In Tezze British Cemetery, Italy is the Commonwealth War Grave of 315180 Private Ralph Alexander Kirkup, serving with the “D” Company, 11th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers who died 27/10/1918.

In Lesbury Churchyard is a family headstone which reads:
In loving memory of
William
beloved husband of
Isabella Kirkup who died
May ? 1930 aged 77 years
Also of the above
Isabella Kirkup who died
July 5 1938 aged ?86 years.
Also of William their son
who died April 3 1897
aged 15 years
Also of
Ralph Alexander, their son
who fell in action in Italy
Oct. 27 1918, aged 24 years.
(Acknowledgments: David Long)

David Thompson has submitted the following:-

Ralph Alexander Kirkup was born in 1894 at Chillingham, Northumberland, the son of William (b.1855 at Lowick, Northumberland) and Isabella (née Hunter; b. 1856 at Eglingham, Northumberland) Kirkup.   At the time of Kirkup’s death, the family were living at Yetlington or Trickley House, Chatton, depending on which website you consult!

Kirkup’s parents were married in 1878.  In 1881 they were living at Holborn Hamlet, Lowick with their one-year old daughter Mary Jane (b.1880).  William was working as a Gamekeeper.  By 1891 the family had moved to Trickley House, Hepburn.  William was still working as a Gamekeeper and there were five more children – William (b.1882); John H. (b.1884); Annie (b.1885); Thomas (b.1887); and Matthew (b.1889).

In 1901 they were still at Trickley House with new siblings George (b.1892) and Kirkup.  Sometime between 1901 and 1911 the family moved to Yetlington.  Kirkup’s father was then working as a General Labourer and Rabbit Catcher, as was Thomas.  John H., Matthew and Kirkup were all Horsemen on the farm.  Annie was 25 and single.  Kirkup’s older brother, George, served with the Royal Garrison Artillery from 1915 to 1919 and returned home.

The village of Tezze was captured by the Austrians in the advance during the autumn of 1917 and remained in their hands until the Allied forces crossed the River Piave at the end of October 1918.

On 27 October 1918 the Allies attacked the Austrians to the east of the Piave and encountered stiff resistance before forcing them back.  It is more than likely that Kirkup lost his life during this attack.

Ralph Alexander Kirkup is remembered in Glanton on G4.03 and at Whittingham W48.01 and W48.06