Rutherford, Ralph
191 Corporal Ralph Elliott Rutherford - 10th Light Hore Regiment
Ralph Elliott Rutherford was born on the 17th February 1894 in Nhill Victoria to Charles and Henrietta Rutherford. He was one of several children, Richard (1893), Charles (1896), Mary (1898), Jack (1900), Eva (1901), Ronald (1904) and Cyril (1910).
The family had moved to Western Australia in 1900 and took up residence in Fremantle. The family lived at 170 Marmion Street East Fremantle (later renumbered 97 Marmion).
Ralph completed his education in Fremantle during which time he also served three years in the 86A Cadets and had begun to serve in the 86th Infantry Regiment.
Sadly, his mother Henrietta died in Fremantle in 1910.
Ralph was a 21 year old Labourer when he enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force on the 17th October 1914. The medical examiner passed him as fit for service and recorded his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 7 inches;
Weight - 10 stone 2;
Chest Measurement - 33-34 inches;
Complexion -Fresh;
Eyes - Grey;
Hair - Light Brown.
Ralph was sent to Claremont Showgrounds Camp and was assigned to "A" Squadron of the 10th Light Horse Regiment with the regimental number 191.
The 10th Light Horse would train in various places such as Guildford, Claremont, Fremantle and Rockingham over the next few months.
They soon received their orders to embark. Ralph, as part of "A" Squadron left Fremantle on the 8th February 1915 aboard the transport ship Mashobra. "B" Squadron was also on their ship. "C" Squadron of the 10th Light Horse embarked the following week on the transport ship Surada.
Arriving in Egypt in March 1915, the 10th Light Horse were sent to the recently vacated infantry lines at Mena where they were soon joined by the 8th & 9th Light Horse Regiments and so formed the full complement of the Third Light Horse Brigade. Training occurred for the Light Horse through March and April and soon word came back about the Australian and New Zealand Infantry landing at Anzac Cove. Wounded soldiers brought back the tales of the campaign and no doubt the Light Horse was eager to be done training to have a crack at the Turk.
In May 1915, the Light Horse Regiments were sent to the Gallipoli battlefield, minus their horses, as they would go into the lines as infantry. The majority of the 10th Light Horse sailed for the Dardanelles, reaching there on the 19th May. The 10th spent their time between the outposts of the Northern sector and Walkers Ridge, spending much time at the vital position at Quinn's Post. Ralph kept a diary while at Gallipoli;
Thursday 10th June: On sapping fatigue today for 24 hours from 1am. A little bit of excitement this afternoon between our outpost and a Turkish patrol. Making new firing line; for the troops on this post working under fire all the time.
Friday 11th June: New Zealanders made a little bit of a charge last night just to let them (The Turks) know they were there. There were several casualties this morning, only one death, a man shot through the head with an explosive bullet. We were issued with bread today for the first time since we left Egypt also a few preserved figs and prunes which were only a taste just to give us a few recollections of home (or Civil Life)
Saturday 12th June: Mail day today. Turks were firing shrapnel in galore into our camp this morning (The casualties were 6 killed and about 14 wounded) but they eased off when the Gun Boats started on them.
Sunday 13th June: A warship came our way and fired a few shots into a Turkish Regiments Reinforcements advancing on our left flank pushing back those not killed or wounded. Aeroplanes manoeuvring over us in the morning. Church service this evening. Warships have been firing at Kaba Tepe all day. A few shrapnel shells flying around our camp today. No casualties.
Monday 14th June: Went into trenches this morning sapping and widening the support and reserve trenches. 2 of our men and one officer wounded with shrapnel last night also a few others belonging to the Indians. Destroyers are doing plenty of firing into the Turks Reserves and reinforcements. It’s all trench fighting now ever since we landed.
French and British troops are having great success at Cape Helles. We are doing nothing now, just holding our position and bettering it with new trenches and wider saps and also Tunnels. A fair number of chaps caught by shrapnel while bathing in the sea. 3 killed and about 20 wounded…Weather fairly warm. Not feeling too good. Pretty bad with influenza. Doctor thought I had measles. In piquet tonight for 24 hours. Very small mail today mostly all papers. Acted as SB for the Squadron this evening in the Stand to Arms. Man of War bombarded Gaba Tepe this afternoon. Our balloon was up reconnoitring this afternoon for the first time here for a month. Plenty shrapnel flying about today…Destroyers are nicknamed Greyhounds here. They sneak along and are all very fast.
Sunday 27th June: Shrapnel falling thick about us this morning. One piece hit clean in my mates pocket and just scratched his leg. An attack was made this morning which resulted in a few deaths, a few men and several officers of our own. Shells were lobbing in our trenches and burying our men alive. There were well over 50 casualties in the LH (8th Reg). Digging in this afternoon, new dugouts at our outpost.
Monday 28th June: Several warships continued their bombardment at the Cape this morning. Rifle fire fairly heavy at Quinn’s Post also this afternoon. Our chaps are going into the trenches this evening for 24 hours. An attack was made this afternoon on our right flank…many casualties, heavy artillery fire.
