De Ruvigny Roll of Honour Vol 3 page 298

Capt. Webb M.C. La Boiselle Albert Bapaume Road

Medal Index Card

Newcastle Journal Thursday 24/05/1917

Newcastle Journal Wednesday 06/06/1917

Ralph Worthington was born on the 28th September 1886, at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, the second eldest son of Thomas, [Grocer Provision Merchant] with his wife Ann. They had a total of 9 children, 1 had died.

Ralph had two younger sisters Ann [born in 1891] and Eleanor [born 1897] residing at 32 Rye Hill, Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1911, with two domestic servants.

Ralph was a Grocers' Assistant with his father's business along with two of his brothers at 324 Scotswood Road. In his younger days he was an officer in the Boys' Brigade attached to John Knox Church.

He was a also a member of the Newcastle, Gateshead, and District Grocers' and Provisions Dealers' Association based at Emmerson Chambers at Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Ralph was educated at Newcastle and in 1910 he went to Rhodesia and served with the Rhodesian Volunteers.

On the outbreak of war in August 1914, he returned to the UK, and volunteered for active service with the Northumberland Fusiliers on October 1914 as a private. Ralph obtained a commission and was gazetted a 2nd Lieutenant in the 18th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. He was promoted to Lieutenant, then Captain in December 1914.

Ralph then was promoted in June 1915 to a Major and was transferred to the 16th Battalion (Service) Cheshire Regiment.

He married at St. Dunstan-in-the-West, London, 18th May 1916, Jenny Bruce, daughter of John Noble Pillans, of 351, Albany Mansions, Charing Cross, Glasgow.

Whilst in France, Major Ralph Worthington was in charge of a Court Martial to try a British soldier, a Sherwood Forester called Corporal Jesse Wilton. He was in the 15th Battalion Sherwood Foresters, a "Bantam" Battalion. Aged 40. "The sector of the line where his offence took place was the scene of much bitter and unsuccessful fighting. On the 19th July at 3am, Corporal Wilton and ten men, were ordered by Lieutenant Mackintosh to garrison an outpost in a bitterly-contested stretch of no-man's land between Guillemont and Trones Wood. Orders where to occupy Arrow Head Copse for the next 48 hours and they must hold it at all costs. At dawn the area was heavily shelled and machine-gunned and the position occupied offered no cover. At 9am Corporal Wilton was worried about the situation and asked the men what they should do. The reply is not recorded. Private Arthur Daniels replied 'I leave it to you. Daniels said after that Wilton 'I think we had better go now. I think the Germans are coming.' They later returned to their trenches via a communication trench. Private Arthur Daniels in the trenches heard Wilton shout 'Look out the Germans are coming'.

Wilton was charged with leaving his post and was tried by Court Martial. The Court Martial was presided over by Major Worthington.

Wilton did not die instantaneously, a R.A.S.C., subaltern recorded his death in his personal war diary. Lieutenant Hugh Dalton, [later Chancellor of the Exchequer in Clement Atlee's cabinet] noted that the Battalion was called to attention and the firing party were ordered to fire. 'They all deliberately fired wide, except one who wounded Wilton in the shoulder. It then was the duty of the officer to finish him off with his revolver. The officer did his duty, but with tears in his eyes, as well as the firing party.' It is said that Wilton was a good corporal and died heroically.

Source: Nottingham Post

Ralph was now second in command of the Battalion. Sent to France in January 1916. He was wounded at the Somme.

Major Ralph Worthington was killed whilst out inspecting his battalion front posts on the 17th May 1917 at Pontruet.

The General Officer Commanding 35th Division wrote:- Please allow me to offer my heartfelt sympathy. Your husband's death is a blow which is deeply felt, and we can all enter into your feelings. . . . I want to express the sorrow felt by myself and all who knew your husband in the division. . . . Perhaps later on it may be some comfort to think how much he was appreciated and how gallantly he did his duty. and the Brigadier-General Commanding 105th Infantry Brigade. Major Worthington was a most zealous, painstaking and conscientious officer, always looking after the good of his battalion and comfort of his men. His death is a very great loss to the battalion and to the Service.

De Ruvigny Roll of Honour

Ralph's widow after the war was residing at 40 Berkley Street, Glasgow where his medals were sent.

Ralph Worthington is remembered at Elswick on E35.24 and at Newcastle in NUT075 page 170.

The 16th Battalion Cheshire Regiment
18th Battalion Northumberland Fusilers photos
The CWGC entry for Major Worthington