TOPIC:

Richard Ratliffe

Captain, 5th Battalion, Rifle Brigade, (attached to the Mounted Infantry) – Anglo Boer War
Lt. Colonel, 5th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment – WWI

- Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal and South Africa 1901 to Capt: R. RATLIFFE, Rif: Bde.

Richard Ratliffe was a successful man born into a successful family. Ratliffe’s Celebrated Stout is still brewed to this day in the North of England. The family were associated with brewing and the brewing trade from the day Mr Thomas Ratcliffe opened his first brewery in Northampton.

Born on 29 October 1871 in Northampton, Northamptonshire, he was the son of Thomas Ratliffe and his wife Elizabeth Louisa, born Hawes. He was baptised in the Parish of St. Giles on 7 December 1871 at which time the family lived at Albion Place, Northampton.


Richard along with his father and younger brother Thomas Henry

As has been alluded to, the family were hard working and prosperous, it therefore came as no surprise to find them living in a state of affluence when the 1881 census came round – still residing at 1 Albion Place, the family comprised the parents, along with 9 year old Richard and older siblings Ann Maria (14) and Alice May (10). To cope with the demands of a growing family several domestics had been pressed into service these being Miss Mortimer the Nurse, Miss Billingham, the House Maid and Miss Goode, the Cook.

Being the son of a wealthy Brewer, Ratliffe was tutored privately before being sent to Germany to finish his education. On his return he was sent to Tonbridge to learn the ropes of the family business. The 1891 England census has a 20 year old Ratliffe, described as a Brewer’s Pupil, lodging at the house of Mrs Elizabeth Warnett of Spring House, 1 High Street, Hadlow. Having “learnt the ropes” he returned to his paternal home and, like so many young men in the Victorian era, enlisted with the local Militia – in his case being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Volunteer Battalion of the Northamptonshire Regiment on 8 July 1893 at the age of 22.



Promotion to Lieutenant followed on 17 March 1894 and it became apparent that, apart from his professional family business obligations, he was going to spend a not insignificant amount of time in uniform in what was almost a parallel career. But there was also time for romance and affairs of the heart – on 3 June 1896 in the Parish of Hayford, a 24 year old Ratliffe wed 23 year old Norah Judkins. Witnesses to the nuptials included his father and his brother Thomas Henry, fully 11 years his junior. All of these were described as Gentlemen by way of occupation.

Life continued for Ratliffe with promotion to the rank of Captain on 21 July 1897. On the home front, little Florence Ismay was welcomed into this world with her baptism taking place on 22 April 1899 in the same church as that of her father 28 years before. As he listened to the priest intone the words of the sacrament he, and many others, would have been blissfully unaware that in a matter of six months’ time, Great Britain and her Dominions would be at war with two seemingly puny but certainly recalcitrant Boer Republics at the tip of far-away Africa – the South African Republic of President Paul Kruger and his ally the Orange Free State under President Steyn.

The aggression between the two camps had been fomenting for quite some time – partially over the “Uitlander” question – the rights of the primarily British subjects who were the mainstay of the Z.A.R.’s economy – and partially because of the expansionist policy of Sir Alfred Milner and Prime Minister Joseph Chamberlain – arch Imperialists both. War finally erupted on 11 October 1899 and the Boer Commandos, already at the borders of the Crown Colonies of Natal and the Cape, crossed over and quickly laid siege to the towns of Mafeking, Kimberley and Ladysmith.

That the British were unprepared for war is an understatement – at best a force of +/- 10 000 Regular Army troops were in the country. These were speedily overrun, and the very real threat existed that the Boers would prevail. A clarion call went out for more men and the British Government responded diverting troops from both Home and India, whilst her Colonies responded with men as well. In South Africa, Colonial units were raised to assist their Imperial brothers and, after Black Week in December 1899 which saw a trio of British reverses experienced, the influx of men and equipment began to turn the tide. This together with prevarication on the part of the Boer Generals in the field began to tip the scales in favour of the Empire.

