Ashtead War Memorials - WWII
- Serjeant Ralph Sheraton Kirtley Military Provost Staff Corps
1911-46
Ralph, a son of Robert and Miriam
Kirtley of Dawden, was baptised on 4 October 1911 at St John's Parish
Church, Seaham. Miriam, the wife of Robert Kirtley, died aged 28 to be
interred at Princess Road Cemetery Seaham Harbour, 25 February 1914.
Robert Kirtley, a miner at Dawden Colliery, Seaham, joined the 7th
Battalion Yorkshire Regiment during the Great War as Private 18364.and
died of wounds in France on December 23rd 1917, aged 37 years - buried
Rocquigny-Equancourt British Cemetery.
Having been orphaned with three siblings, Ralph appears to have enlisted
in 2nd Battalion Highland Light Infantry and was awarded an India General
Service Medal 1908, with one clasp, North West Frontier 1935. This
indicates that he had been involved in the Second Mohmand Campaign.
The 2nd Battalion, Highland Light Infantry was in Palestine in 1939 and
was moved to Egypt following the outbreak of war. It played a leading part
in the Battle of Keren. After a period in Egypt, Syria and Cyprus, 2 HLI
went to the Western Desert, fighting at Fuka, Knightsbridge and the
Cauldron. Returning to Britain in the latter part of 1942, the Battalion
took part in the landings at Sicily, 1943. Later retraining as a mountain
battalion, fought in Yugoslavia, Albania and Greece. Early in 1945 it was
sent to Italy for the final advance in the North, where it remained until
the end of the War.
The marriage of Ralph S Kirtley to Dorothy G Ellis had been registered in
Newcastle upon Tyne for the March Quarter of 1942.
Before demobilisation, Ralph had risen to the rank of Serjeant in Military
Provost Staff Corps. In 1945, having left the Army, Ralph S and Dorothy G
Kirtley have been located in residence at 1 Culverhay, Ashtead. Before the
date of Ralph's death, 28 December 1946, they had moved to The Flat, 28
Woodfield Lane, Ashtead, but he expired at 2 Horsham Road, Dorking (the
address of Dorking County Hospital).
The death of Dorothy Grace Kirtley, born 14 March 1906, was registered in
Surrey Mid E, 3/1983.
text: Brian Bouchard: if you can add to this
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page added 27 Sep 16