Informations sur naissance

Année de naissance:
1888
Lieu de naissance:
Dublin, Irlande, Royaume-Uni

Informations service militaire

Pays:
Irlande, Royaume-Uni
Force armée:
British Expeditionary Force
Rang:
Serjeant
Numéro de service:
10347
Incorporation date:
31/12/1907
Incorporation nom de lieu:
Dublin, Irlande, Royaume-Uni
Unités:
 —  Royal Dublin Fusiliers, 1st Bn.  (Dernière unité connue)

Informations sur décès

Date de décès:
04/10/1917
Lieu de décès:
't Goed Ter Vesten Farm, Langemark, Belgique
Cause du décès:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Âge:
29

Mémorial

Tyne Cot Memorial
Panneau: 144

Distinctions et médailles 4

1914-15 Star
Médaille
British War Medal
Médaille
Military Medal and Bar
Médaille
Victory Medal
Médaille

Points d'intérêt 3

#1 Lieu de naissance
#2 Lieu d'enrôlement
#3 Lieu du décès (approximatif)

Mon histoire

Serjeant Ralph Prestage served with the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, 1st Battalion, part of the 86th Brigade, of the 29th Division.
On the 4th of October 1917, the Brigade participated in the so-called Battle of Broodseinde, a phase in the Third Battle of Ypres. Its task was to form a defensive flank overlooking the Broembeek valley. The brigade was divided into three companies, each with its own objective. Z and Y companies were the leading companies, meaning they were to advance first. The objective of the former was a line near Staden Railway and ‘t Goed ter Vesten Farm. That of the latter was near Chinese House. W company was to act as a support and had to consolidate a line behind the two leading companies.
The preparations for the battle already began during the night of the 3rd-4th October. The 1st Battalion of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers relieved the 16th Middlesex in Ragle trench. There they provisioned themselves and by 5 am everything was ready for the oncoming battle.
At 6am, the attack began. Z and Y companies advanced first, close behind their barrage. W company left not long after. By means of reports it was established that Z and W companies had consolidated their objectives. However, nothing was heard from Y company. All its the officers had been killed which meant no report could be sent. Nevertheless, it eventually became clear that they too had been able to consolidate their objective.
At 1.30 pm, the Germans made a small counter-attack that came from the direction of Kortebeek Farm. Due to the gunfire of the 29th Division, they were eventually forced to retreat. In the afternoon, there was fairly heavy shelling, but the Royal Dublin Fusiliers had dug themselves in very well which limited the number of casualties.
Serjeant Ralph Prestage was killed in action on the 4th of October 1917. Not much is known about the circumstances of his death. It is also unclear where exactly he fell, although it must have been in the vicinity of Langemarck. His remains were never identified. He is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Fichiers 1

Sources 3

1 Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers , (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/1974/1).
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14303
Autre référence
McCarthy C., The Third Ypres Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account, (London, Arms & Armour Press, 1995), pg. 97-103.
Sources utilisées
Wylly H.C., Neill's "Blue Caps" : Vol. 3: 1914-1922, (Uckfield, The Naval & Military Press Ltd., 1923), pg. 88-91.
Sources utilisées

Complément d’informations 4

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/829770
Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum)
https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=b944e201-3480-4f75-b204-ec9b999b643b
Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum)
https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/3587224
Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum)
https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/5082770