The first phase of the war, the pitched battles, soon gave way to the guerrilla phase – one where small and highly mobile Boer Commandos would harass and attack isolated British supply columns and small patrols. Having pillaged and plundered what they could they would then gallop off into the veld before any assistance could come up.

Ratliffe, probably because of his business commitments, wasn’t deployed for the start of the war although the London Gazette of 20 February 1900 carried the report that Captain Richard Ratliffe from the 1st Volunteer Battalion of the Northamptonshire Regiment was to be Captain. Dated 21 February 1900


Things were moving apace - the London Evening Standard of 28 February 1901 informed its readers that “Captain R. Ratliffe, 5th Rifle Brigade has been selected for special service with the Mounted Infantry in South Africa and will hold himself in readiness to embark at an early date.”

The London Gazette of 26 April 1901 tells us that he was seconded for service in South Africa as a Captain (Special Service officer) in the 5th Battalion of the Rifle Brigade attached to the Mounted Infantry.

The stage was thus set for Ratliffe to make an, albeit a late one, entrance into the South African conflict. We have Bertie Moller’s meticulously kept diary of his movements with the Mounted Infantry to thank for an approximation of what service Ratliffe was likely to have seen. Those officers from the Rifle Brigade who were selected as Special service officers for the Mounted Infantry were deployed to the 13th M.I. with an overflow to the 14th M.I. – both outfits worked in tandem with one another, it is thus possible to gain a reliable insight into what action these men saw and where.

It can be safely assumed that Ratliffe joined the M.I. in the field at the end of March 1901 – a particularly dull (from an action point of view) period in which French's, Allenby's, Knox's, and Pulteney's columns arrived on the Transvaal border with Natal to counter the resurgence of Boer activity under General Louis Botha who threatened to reinvade the colony deserted by the Boers a year before. For the sake of brevity, only those diary entries which contain any information of importance will be included below.

March 24.—Reveille at 4; marched off south at 6. Country very rugged, with difficult roads. We had a long march of nine miles, with many long halts to allow the waggons to close up. Dartnell's column is immediately in front of us. We halted and camped at Velgenvonden, twelve miles north of Vryheid. The waggons were late coming in. Waters and No. 2 Section went out on permanent outpost. We halt here for three or four days in order to get supplies, etc. We are all on quarter rations still. It is hungry work. No tobacco either. The farms have been burnt everywhere by other columns.

March 27.—Reveille at 5. Beautifully fine. The column moved off at 7 due east. I find flank and rear guards. Had a long march of fifteen miles over extremely difficult country, with many halts to allow the waggons to cross drifts. The Canadian Scouts exchanged shots with a few Boer snipers, and J Battery shelled a small commando of between 200 and 300, who were returning north-east. Casualties: One Boer killed, two wounded, two prisoners; ours nil. We camped on a high ridge immediately north of Manwaan River (tributary of the Bevaan and Usutu Rivers). A very stiff drift; the waggons did not get in till between 11 and midnight. A fine moonlight night. Turned in at one.

March 29.—Pietersrust. Reveille at 4.30; marched off at 6. Hot, close morning. To-day we are main body. Marched due east. At cross-roads at Bellevue my company and Brass's (No. 1) took the north road over the mountains and covered the left flank. We marched till 1, then halted, according to orders, on the edge of the ridge. Hilton collared a Boer, and exchanged a few shots with some snipers. Louis Botha's farm is about six miles east. Halted till four.

March 31.—Waterval. Reveille at 4. A cold, fine morning. Moved off main road; column covered its left flank, and moved through Botha's farm, a fine place. Emmett's farm is close by. We halted at 8 a.m. on a ridge east of Botha's farm. Heard heavy firing to north-east—Dartnell's column in action against 800 to 1,000 Boers, strongly posted with machine-guns and pom-pom. Orders for all mounted troops to leave waggons and co-operate with Dartnell's column, taking three days' half-rations for man and horse.

The force consists of: 4 guns J Battery, 5 Colt guns, Canadians, 13th Mounted Infantry, 14th Mounted Infantry (under Colonel Jenner).
Moved off at 2.30 p.m. north-east. A tremendously stiff, mountainous country. We marched on till 9 p.m., about ten miles, and halted and camped by Smaldeel Farm. Welcome grub!

