Cpl 51937 Hugh Ralph Caldwell

• Age: 19
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• D.O.W Sunday 29th April 1917
• Commemorated at: Arras Memorial
  Panel Ref: Bay 3

Hugh Ralph Caldwell was born 05^th November 1897, the son of Hugh Leonard Caldwell and his wife Sophia (nee Cassidy) and was baptised in St. Michael in the Hamlet Church on 20^th February 1898. His parents had also married in this church on the 5th August 1890. The baptismal certificate shows that his father was a van driver and the family lived at 35 Chetwynd Street. 

The 1901 Census shows the family are living at 24 Rosslyn Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool.

The father Hugh Leonard is aged 36 and employed as Baker's van man who was born in Acton, Cheshire. His wife is aged 36 and she was born in Galway and has no occupation listed.  They have four children William John aged 9, born 1892, Henrietta May aged 7 born 1894, Leonard aged 5, born 1896 and Hugh Ralph aged 3 born in 1898. The children were all born in Liverpool. The father Hugh has his sister Louise and her son Arnold Caldwell who is aged 5 and was born in 1896, living at the address. She is aged 27, born 1874 and is employed as a dressmaker and she was born in Liverpool.  

The 1911 Census shows the family are living at 24 Rosslyn Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool.

The father Hugh Leonard is now aged 46 and still employed as Baker's van man. His wife is aged 46 and has no occupation listed. They have been married for 20 years and have had four children. At the taking of the Census three children remained at the home address, Henrietta May aged 17 is a milliner, Leonard Arthur is aged 15 and is an office boy working in the cotton trade  and Hugh Ralph aged 13 is still at school. The father’s sister Louise now showing her age 36 is stil employed as a dressmaker.  

Hugh Ralph enlisted in Liverpool, initially joining the 6th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment. After a transfer he was was serving in the 17th Battalion as Private 51937.

He had reached the rank of Corporal when he died of wounds on 29th April 1917, aged 19.

His body was subsequently lost or the grave destroyed as his name is recorded on the Arras Memorial in France as R Caldwell. It is safe to assume that he used the name Ralph as his first name.
 
The ARRAS MEMORIAL commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918, the eve of the Advance to Victory, and have no known grave. The most conspicuous events of this period were the Arras offensive of April-May 1917, and the German attack in the spring of 1918. Canadian and Australian servicemen killed in these operations are commemorated by memorials at Vimy and Villers-Bretonneux. A separate memorial remembers those killed in the Battle of Cambrai in 1917. Both cemetery and memorial were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, with sculpture by Sir William Reid Dick. The memorial was unveiled by Lord Trenchard, Marshal of the Royal Air Force on the 31 July 1932 (originally it had been scheduled for 15 May, but due to the sudden death of French President Doumer, as a mark of respect, the ceremony was postponed until July). 

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo 9th May, 1917

CALDWELL  - April 29  Died of wounds received in action age 19 years, Cpl H. R. Caldwell KLR.  Dearly loved youngest son of Mr and Mrs L Caldwell, 24 Rosslyn Street, St Michaels.

Ralph's name appears on a register of the Typographical Association which was a Trade Union.

He is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 10 Left

St Michaels in the Hamlet Church, Liverpool.

St Michaels School

He is also commemorated on the family headstone in Toxteth Park Cemetery:

- In loving memory of Hugh Leonard Caldwell, who passed away 11th July 1925, aged 60 years. And of his youngest son Hugh Ralph Caldwell, who died of wounds in France April 1917, aged 19 years. Also Sophia, beloved wife of the above, who died 2nd August 1950, aged 85 years.

We currently have no further information on Hugh Ralph Caldwell, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.