Private 1461 Ralph Thomas BURDEN

Private 1461 Ralph (Richard) Thomas Burden{gallery}Pte R T Burden{/gallery}2nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment
Killed in action at Well Farm, Rouges Bancs, France and Flanders, 19th December 1914 aged 20

Commemorated: Ploegsteert Memorial, Hainaut, Belgium. Panels 2 and 3
Awarded 1914 Star, British War and Victory Medals
Son of William Thomas and Louisa Emma Burden
NNWFHS Memorial: Curdworth
Other Memorial: Poole School (now in the grounds of St. James Church Poole) and Poole Grammar School

Links to Relevant Information

Military, Census and Family History Information

Born c1894 in Dorset
Attended Poole Grammar School
Lived at 12 Gladstone Road, Upper Parkstone, Dorset [1911]
Employed as a clerk at a builders’ merchants
It is thought his father ran or owned a brickworks near Curdworth, hence the connection
Enlisted at Coventry
NB: We are in touch with a great-nephew of Ralph who is seeking his medals amongst other things
NB: Military Records show first name as Richard, other records show it as Ralph

Events Leading to Ralph’s Death

During November and December 1914, 2nd Battalion had been billeted near Fleurbaix before relieving the 2nd Queen’s Regiment in the nearby trenches. On 18 December 1914, they were ordered to advance and attack German trenches at Le Maisnil. Ralph was no doubt one of the 219 missing men from the action as he has no known grave. There were also 57 men killed and another 87 wounded. The attack was part of the wider attack at Well Farm.
Downloads [War Diary] [WWI Map of Area] [Modern Map of Area] [Long Long Trail Battle Description]

The fonts above need sorting and none of the downlinks work!!