April 1.—Smaldeel Farm. Reveille at 4; breakfast at 5; marched off at 5.15. To-day we are support to scouts. Fine, but misty. A mighty country this, and very beautiful. At 8 a.m. we reached a big farm and captured 10 prisoners, 8 waggons, 100 horses, 1,000 oxen, and 2,000 sheep. Halted here. Boers and their waggons believed to be three days' march east and south-east. Moved on and turned north after Dartnell. Between 300 and 400 Boers seen on our left flank trekking back. The whole force turned about to intercept them.

April 2.—Pratt took in carts, waggons, and all sick horses. Colonel Jenner is in command. We go to round up cattle and waggons. We went four and a half miles through the stiffest country imaginable. Halted on a huge razor-edged ridge, with a 2,000 feet drop on either side. The Canadians, under Ross, and 13th Mounted Infantry went on to raid cattle. There was a desultory sniping all round. The Boers retired, leaving a huge head of oxen. Ultimately captured six waggons, 400 to 500 oxen, and 300 horses.

April 7.—Vaalbank. We started back for Vryheid to join the main column at 6.30, taking with us empty waggons, Boer prisoners, and women. I was left flank guard. We halted at Nooitgedacht for three hours, and outspanned. A beautiful day. We started at 3 for Vryheid, and reaching here at 6.30, found Alderson's column had gone north. Halted and camped for the night. Vryheid is the usual type of Dutch town out here; beautifully situated in a valley, with high ridges all round. It has about 3,000 inhabitants.

April 10.—Spitzkop. Reveille at 3.30. Colonel Jenner took out a mounted force on extreme right to round up from 400 to 600 Boers reported to be in the hills, and to bring in cattle My company went with this force. The main column went on east-north-east.

The force under Colonel Jenner was as follows: Two squadrons 8th Hussars; two 15-pound guns G Battery R.H.A.; two Colt guns (Canadians); French's Scouts; 100 14th Mounted Infantry.

Before going further I should like to tell you a few things about the last trek. The regiment came back with 130 mounted men on fit horses out of 500, the remainder being dismounted. Two-thirds of the men were absolutely in rags, and quite a fourth were bootless. This will explain to you what a severe trek it was. Well, we hope to get a three weeks' rest now, and during that time we shall refit all round.

April 27.—Turned out at 5. Our company being the first to be equipped, proceeded by road to Volksrust at 8. No. 1 Company 14th Mounted Infantry (Captain Brass); 13th Mounted Infantry (Major Pratt); J Battery R.H.A. (Major Ducrot). A lovely day. We passed familiar places—Windsor Castle, Umbana, Sikafu. Marched twelve miles and halted and camped at Ingogo.

April 29.—Volksrust. We trekked off at 1. Our column is under Major-General Bullock (vice General Dartnell, who has gone down to Natal). The force was split in two columns as follows:

No. 1 Column: Thirteenth Mounted Infantry, 400 men, Major Pratt; 14th Mounted Infantry, 350 men, Major Bridgeford (Colonel Jenner); J Battery, R.H.A., 120 men, Major Ducrot; 2nd Dorsets, 800 men, Colonel Law; one pom-pom; Royal Engineers. All under General Bullock, and trekked east-north-east of Volksrust. No. 2 Column: Colonel Gough's Mounted Infantry, 600 men; Johannesburg Mounted Rifles, 600 men; Commander-in-Chief's bodyguard, 1,000 men, Colonel Chesney; 74th Battery R.F.A., 120 men; 1 pom-pom. All under Colonel Bimbachi Stuart, and trekked on right flank east of Volksrust. The whole under General Bullock.

A beautiful moonlight night, but very cold. First we marched west, then north, then north-east, arriving and halting at Amersfoort at 10 am. We only saw between 50 and 100 Boers some way off, who decamped. We joined the main body here at 12 noon. Stuart's force has been in action again with about 500 Boers on the right flank, and have captured eleven Boers and Commandant Schwartz.

