TINSON Ralph

Additional information on the memorial: Worcestershire Regiment

Batchelors Entry.  1st Worcesters.  November 16th 1917.  Killed in France.

Additional information from Pershore Parish Records, Holy Cross, Film No 216/7, available at Worcestershire Archives.

Ralph Tinson enlisted in the Worcestershire Regiment on 2nd February 1905 in Birmingham.  On his attestation paper he gave his place of birth as Wyre, near Pershore, Worcestershire, his age as 17 years 2 months and his occupation as a farm labourer.  At the time of his attestation he resided at 6 Galton Street, Birmingham and had previously resided in Little Priest Lane, Pershore where he had been employed by Mr Hudson, farmer of Wick near Pershore.  Ralph was 5 feet 4½ inches tall with a fresh complexion, brown eyes and brown hair.  His next of kin was his mother, Emma Turvey, Little Priest Lane, Pershore, Worcestershire.

The following newspaper report was researched by Malcolm Farmer:
February 2nd 1918
ANOTHER PERSHORE SOLDIER KILLED
We regret to announce the death of another Pershore soldier in Corpl. R. Tinson, of the Worcesters, who was killed in action on the 16th December 1917.  He served with his regiment in India for seven years, and was on the Reserve for two years.  When the present war broke out he was recalled to his regiment but had to undergo an operation in Birmingham Hospital.  He was in the battles of Loos, La Bassee, Neuve Chapelle, Ypres and on the Somme.  Deceased was a brave and gallant soldier, liked by his officers and company, who will sadly miss him.  Deep sympathy is felt for his mother, Mrs W. Turvey, of Broad Street, Pershore.

The following research on Ralph Tinson is courtesy of Mark Dewdney:
As well as his 1905 enlistment into the Militia part of the Worcestershire Regiment, Ralph Tinson had enlisted as a regular soldier on 7th November 1904 using the name William Turvey and claiming to be 18 (service number 8889). His true age was discovered and he was discharged from military service on 21st November 1904. This was definitely him as it gives the correct mother’s name. He also lists his father as Ralph Holmes of Bretforton as a next of kin. Also included is a birth certificate showing he was born 24th November 1887 in Wyre Piddle. The birth certificate shows his mother as Emma Tinson, no father’s name is given. The birth registration for Emma is in the final quarter of 1871. This means she was around 16 years of age when she gave birth to Ralph and was in all probability pregnant when she was just 15. The 1905 regimental service papers (number 7480) show that he transferred to the regulars on 21st January 1906 with the new service number 9751 (numbers were issued sequentially and 9813 joined on 21st February 1906).

Various military documents record Ralph Tinson serving with various battalions: the medal rolls list him in the 1st and 2nd Battalions, Soldiers Died in the Great War list him in the 4th battalion and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in the 10th battalion. The location of his burial suggests strongly that he was serving with the 10th battalion when he was killed.