Wiley & Sons, 2012.
Military records
Virtual War Memorial Australia. Ralston, Arthur James (Service No. 38380). https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/88523
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