May 4.—Riet Spruit. Reveille at 3.30. We moved off at 5.30, 14th Infantry leading. I, with half No. 1 Company, was sent out on advanced right flank. I saw several parties of Boers along ridges five miles on my right, and had several little skirmishes with Boer vedettes and snipers. Moved on. Great surprises! The column got shelled and we got pom-pommed from Boer Creusot gun and pom-pom situated in ridge. We galloped for cover to ridge with Kaffir kraal, got horses under cover, and awaited events. Thirteenth Mounted Infantry and Brass, with remainder of the company, moved out. After a good deal of desultory firing the Boers evacuated, taking their guns with them. J Battery and 74th shelled the ridge thoroughly. The column halted; the 14th went forward with two guns (J Battery) and made a dash for the high ridge. It was an exciting ride; the Boers fired a few shots, and then bolted. We reached the ridge which overlooks Vaal River, and had a beautiful view. Thirteenth Mounted Infantry and two guns made a wide detour on extreme right. Then the column crossed the Vaal by Kaffir Drift, instead of over the bridge. We came into camp at 4.30 p.m.

May 5.—Kaffir Drift, Vaal River. Reveille at 4.30; moved off at 6.30, 13th Mounted Infantry leading, 14th Mounted Infantry finding flank guards to convoy. I was right flank guard. There was a thick white mist at starting, and the column halted, but it cleared up at 7.30, and we saw 200 to 300 Boers on a high ridge north-east of us, and on our right front. Reported. Exchanged shots with Boer snipers. The column changed direction several times, moving east, north-east, north, and north-west, and being on the outer flank, we had to keep on the trot the whole time. The Boers are estimated to be about 1,500 strong, and under the redoubtable Louis Botha.

May 6. — Vleiplaats. Reveille at 2; breakfast at 3.15; moved off at 4. Special reconnoitring force to get in touch with Colonel Hamilton's column on extreme left at Blaauwkop on Vaal River. Force: 14th Battalion, one company advanced guard (No. 1), half-company left flank guard (No. 2); 13th Battalion, half-company right flank guard, half-company rearguard, half company escort guns; four guns J Battery R.H.A. (all under Colonel Jenner). Remainder of force moved with train column under General Officer Commanding. All was quiet. We reached Vaalkop and Blaauwkop (two high kopjes and great landmarks for miles round) at 7 a.m. No enemy, except fifty or sixty Boers west of us, manoeuvring about five miles off.

May 7.—Tweefontein. Stood to arms at 3.30 a.m. The whole company were on outpost east of camp. It was most extraordinary; the Boers seemed to come in from all round, and before we knew where we were we came in for a stiff rearguard action. The Boers opened fire on us, and we replied. Well, it is no duty of a rearguard to fight, so we retired alternately by sections from ridge to ridge, all the time keeping up a fighting front. The Boers were most persistent; it was an exciting time. The whole morning we did nothing else but gallop from ridge to ridge, covering each other's retirement by dismounting and firing. The Boers followed us. Well, we all made for a farm, where we got cover. Two guns came up, and two companies 14th Mounted Infantry; there were quite 400 or 500 Boers occupying ridges all round rear of column. A general action all round followed; the Boers on nearer ridges decamped; both flank guards joined in, then all retired on column. The column marched twelve miles. Our column had to remain out until the last waggons were in. We got into camp at 5.30. Fighting continued all round column. The Boer gun and pom-pom shelled us, but always managed to get off, although the Mounted Infantry several times went for them.

We had eight casualties to-day; the Boers had many. The Boers here are the pick of the old force and are under Louis Botha himself.
May 9. — Reveille at 12, midnight; moved off at 2 a.m. north-east to go for the Boers, and if possible secure gun. Force: 13th and 14th Mounted Infantry (Colonel Jenner) in support and rear; half-battalion Dorsets in advance; J Battery (four guns); 74th Battery (four guns); Colt guns; one pom-pom; Johannesburg Mounted Rifles; bodyguard, flanks and advanced guard and scouts. All under General Bullock. Many halts, owing to one or two stiff drifts. At first dawn the advanced guard came in touch with Boers, who retired hastily after sending a few shells into us. We proceeded east, and halted near Ermelo, which for the past few weeks has been the Boer seat of government. The Boers have evacuated it and are sitting on the surrounding hills. The Government has trekked on to Amsterdam.

