Circumstances of Casualty: Killed in Action. Whilst with his Company taking part in a raid, East of La Coulotte, he was killed by enemy shell fire.
BC December 15, 1917
Private Ralph Newstead is another boy from around here who has made the supreme sacrifice, being killed in action on June 8th. He was the third son of Mr. And Mrs. Charles Newstead of South Dumfries, adjoining Paris Station. Born in December, 1896, he received his education in Silver Street School, and was of an unusually bright and sunny disposition. The late Private Newstead enlisted in the 125th and went overseas with the same, and later was drafted with a unit for France. He was in the severe fighting around the Somme for over three months, and on November 22nd he was taken to the hospital suffering from trench feet. He had been since that time convalescing in different hospitals in England and in a letter to his parents dated May 31, he said he had been back in France for two weeks, but had not then rejoined his battalion. So he could not have been with them long when he died a hero’s death. Deceased was an adherent of the Baptist Church. He leaves to mourn his early demise, besides his sorrowing parents, four sisters Mrs. M. Marlett, Paris Station, and the Misses Blanch, Eva and Marion, at home, and five brothers Earle, of Paris, and Charles, Percy, Lawrence and Alwin at home.