Ralph Zouch Drake Brockman

Ralph enlisted as a gunner into the Royal Horse Artillery on 25^th January 1916 and was gazetted as a 2^nd Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery on 20^th June 1916.He served in France and Flanders from 1916 and in 1917 he became a Lieutenant for the 46^th Brigade Royal Field Artillery. On 18^th June 1917 he was awarded a Military Cross “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when in charge of an ammunition party. In spite of heavy hostile fire he kept his men well in hand and succeeded in preventing the horses from stampeding.” He was killed in action on 29^th September 1917, aged 29, at Messines, Belgium and is buried at Kandahar Farm Cemetery. Ralph is also commemorated on Dover College War Memorial, Holy Trinity War Memorial, Folkestone War Memorial, Christchurch Club Memorial and Alkham War memorial.

Ralph was born on 17^th March 1888 in Folkestone to Caroline and Alfred Drake Brockman (a Solicitor). He, lived with his parents and siblings, Alfred, Caroline and James, at 78 Cheriton Road, Folkestone (1891, 1901 and 1911 census). Ralph was educated at Dover College, Dover from 1902 to 1906. He then went on to be a law student, qualified as a solicitor, and practised at the same address as his father, 112 Sandgate Road, Folkestone. The family moved to Chalk Sole, Alkham in 1913 which is why Ralph’s name is on Alkham War Memorial.