May 10.—Riet Spruit, near Ermelo. All the mounted troops proceeded out for a reconnaissance in force: Gough's Mounted Infantry, bodyguard, 74th Battery (four guns), under Bimbachi Stuart (Western Force); 13th Mounted Infantry, 14th Mounted Infantry, J Battery (four guns), one pom-pom, under Colonel Jenner (Eastern Force). There was a general sniping from surrounding ridges, and J Battery were in action several times. At 3 p.m. the whole force retired to camp, 14th Mounted Infantry leading, half No. 1 Company advance guard (Brass), half No. 1 Company left flank guard (myself), half No. 2 Company support to me, half No. 2 Company right flank, 13th Mounted Infantry main body and rearguard.

May 12.—All quiet. Reveille at 4; moved off due south at 6: 13th Mounted Infantry right flank, 14th Mounted Infantry left flank, Johannesburg Mounted Rifles cover retirement, bodyguard and gun advanced guard, Gough's Mounted Infantry rearguard, No. 3 Company (Gloucesters) scouting to left flank, No. 1 Company (East Yorks) being rearguard to left flank.

The Gloucesters had a slight skirmish at a farm, took two prisoners (bodyguard to Louis Botha), and wounded two. Ten Boers kept us all on the qui vive all the afternoon by riding round our posts and sniping at us. We kept up a desultory fire on them but were unable to hit one.
May 13.—Drinkwater. Gough's Mounted Infantry, two guns J Battery R.H.A proceeded at 4.30 a.m. and held ridge south-west of camp. The remainder of the camp had reveille at 4 and moved off at 6 south-southwest: 13th Mounted Infantry and pom-pom advanced guard and left flank guard; bodyguard and guns, half-battalion Dorsets, right flank guard; two guns J Battery, Johannesburg Mounted Rifles, rearguard; 14th Mounted Infantry in reserve, and main body. There were slight actions all round with small bodies of Boers. The advanced guard shelled the enemy several times; they always retired. The 13th Mounted Infantry and bodyguard got two prisoners each.

May 16.—Tweefontein, on road to Standerton. Column remains in camp, while No. 1 Company 14th Mounted Infantry, No. 2 Company 13th Mounted Infantry, and two guns J Battery, under Major Pratt, go towards Standerton to meet outcoming convoy at 6 a.m. Met advanced guard of convoy at 8. Their force consists of: 1,500 Australian Imperial Bushmen, 600 Sharpshooters Imperial Yeomanry, one Elswick 12-pounder for us, one battery H.A. (Major Rimington). Column moved off at 1 p.m. east again, Rimington's column being on our left. The combined movements of various columns is as follows: Major-General Kitchener's column, Poulteney, Allenby, Knox, from north-northeast to north-west; Rimington, General Bullock, from west. All are working towards Ermelo, Carolina, and Piet Retief, under General Bindon Blood.

May 18.—Riet Spruit, near Ermelo. Gough's Mounted Infantry, Johannesburg Mounted Rifles, under Colonel Bimbachi Stuart, moved off at 6 am. to take up position between Lake Chrissie and Vaal River; 5th Corps Mounted Infantry (13th and 14th), 74th Battery R.F.A., one pom-pom, moved off at 7 and occupied position round Vlakfontein, under General Bullock; Dorset Regiment, Elswick gun, two sections Gough's Mounted Infantry, move at 8 a.m., and occupy Tafel Kop north - north - east of Ermelo. General move from Tafel Kop across Vaal River to south point of Lake Chrissie. Two days' rations carried. Our column moved off in rear of Stuart.

May 22.—The force remains halted to-day, awaiting convoy with supplies from Carolina. The 13th Mounted Infantry go out with empty waggons and two guns 72nd Battery to collect supplies from surrounding farms.

