Sergeant Ralph Erskine

Sergeant Ralph Erskine

17th (Service) Battalion (3rd Glasgow) Highland Light Infantry
Service No: 15566

156

2

0

42

Click here for a frameable A4 print

Personal details

Family Information

Son of Ralph Colley Smith Erskine (1851 - 23/06/1917) and Agnes Brown Erskine (1853 - 08/08/1923). Ralph's father died exactly 4 months after he died. From the 1891 Census - Address - 100 Bank St, Coatbridge - Ralph Erskine aged 40, Agnes Erskine aged 37, Helen (Ellen) Erskine aged 8, John Erskine aged 6, William B Erskine aged 4, Ralph Erskine aged 1 month and servant Helen Lind aged 17. From the 1901 Census - Address - Wood St, Coatbridge - Ralph C S Erskine aged 50, Agnes Erskine aged 41, Helen (Ellen) B Erskine aged 18, John Erskine aged 16, William B Erskine aged 14, Ralph Erskine aged 10, James B Erskine aged 7, mothers brother James Brown aged 45, servant Mary H Neill.

Born / Resided

Shotts / 38 Wood St, Coatbridge.

Died

Died of Wounds on the 23/02/1917 at the Edmonton Hospital, London. Wounds received on the 09/08/1916 at Cambrin

Enlisted

Glasgow /08/1914

Employed

Clerk with Stewarts and Lloyds, Clyde Tube Works.

Age

26 / DOB - 05/03/1891

Buried / Remembered

Old Monkland Cemetery (226. 30), Coatbridge.

Cemetery / Memorial Information

This Cemetery contains 33 First World War graves and 44 from the Second World War.

Additional Information

James and the Battalion arrived at Boulogne on the 23/11/1915 and were part of the 97th Brigade, 32nd Division. The Brigade commenced a move to Ampliers on the 16th July 1916, and on the road the Battalion was met by Lieut.-General T. L. N. Moreland, commanding the X Corps. He expressed to the Commanding Officer his appreciation of the good work done by the Battalion while under his command, and his deepest sympathy in their losses. On the 26th the Brigade moved into Bethune and two days afterwards paraded in full marching order, including "tin hats" on a sweltering afternoon, to be inspected by General Munro, G.O.C., 1st Army. A very warm day. Owing to the calls on an Army Commander's time, this inspection was considered to be a great honour and a mark of appreciation by the authorities of the fine spirit shown by the Division during the Somme battle. August saw the unit leave Bethune to take over the Cambrin right sub-sector from the Northamptons, after putting in some fine shooting on the old French Government Rifle Range at Labeauvriere. The strength of the unit in the trenches apart from the Officers, at the taking over (August 5th) was 199 - tragic testimony to the Somme. Immediately on taking over the trenches they were subjected to trench mortar bombardments and sniping raids. On the 12th August Lieutenant and Adjutant Paterson became Captain and Adjutant, Major Paul became Lieut.-Colonel, and 2nd Lieutenants Morrison and Marr, Captains. SEE PHOTOS x 8 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY AUGUST 1916. Ralph died in Edmonton Hospital in London from wounds received on the 09/08/1916. At his funeral a detachment of the Highland Light Infantry under Sergeant Major Maher and fellow members of the Orpheous Choir, Glasgow were present. Floral tributes included one from the office staff of the Clyde Tube Works (see Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser Newspaper clippings x 3for Ralph's funeral and tribute). I personally laid a Poppy at Ralph's grave in Old Monkland Cemetery on the 27/03/2022 (Mother's Day). The 17th were the "Glasgow Commercials" or the "Featherbeds", a nickname acquired after a storm destroyed their tents at their training camp at Gailes in Ayrshire and they were moved to comfortable billets in Troon. Their original name was the "Glasgow Chamber of Commerce Battalion". Ralph is also remembered on the Stewarts and Lloyds x 2 and Drumpellier Cricket Clubs Rolls of Honour and in the St. Augustine's Parish (book) Roll of Honour (see photos). See photos for Ralph's Medal Index Card, the Stewarts and Lloyds Roll of Honour plaque, Ralph's name on the Clyde Tube Works section of the Stewarts and Lloyds Roll of Honour plaque, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls x 2, his name on the Family Grave in Old Monkland Cemetery x 1, the Family Grave x 2, Old Monkland Cemetery, his Headstone Report x 2 and the Highland Light Infantry Cap Badge. Finally, see photos for Newspaper clippings x 9 (Coatbridge Express x 3, Coatbridge Leader x 2 and Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser x 3), the 32nd Division Order of Battle x 14 (the Division he was with when he died) and 2 Newspaper clippings Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser 08/05/1915 naming Ralph on the Drumpellier Cricket Club Roll of Honour. This book is the Record of War Service 1914-1918 of the 17th (Service) Battalion - here

Photos

War Diaries

The battalion War Diary is available on the National Archives website.

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