Ralph Platt's Story.
Sapper Ralph Platt Calderbank (1867 - 1917) served his country in South Africa from October 1899 to October 1900. His service is remembered on the Boer War Memorial in Queens Park, Crewe.
Ralph Platt Calderbank was born in Over, near Winsford, Cheshire, on 28th January 1867. He was the son of Ralph Calderbank (1838–1888) and Elizabeth Anne nee Williams (1842–1906). His father was a blacksmith and he followed him into that trade, eventually working for the LNWR company in Crewe.
On 26th December 1887 (Boxing Day) when he was 20 years old, he married 19-year-old Elizabeth Whitehead (1868–1950) at St Chad's Church in Over. They went on to have eleven children, including Elizabeth (1888–1943), Ralph (1890–1966), Harry (1892–1952), Florence (1894–1925), Alice (1895–1961) and Frances (1906 - 1998).
When he was 23, Ralph enlisted into the 2nd Cheshire Royal Engineers (Railway Volunteers) and on 7th October 1899, at the outbreak of the Boer War, he was recalled into active service. Within a fortnight, he was on his way to Cape Town, South Africa. He spent twelve months abroad. From his attestation papers, we know that Ralph was 5' 7" in height, with hazel eyes and brown hair. He had a sallow complexion, and weighed 55 kg (about 8 stone 9lbs).
Departure for South Africa
The Royal Engineers left Southampton on 21st October 1899, aboard the ship SS Goorkha.
En route they called in at Tenerife for supplies and arrived in Cape Town three weeks later on 16th November. The ship continued the next day to Durban. At present, we do not have information on how Ralph's regiment was deployed, but he arrived back in the UK a year later, on 19th October 1900.
For his service, Ralph was awarded the Queens South Africa medal, with clasps for Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal. (Ralph's medals and replica image below)
After returning to the UK, Ralph was living in 1901 with his family at 216 Market Street, Crewe. By April 1911, they had moved to 3 Liverpool Terrace, which would be Ralph's last home.
Ralph died of septic bronchitis and heart failure on 17th March 1917. He was fifty years old.
His widow Elizabeth did not remarry. The 1939 Register shows her still living at 3 Liverpool Terrace, with her eldest son Ralph. She died on 8th October 1950, aged 82.
Researched by Shena Lewington (November 2025) with additional material and images from Keith Alcock, a relation of Ralph Calderbank
Ralph Platt Calderbank was born in Over, near Winsford, Cheshire, on 28th January 1867. He was the son of Ralph Calderbank (1838–1888) and Elizabeth Anne nee Williams (1842–1906). His father was a blacksmith and he followed him into that trade, eventually working for the LNWR company in Crewe.
On 26th December 1887 (Boxing Day) when he was 20 years old, he married 19-year-old Elizabeth Whitehead (1868–1950) at St Chad's Church in Over. They went on to have eleven children, including Elizabeth (1888–1943), Ralph (1890–1966), Harry (1892–1952), Florence (1894–1925), Alice (1895–1961) and Frances (1906 - 1998).
When he was 23, Ralph enlisted into the 2nd Cheshire Royal Engineers (Railway Volunteers) and on 7th October 1899, at the outbreak of the Boer War, he was recalled into active service. Within a fortnight, he was on his way to Cape Town, South Africa. He spent twelve months abroad. From his attestation papers, we know that Ralph was 5' 7" in height, with hazel eyes and brown hair. He had a sallow complexion, and weighed 55 kg (about 8 stone 9lbs).
Departure for South Africa
The Royal Engineers left Southampton on 21st October 1899, aboard the ship SS Goorkha.
En route they called in at Tenerife for supplies and arrived in Cape Town three weeks later on 16th November. The ship continued the next day to Durban. At present, we do not have information on how Ralph's regiment was deployed, but he arrived back in the UK a year later, on 19th October 1900.
For his service, Ralph was awarded the Queens South Africa medal, with clasps for Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal. (Ralph's medals and replica image below)
After returning to the UK, Ralph was living in 1901 with his family at 216 Market Street, Crewe. By April 1911, they had moved to 3 Liverpool Terrace, which would be Ralph's last home.
Ralph died of septic bronchitis and heart failure on 17th March 1917. He was fifty years old.
His widow Elizabeth did not remarry. The 1939 Register shows her still living at 3 Liverpool Terrace, with her eldest son Ralph. She died on 8th October 1950, aged 82.
Researched by Shena Lewington (November 2025) with additional material and images from Keith Alcock, a relation of Ralph Calderbank