Personal Details
Ralph Drake Newbrook, born in Whitchurch in 1889, the eldest son of Joseph and Edith Newbrook.
Husband of Dorothy Eleanor (nee Knight) Newbrook of Paris, Ontario, Canada.
Ralph left for Canada on 1st March 1912 from Liverpool on the Virginian (Allan Line Steamship Co Ltd; Captain J T Gambell), arriving in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He was employed as a Knitter in a Mill, when he enlisted in September 1915.
Ralph was the elder brother of Stanley Victor Newbrook who was killed in action in 1916.
Military Details
Regiment : 75th Battalion Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment)
Rank : Private
Service Number : 164317
Killed in Action France 19th April 1917 Age 29
The British War Medal (also known as 'Squeak') was a silver or bronze medal awarded to officers and men of the British and Imperial Forces who either entered a theatre of war or entered service overseas between 5th August 1914 and 11th November 1918 inclusive. This was later extended to services in Russia, Siberia and some other areas in 1919 and 1920. Approximately 6.5 million British War Medals were issued. Approximately 6.4 million of these were the silver versions of this medal. Around 110,000 of a bronze version were issued mainly to Chinese, Maltese and Indian Labour Corps. The front (obv or obverse) of the medal depicts the head of George V. The recipient's service number, rank, name and unit was impressed on the rim.
The Allied Victory Medal (also known as 'Wilfred') was issued by each of the allies. It was decided that each of the allies should each issue their own bronze victory medal with a similar design, similar equivalent wording and identical ribbon. The British medal was designed by W. McMillan. The front depicts a winged classical figure representing victory. Approximately 5.7 million victory medals were issued. Interestingly, eligibility for this medal was more restrictive and not everyone who received the British War Medal ('Squeak') also received the Victory Medal ('Wilfred'). However, in general, all recipients of 'Wilfred' also received 'Squeak' and all recipients of The 1914 Star or The 1914/1915 Star (also known as 'Pip') also received both 'Squeak' and 'Wilfred'. The recipient's service number, rank, name and unit was impressed on the rim.
Further Information
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Information provided by Terry Evanson Whitchurch, Shropshire and Whitchurch Museum and Archives