Sunday 4th July: There was another attack last night. Heavy guns and rifle fire. Destroyers doing good work. Maoris having church parade at 4pm. Some of the finest singers I’ve heard, they have beautiful voices. We are having Church Parade at 4pm too.
Monday 5th July: Things are pretty quiet today so far. We are getting a pretty frequent issue of bread now. It is a great change from biscuits. One of our Sergeants has a little tortoise he is going to call it Harvey the Regimental pet for he goes away and comes back again for water. The Turks have placed a new gun in position (taken from their fort which is now surrounded) and he shells the boats which come too close.
Sunday 11th July: It is said our Colonel (Brazier) arrived from Alexandria last night to take command of the Regiment. No mail arrived so far. Maoris had church this morning in their own language it was good to listen to. Our chaps attended the service also. Several fellows shot by snipers on the beach. One of our men shot dead in the trenches today right alongside his brother. Warships fired about 100 rounds into the Turk opposite our outpost and blew their trenches and outposts to pieces.
Thursday 15th July: Warships shell fire at the Cape and at Gaba Tepe. Lieut. Scott shot in trenches badly wounded. Went into trenches this evening for 12hrs for the first time for over a week. Snipers very bad, terrible lot of men shot on beach. The Maoris all working in the trenches with us for a time for instructional purposes.
Friday 23rd July: we are being issued with infantry web equipment in lieu of our own which has to be handed in. Don’t look like we are going to see our horses again. There is 40,000 troops landing here this week a part of (Kitcheners New Army) for the Advance. Out on guard tonight.
Wednesday 25th July: Troops landed here last night (Tommies). A lot of troops here are going away to hospital, colds and influenza and the strain has broken them up, they are practically wrecks.
Thursday 29th July: More troops landed last night. Heard Stan Carter was killed at his gun.
Saturday 31st July: Shifted our camp from No.1 Outpost to Russell’s Top. German planes about again this morning. Colonel Braziers has taken command again. On the firing line for a fortnight 24 hrs firing line 24 hrs supports all the time. Lieut. Olden wounded again with bomb also J Regan.
The influenza which Ralph talked about in his diary also struck him down but it may have saved his life as he was evacuated to hospital to Mudros on 3rd August 1915 and thereby missed his Regiments charge at the Nek on the 7th August. Ralph recovered from his illness and was returned to Anzac on the 23rd August 1915. He noted in his diary when arriving back at "A" Squadron;
Arrived at Anzac at 12.30 this morning found everything ok, only Regiment terribly cut about, only 40 men left in the whole Squadron, all were shot down while making a charge.
Ralph served at his units subsequent actions at Hill 60 in late August 1915 where Hugo Throssell gained his Victoria Cross. Casualties were again high though Ralph came through safely.
His health soon broke down and Ralph was diagnosed with debility. He was sent to the hospital ship and was transported to Malta. He was in hospital in Malta for over two months and was then returned to Egypt on the 4th December 1915.
Ralph rejoined the Regiment when they returned to Egypt from Gallipoli in late December 1915. Due to his health Ralph was put on light duties with the Regiment.
At Serapeum on the Suez Canal. Am looking after sick horses, the rest of the Brigade are on the other side of the Canal in the trenches and doing patrol work (out 14 miles from the Suez Canal) Am in good heart. Was at Serapeum 5 months
It appears that Ralph served in the opening phase at the Battle of Romani in August 1916 but was then sent to hospital with influenza and rejoined the 10th LHR in September 1916.
Ralph served at the action at Magdhaba in December 1916 but was then evacuated to hospital sick and was diagnosed to be suffering from epilepsy. He returned to the 3rd Light Horse Brigade Training Regiment in March 1917. However due to his health, he was posted to the Australian Base HQ and attached for duty with the postal office.
Ralph served with the Australian Army Postal Corps in Egypt through to 1918 and was promoted to Corporal. He had a few more bouts of sickness, but despite his epilepsy Ralph was able to serve in Egypt through to the end of the war. Ralph did not return to Australia till July 1919. He boarded the transport ship HT Oxfordshire and set sail for home, reaching Fremantle on the 4th August 1919.
After arriving home Ralph was sent to No.8 Australian general Hospital in South Terrace Fremantle for a medical checkup. He was discharged from the AIF on the 3rd October 1919.
In 1922 in Fremantle Ralph married Anne Cecilia McMahon. Sadly they lost a child at birth in 1922 and 1924, before Patrick was born in 1927 and Eileen in 1933.
Ralph was also a volunteer fireman and in 1923 his life was saved by a fellow firefighter, Charles Gilbertson White at a house fire on the corner of King and George Street East Fremantle. Sadly Charles White would die in the rescue. As reported in the Kalgoorlie Miner newspaper;
Ralph worked at the Fremantle Harbour Trust as a Tally Clerk and pre-WW2 was living at 3 Quarry Street Fremantle.
Ralph served again in World War Two (W67835) being with the Fremantle Battalion of the Volunteer Defence Corps before being discharged medically unfit.
In 1967 from his house at 21 Staton Road East Fremantle, Ralph applied for his Gallipoli medallion.
Ralph died on the 22nd May 1979 aged 85 and was cremated at Fremantle Cemetery. His ashes were place in the family grave at plot Roman Catholic Lawn D 0018.