Photo : Kathleen McCann with Thanks

Naval Medal Card.

Supplement to the London Gazette 22nd February

SS Mowe [Seagull]

He was born on the 9th January 1869 at 23 Society Street, Nairn, Nairnshire, Scotland, to Alexander Ralph, born 1843, died 1898, [at sea off the coast of Sunderland, age 55], with his wife Elizabeth Main, born 1842, [died 12th July 1911, at 1 Park Street, Nairn, Nairnshire, Scotland], who died on the 8th September 1922, age 53. She was a provision dealer. They had three children.

Alexander Ralph the father, was residing at 4 King Street, at Nairn in 1851.

The Sunderland Echo Wednesday 06/09/1899 carried a report :

Supposed Loss of a Sunderland Built Vessel.
No word of the crew.
Grave fears are entertained as to the safety of the schooner 'Halls', of this port. The vessel left Sunderland on the 16th ult. with coals for Bulintore, in Scotland, and has not since been heard of. A severe gale sprung up the same evening, and several vessels were lost on the Scotch coast, and it is feared the vessel may have foundered in that gale. The vessel was commanded by her owner, Capt. Alexander Ralph, of Nairn, who has traded regularly to Sunderland for the last 30 years. The remainder of the crew, it is supposed, are all Scotchmen. The Halls was built by the late Mr J. L. Thompson, at the North Sands, in 1860.

The Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer, Thursday 07/09/1899, carried the same story.

His brother Alexander was born on the 24th December 1870, in Nairn. In 1871. John Ralph was residing at 28 Park Street, Nairn, Nairnshire, Scotland. Sister Ann Jane was born on the 17th April 1874, Nairn. She died in 1967. In 1939, she was residing at 70 Queen's Crescent, Sunderland. Another sister to John was Bella, born in 1877, in Nairn.

In 1891, John Ralph was at Inverness on the vessel 'Barbara' as part of the crew. On October 25th 1894, he is now at Park Street, Nairn, Nairnshire, Scotland.

On June 18th 1897, John Ralph was residing at 10 Mainsforth Terrace, Hendon, Sunderland.

John Ralph married Annie Storm, [born 21st September 1870, died 27th May 1965 in Sunderland], who use to be a General Domestic Servant, age 10, in 1881, at Robert Main's address of 15 Society Street, Nairn, Scotland, on the 25th March 1897, at St Peter's Church, Monkwearmouth, Sunderland. They had five children. Their daughter Elizabeth Ralph was born on the 3rd January, 1898 at 6 King Street, Nairn, Nairnshire, Scotland. In 1901 John was residing at 1 Park Street, Nairn, Nairnshire, Scotland.

Annie Storm's parents were James Storm [born 1840], and Elizabeth Main Storm.

Isabella was born on the 17th April, 1902, [died 2nd May 1977, at 43 Woodville Crescent, Sunderland ], at 1 Park Street, Nairn, Nairnshire, Scotland, married in 1943 in Sunderland to a Edward H. Rake. James Alexander was born on the 27th September 1904, married Irene Dunn, spouse Olive Riseborough, born 17th August 1931 at Triniy St James, Sunderland, [died 20th October 1986, at Nairn, in Scotland], at St Mark's Road, Sunderland.

On the 10th November 1906, John Ralph was now residing at 17 Offerton Street, Sunderland. Janet Florence was born on the 10th February, 1910, [died March, 2001], at Sunderland, and Anne Jane was born on the 4th February 1900, [died March 2003, in Uckfield, Sussex, England], at 1 Park Street, Nairn, Nairnshire, Scotland.

Anne Jane had travelled to Yokohama, on the 15th November 1928 aboard the P. & O. S. N. Co ' Kakyan ship number 137449, in 2nd Class, occupation stated as a Clerk. Destination China. Her residence address at this time was 56 Chatsworth Street, Sunderland. She travelled there to be married to a Douglas Campbell Sim, an officer in the Merchant Marine, [born 17th November 1902, at Aberdeen]. His mother was a Jane E. W. Sim, and his father was James Nicol Sim, a shipmaster in the Merchant Service. They were married on the 28th December 1928 at the British Consulate General in Shanghai. They arrived back in Liverpool, England on the 8th April 1959, on the vessel 'Peleus', Blue Funnel Line, from Hong Kong to reside at c/o John Swire and Son, 8 Billiter Square, London E.C.

John Ralph obtained his first Master's certificate on the 25th December 1894 at Aberdeen, ref 028601. Competency for Second Mate certificate was granted on the 28th December 1894. He started his seafaring days an Ordinary Seaman on the 'Britannia' a 92 ton Schooner on the 14th April 1883, until the 20th September, then the 'Nairnshire' a 99 ton Schooner, [Ship number 62127], then from the 9th March 1884, until February 23rd 1885. 'Resolve' another 99 ton Schooner from 15th October 1885 to the 15th December 1985. Then back to the 'Nairnshire' from the 20th August to the 25th February 1887.

