Category Archives: Army

Ernest Herbert Relf

Army, Other Regiments, Registered War Grave, St. Laurence's Church

Ernest Herbert Relf
Gunner 125760
337th Siege Battery
Royal Garrison Artillery

 Division 33

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Ernest Herbert Relf  was the son of John and Ellen Sophie Relf. The 1911 census indicates that his parents and sister Rose ran an Athletics Outfitters. His occupation is given as Professional Cricketer.

Research revealed that Ernest was one of three Relf brothers who played for Sussex prior to the war. His brother  Albert played over 500 times for Sussex and 13 tests for England, he was acknowledged as an accomplished all rounder. Brother Robert plyed for the county and scored three double centuries. The Sussex Cricket Club is erecting a plaque to the fallen of the Great War. (The Argus November 2013)

Ernest was the husband of May Relf, of 3, King’s Road, Reading. He died of illness contracted whilst on active service on 27th July 1918, aged 29.  He was at  5 Northern General Hospital, Leicestershire at the time of his death. He left his wife, May Clarence Relf £148 4s 9d in his will. Ernest Herbert Relf is buried in a registered war grave number 5752 and this is marked with a private headstone.

Ernest Relf shares his grave with his mother and brother.  The commemoration inscription is very close to the ground and difficult to see under normal circumstances.  Ernest Relf’s name also appears on a special memorial in the War Plot.

Charles Ralph

Army, Commemorated name/s, Other Regiments

Charles Ralph
Rifleman  B/151
7th Battalion Rifle Brigade

 Division 6 

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Charles Ralph was killed on active service on 30th  July 1915 aged 34.  He was the son of James and Annie Ralph of 40, Liverpool Road. The 1911 census indicate that his mother was head of the family and Charles occupation is given and supernumenry railway porter, his mother was a waiting room assistant. Other family members were five youngers sibilings, four sisters the youngest aged 14 who worked as a sewing machine assistant, a drapers assistant, a dressmaker, a bookbinder and a brother at the biscuit factory.

Charles Ralph  was a regular soldier and had served for eight years in India and Africa.

 He is commemorated on the Menin Gate at Ypres Panels 46-48 and 50

Henry Charles Pyke

Army, Other Regiments, Registered War Grave

Henry Charles Pyke
Private 7748 Army Pay Corps. (Canterbury)

 Division 43

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 Henry Charles Pyke, was the son of  Charles John and Ellen Pyke, of 37, Letcombe Street,  Reading.  The 1901 census indicates that his father was a tin decorator for biscuit manufacturing. Henry then 13 was a grocers errand boy. He was ten years older than his nearest sibling  Charles and in 1911 his youngest brother was only two years old. His mother had three surviving children out of the five she had birthed. In 1911 Henry was still living in the family home and his occupation was that of an Insurance Agent.

Henry Charles Pyke died on the 31st December, 1915.  He was aged 28.  His death was announced in the Chronicle 7th January 1916 there was no other information to add to that in register. We understand from the CWGC register that he had served in France but have no details of this service. His is a registered war grave and has a CWGC war pattern headstone, number 13630.