May 23.—Reveille at 3 a.m. The following force moved off at 5 a.m. due west, to hold a strong kopje five miles west, overlooking Ermelo; the camp remains standing: 13th Mounted Infantry furnish advanced guard; three companies 14th Mounted Infantry furnish right flank guard; four guns J Battery, two sections Goff's Mounted Infantry, one pom-pom. All under General Bullock.

The object seems to stop and round up Boers driven down from the north, and to hold the position secure for incoming convoy. We laid low, but the 13th Mounted Infantry caught one Boer, who walked straight into them. They might have caught about twenty more, if they had not taken fright and got off.

June 14.—Column at Kaffir Spruit. We are at a farm four miles east. Stood to arms at 5. All quiet; not a Boer in sight. Rejoined main body at 9. Order of march: Johannesburg Mounted Rifles and two guns R.H.A. advanced guard, 14th Mounted Infantry rearguard, bodyguard right flank, Gough's Mounted Infantry left flank.

Marched west-south-west. A most beautiful day, after a cold night. Halted, and had welcome breakfast at 10. The veldt is burnt for miles round, as well as almost every farm. An uneventful march over old ground.

June 19.—Driefontein. Reveille at 5. Marched south as follows: 14th Mounted Infantry and two guns 74th advanced guard; bodyguard right flank guard; Gough's Mounted Infantry left flank guard; Johannesburg Mounted Rifles and pom-pom rearguard.

General Bullock has been sent down the lines of communication, and our new General is Brigadier-General Spens (Shropshires). Our transport is to be considerably curtailed by order of K. of K., and we shall, I expect, not take any tents. Yesterday we got seventy-nine new horses for the battalion, mostly Canadian, and very fair. We are well off for horses now, having about twenty-four spare per company.

June 21.— Langburg, seven miles north-east of Wakkerstroom. Reveille at 6. At 10 No. 1 Company (mine) went out on reconnaissance four miles out due north. We came in touch with eight Boers, who sniped us some way off. They decamped, however. The veldt all round is burnt, and as black as charcoal.

Returned at 3 to camp. The convoy returned from Wakkerstroom with twelve days' supplies and mails, also No. 2 Company (14th Mounted Infantry) and 13th Mounted Infantry. I heard to-day of a bad disaster near Bethel: 250 men and two pom-poms were rushed at night by a strong commando of Boers, and were compelled to surrender. This is very bad news, as it strengthens the Boers and defers the end of the war.

Moeller’s diary entries don’t end at this point but Ratliffe’s participation in the war was coming to an end. We don’t know what the cause of his ailment was but, on 28 June 1901, the “Aurania” sailed for England with a “cargo” of invalids aboard. Ratliffe was one of them. He was in the company of “Sick Laying down, 97; convalescent, 301, Wounded laying down, 13; convalescent, 24”. Ratliffe’s war, having served in the field for just over three months, was over. For his efforts he was awarded the Queens Medal with clasps Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal.

Back on home soil, Ratliffe was welcomed with open arms by not only his family but by his colleagues at the Brewery and the community of Northampton at large. He was a popular man.

Resuming his employment at the Brewery, he was made a Director of the parent firm in 1909 with all the additional responsibilities this position held. The 1911 England census reveals that he was living at Winterhome, Lillington Leamington and had “private means”. Aged 39 he was joined in the house by his wife of 15 years and children Ida Margaret (14), Florence Ismay (12) and Joan Norah (5). Of servants there were many – Louise Benoit was the French Governess with Frances Warrington the Cook, Elsie Taylor the Parlour Maid and Gertrude Eason the House Maid.



The years post the Boer War were busy ones in the business sense and, in 1913, Ratliffe was made Estate Manager for the Brewery – a vote of confidence by the Board in his abilities. A year later, on 4 August 1914, the unthinkable happened – the world was at war once more but, on this occasion, on a global scale. Who were the belligerents? Great Britain on the one hand and Imperial Germany on the other. Able-bodied men rushed to join the fray with Ratliffe, now 43 years old, one of them. The inter-war years had seen him remain very much involved in the military. On 18 March 1905 he had been posted to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment as a Captain.

This was followed by his elevation to Honorary Major on 18 January 1909, a rank he resigned from on 15 June 1912.