John now was an Able Bodied Seaman, and from the 19th December 1987 until the 5th October 1988 he was on-board the 'Eskasoni', 1715 tons, ship number 88393. Then 'Bolivia' 2623 ton Steamer, ship number 68081, from the 4th May, 1889 to the 24th July 1889. Then back to the 'Nairnshire' now a 964 ton ship, from the 3rd August 1889 to 16th July 1890. 'Kinloch 1177 ton Steam Ship, ship number 96057, from the 27th August 1890 to the 3rd February 1891. 'Ethiopia' 2604 ton steamship, ship number 68064, from the 18th June 1891 to the 14th July 1991, and again on the 14th May 1891 to the 10th June 1891. 'City of Venice' 2200 ton Steamship, ship number 71726, 5th August 1891 to 5th March 1892. Belgravia. 3274 ton steamship, ship number 85911, between 8th April 1892 to the 7th November 1892. John now was a Second Mate, on the 'City of Venice' 2200 ton Steamship, ship number 71726, again from the 5th August 1892 to the 7th November 1892, and 12th November 1892 to the 10th February 1893.

Finally back to the 'Nairnshire' a 99 ton Schooner, [Ship number 62127], as a Mate. 1st April 1893 to the 15th January 1894 and 12th April 1894 to the 14th September 1894. Spending a total of 7 years 3 months and 1 day at sea.

From the 8th February 1895, he is an A.B. on the 'Robert Eggleton steamship, 1446 tons, ship number 97523, till the 4th February 1895. He was unemployed until the 10th April 1895, where he was 2nd Mate on-board the 'Remembrance', ship number 85009, where he made 10 trips finally ending on the 8th May 1897.

In 1901 at the time of the census he was on-board the 'Orion of Fraserburgh'.

He returns to the 'Remembrance' 1059 ton steamship, ship number 85009, on the 24th July 1897 to the 20th January 1898, and again from the 21st January to the 29th May 1898 as 1st Mate. He now is on-board the 'Sairn', [Swan], Steamship, 427 ton, ship number 56061, based at Sunderland. 26th July 1898 to the 29th August 1898. Then the 'Martin' Steamship, 427 ton, based at London, 20th November 1898 to the 15th February 1898. Master of the 'Raynis' a ketch of 61 tons, 3rd April 1899 to the 5th May 1899. 'Universal' Steamship, 2nd Mate from the 10th May 1899 to the 25th May 1899. 'Sea Belle' a schooner of 91 tons, based at Inverness, Master from the 1st June 1899 to the 3rd January 1900. 'Hastfill' steamship, 136 ton, 29th March 1900 to the 10th June 1900. He was in another 8 vessels transporting coal until the 10th October 1906.

At South Shields on the 20th November 1906, John took an Examination for a Master, which was issued at Sunderland on the 24th November 1906.

He had completed over 22 years at sea.

John Ralph was in the Mercantile Marine, as a Master, and between 1914 and 1922 he resided at 56 Chatham Street, Sunderland, Durham and 20 St Mark's Street, Sunderland.

On the 1st January 1915, he signed up as Master, with other crew members to crew the 'SS Quaysider', 595grt,ship number 133541.

From the 30th June 1915 he signed up for the 'Trader' 3608 grt, registered at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1913, sailing between Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Ramsgate.

The 'Trader' was built by Robert Craggs & Sons Ltd, at Middlesbrough, yard no 205, in 1906. Powered by North Eastern Marine Engines from Sunderland. She was owned by Thomas William and Co, prior to this it was Tremellen & Thomas. When John signed on, the registered owner was Robinson Brown & Co based at Custom House Chambers, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

She was scuttled by charges and explosives, on Thursday 13th January 1916. She was captured by the by 'SMS Mowe' when 225 miles West by North of Lisbon (other sources mention 225 miles West x 1/2 North from Lisbon) when on passage from Talara for Queenstown with a cargo of sugar.

Source : EU Wrecksite.

John was made a Temporary Skipper in the Royal Naval Reserve on the 19th April 1916, and was in command of the Auxiliary Vessel Radiant II. In 1919, John was still in command of this vessel.

In WW1 he was given an 'expression of commendation for their services' - in carrying on the trade of the country during the war. Patrol Work.

He died on the 8th September 1922 at 56 Chatsworth Street, Sunderland and he left £475 1s to his wife Annie Ralph.

Sunderland Echo and Shipping Gazette Saturday 09/09/1922. Ralph.- At 56 Chatsworth Street, on Sept 8, aged 53 years, John, dearly-loved husband of Annie Ralph, Internment at Bishopwearmouth Cemetery on Monday, cortege leaving residence at 2.15pm.

Annie in 1939 was residing at 200 Alexandra Road, Sunderland, with Isabella Rake, who was a Credit Book keeper. Annie died on the 27th May 1965 and left effects of £2667 to Isabella Rake and James Alexander Ralph salesman.

With Thanks to Kathleen McCann

Research by Cynthia Kent and James Pasby