7088
ASHENDEN, Ralph Gilbert
| Service Number: | 2239 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 2 November 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | No. 1 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps |
| Born: | Goodwood, South Australia, 9 April 1899 |
| Home Town: | Bridgewater (South Australia), Adelaide Hills, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Teamster |
| Died: | Natural causes, Daw Park, South Australia, 17 January 1972, aged 72 years |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia Derrick Garden of Remembrance |
| Memorials: | Aldgate Honour Board, Aldgate War Memorial, Bridgewater Honour Roll, Men from Renmark and District Roll of Honor Boards (4) |
World War 1 Service
| 2 Nov 1915: | Enlisted | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Apr 1916: | Involvement Private, 2239, 9th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Bakara embarkation_ship_number: A41 public_note: '' | |
| 28 Apr 1916: | Embarked Private, 2239, 9th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Bakara, Adelaide | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Private, 2239 | |
| 28 May 1919: | Discharged Private, 2239, No. 1 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps |
Help us honour Ralph Gilbert Ashenden's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Heathfield High School
Ralph Gilbert Ashenden was born on the 9th of April 1899, he was the youngest of 11 children (Harriet Eliza Ashenden Kerwood, George Henry Ashenden, Frederick Arthur Ashenden, Walter Albert Ashenden, Rose Matilda Ashenden Needham, Alfred Thomas Ashenden, Wilfred Ernest Ashenden, Harrold Bertie Ashenden, Charles Leonard Ashenden, Clarice Mabel Ashenden Riddell) who all lived together in Goodwood along with their parents (William Ashenden, Harriet Fry Ashenden). His parents and his oldest four siblings were born in London and moved to Australia between 1881 and 1883 after Walter Albert Ashenden died at the age of 2, Walter either died on the boat to Australia or after they arrived. Given the large size of the Ashenden family (Pvt Ralph Gilbert Ashenden (1899-1972) - Find a... 2020), Ralph's upbringing would have been a lively and bustling experience, with multiple siblings and parents under one roof. His mother Harriet Fry Ashenden died in 1906 (Harriet Fry Ashenden (1853-1907) - Find a Grave... 2019) when Ralph Gilbert Ashenden was 7, his father died in 1919 (William Ashenden (1850-1919) - Find a Grave... 2019) only a few months after Ralph Gilbert Ashenden returned from the war.
Ralph Gilbert Ashenden enlisted in the military in Adelaide, South Australia on November 8th, 1915. At his enlistment, Ralph Gilbert Ashenden was 16 years old (Terrace 2024). He would have had to lie about his age to be accepted for military service, as the minimum age for enlistment during World War I was 18 years old. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force's 9th Light Horse Regiment, a specialist cavalry force. He embarked 28th April 1916 to Egypt for further training.
Ashenden served in the Middle East taken on strength with the No 4 Company Imperial Camel Corps in August 1916. He was transferred to the 3rd Anzac Battalion in November 1916 and the 4th Anzac Battalion in March 1917. In August 1918 he was detached to RAF for duty.
He served for 3 yeasrs and 202 days with 2 years 352 days served overseas. He was repatriated back to Australia via the ship 'Port Sydney' and arrived back 13th April 1919. He was dischared 8th May 1919
Ralph Gilbert Ashenden died on the 17th of January 1972 and was buried at Centennial Park Cemetery.
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