His entry into the war was as Captain with the 5thWorcestershire Regiment. By September 1914 he was already at the front with the 1st Norfolk Regiment, a unit he served with until his secondment to the 1st Bedfordshire Regiment. It was with the latter that he was Severely Wounded in the Thoracic Cavity on 25 February 1915 – the Medical Board convened finding that:

“At the place and the date mentioned, this officer was struck by a rifle bullet which entered over the 11th rib on the left side close to the spinal column and emerged over the tips of the left 10th rib, apparently without penetrating the abdominal cavity.”

It was found that the wound entrance was healing but that of the exit was septic. X-Rays showed no evidence of foreign bodies or injury to ribs. The regimental war diary recorded the events of that day thus:

- 22 February 1915 – in Brigade reserve at Dranoutre
- 23 February 1915 – Battalion returned to the trenches relieving the 1st Cheshire’s
- 24 February 1915 – In conjunction with the Norfolk Regiment the Battalion fired bombs from mortars also rifle grenades from 12 trench at German works on WYTSCHAETE Road near 13 trench. Germans replied with heavier bombs. Our casualties 2 men wounded.
- 25 February 1915 – Enemy dropped two heavy howitzer shells close to Battalion HQ. No damage done. Also fired shrapnel at 11 trench, no damage. Capt. Ratliffe wounded in 13 trench + 3 men.
- 26 February 1915 – Quiet day. Casualties 2 killed and 1 wounded.

In a letter requesting a War Gratuity, dated 19 February 1916, he provided more details about the incident:

‘I received a wound in the abdomen in Flanders on 25 February 1915. I was sent two days after to No. 7 Stationary Hospital at Bolougne. About a week later I was sent to 30 Hill Street in London where when still undergoing treatment and boarded until March 1915.’

Later in the war, Ratliffe, now a Major and convalescing at home, was approached by the Paymaster General who asked if he was able to assist with their enquiries into what had happened to the Battalions Public Money (Fund). In a letter dated 26 June 1916 he replied:

‘I took over command of “B” Company, 1/Bedfordshire Regiment on about November 20th, 1914. All the officers of this company were either killed or wounded a few days previously, so I took over from nobody, and therefore took over no public money. I relinquished command of the company on 25 February 1915 when I was myself severely wounded and carried away on a stretcher. I had no knowledge of and never dealt with any public funds.’

This matter resolved, Ratliffe saw out the war almost without further incident and was released from service in 1919 and was allowed to retain the rank of Lt. Colonel. For his efforts he was awarded the 1914 Star with clasp, British War Medal and Victory Medal. The whereabouts of these are unknown – not even the family in Canada, with whom I am in contact, have any idea of their whereabouts.

Ratliffe now returned to the Brewery where, in 1933, he became chairman of the company, succeeding Mr Lamb and from that time held many important offices in connection with the trade. He was chairman of the Northamptonshire Brewers Society and was deputy chairman of the Northamptonshire Licenced Trade Association. His entry in the 1939 Register (there was no 1941 census on account of the war), records that he was living at Overslade Manor in Rugby. He was Chairman and Managing Director of Phipps Brewery & Co. Northampton.

Richard Ratliffe soldiered on until 10 April 1950, passing away at the age of 79. He left an estate of £82 283 – a sizeable sum. The Chronicle & Echo of 11 April brought the public the news – ‘A leading figure in the last decade Major Richard Ratliffe, former chairman of P. Phipps & Co. Ltd. died at his home The Firs, Hardingstone, after a short illness yesterday.

Major Ratliffe who was in his 79th year was born at Harpole and was the elder son of the late Mr Thomas Ratliffe who was one of the founders of Messrs. Ratliffe and Jefferey of the Albion Brewery, Northampton.’

The esteem in which he was universally held was such that, “Brewery employees of P. Phipps & Co. Ltd. with the maltsters from the Weston Street maltings lined up in front of the brewery premises in Bridgestreet Northampton today as the funeral of Major R. Ratliffe chairman of the company passed from Hardingstone to Dallington where the burial service took place.”

A fitting epitaph for a fine man.


The Firs, Hardingstone