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Captain Ralph CONSTABLE
A Company, 10th (Service) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers Date of birth: 7th June 1896 Date of death: 25th September 1916 Killed in action aged 20 Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial Panel and Face 10B 11B and 12B
Ralph Constable was born at "The Quarry", Penshurst in Kent on the 7th of June 1896 the second son of Arthur Hope Constable, a builder, and Henrietta (nee Fister) Constable of “The Quarry“, Penshurst. He was educated at Northdown Hill Preparatory School, Margate and at Lancing College where he was in Seconds House from May 1910 to April 1914. He served as a Lance Corporal in the Officer Training Corps where he achieved Certificate A on the 30th of November 1913 and represented his House at both Cricket and Football. Following the outbreak of war he applied for a commission in the infantry at the Royal West Kent Regimental Depot at Maidstone on the 14th of August 1914 in an application which was supported by the Reverend Bowlby, Headmaster of Lancing College. At a medical examination, which was held on the same day, it was noted that his chest measurement was one inch less than required but it was felt that it would expand to the required amount with exercise. He was also successfully interviewed by Colonel G.W. Mansell. Unable to wait for his commission to come through he enlisted at 64 Victoria Street, Westminster as Private 6423 in the 19th (Service) Battalion Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment), University and Public School Corps. At a medical examination, which was held on the same day, it was recorded that he was five feet nine and a half inches tall and that he weighed 140lbs. It was also noted that he had a fair complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 10th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers on the 17th of September 1914 and was promoted to Lieutenant on the 15th of January 1915. After training in England he embarked for France with his battalion at Folkestone on the 25th of August 1915, landing at Boulogne just before midnight the same day. He was promoted to Captain on the 16th of July 1916 and was slightly wounded the following day while the battalion was moving forward for an attack at Pozieres, but remained at duty. The attack was later cancelled. On the 25th of September 1916 the 10th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers was detailed to attack the German position known as "26th Avenue" near the village of Martinpuich on the Somme. They were to have two tanks in support of the attack and the advance was scheduled to begin at 12.35pm. The tanks moved forward for the attack with one arriving at the front which was concealed in the area of Gunpit trench. The second tank didn’t arrive having been ditched by its crew about half a mile to the west of the British positions. The commanding officer of the 10th Northumberlands phoned his Brigadier to report the loss of the second tank and to suggest that he wouldn’t be able to take the objective without its support. The Brigadier dismissed the suggestion and said that the attack should go ahead as originally planned but with one tank. Two companies would lead the attack, B Company on the left and A Company, under Ralph Constable, on the right. Constable was to direct his company’s attack from Push Trench. At 12.15pm the tank started out for the attack from Gunpit Road to the west of the village and five minutes later it had crossed the crest of a hill and come into the view of the German lines. At 12.20pm signal rockets were launched from the German lines, a signal to their artillery for immediate support. This brought down a barrage from their artillery which was still raging when the Northumberland men went over the top of their parapet. The first wave of the attack by A Company went over at 12.35pm but within a short distance of their own trench they had suffered very heavy casualties with only a few men under 2nd Lieutenant Alexander Scott Calder remaining although Calder himself had been shot in the wrist. He was hit twice more before falling dead within fifty yards of the objective. The second wave under 2nd Lieutenant J.A. Lock was just behind them and also suffered heavily, with Lock being hit three times before being hit for a fourth and fatal time just fifteen yards short of the enemy position. Ralph Constable then issued orders to 2nd Lieutenant John Wilson Noble to lead the next wave, which was made up of numbers 1 to 4 Platoons, to advance to the attack in open order. Noble complied but was killed on his own parapet as he went over. Constable recalled the four platoons and organised them into carrying and bombing parties which they did until relieved at 5.15pm. Constable then went forward himself, apparently to endeavour to organise what remained of his shattered Company, but he was killed before he had gone twenty yards. His father received the following telegram dated the 29th of September 1916: - "Deeply regret to inform you that Capt. R. Constable 10 Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action Sept 26. The Army Council express their sympathy." His Colonel wrote:- "Captain R. Constable was killed when most gallantly leading his Company. He was very popular with all ranks and was a very keen and efficient officer; and his loss to the battalion is a heavy one." His Company Commander wrote:- "Ralph's gallantry was almost superhuman." A brother officer wrote:- "His loss is keenly felt, for he was worshipped by the men and loved by all officers." A Private soldier wrote:- "I cannot tell you in words how your son was thought of by the men of his company. Anyone would have been ready to lay down his life for him." His father applied for his medals in November 1921. He is commemorated on the war memorial at Penshurst.

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