Frederick George RATCLIFF

43rd Battalion

The 3rd Division was raised in Australia early in 1916. The 43rd Battalion was South Australia’s contribution to the strength of the division. Along with the 41st, 42nd, and 44th Battalions, plus support troops, it formed the 11th Brigade.

The battalion embarked in June 1916 and, after landing briefly in Egypt, went on to Britain for further training. The battalion arrived on the Western Front in late December. The 43rd Battalion spent 1917 bogged in bloody trench warfare in Flanders. In June the battalion took part in the battle of Messines and in October the Third Battle of Ypres.

The battalion spent much of 1918 fighting in the Somme valley. In April they helped stop the German Spring offensive at Villers-Bretonneux. In July the battalion was part of General Monash’s attack at Hamel. In August and September the battalion helped drive the Germans back to the Hindenburg Line. The 43rd joined the advance that followed the 2nd Division’s victory at Mont St Quentin and it was during this operation that Temporary Corporal Lawrence Weathers earned the battalion’s only Victoria Cross. Weathers was mortally wounded in the battalion’s next battle. The battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel John Farrell wrote “..he died at the Regimental Aid Post, and lies buried on the battlefield. The same shell killed his uncle, who bore the name of Lance-Corporal J.J. Weathers.”

At 11 am on 11 November 1918, the guns fell silent on the Western Front. The November Armistice was followed by the Treaty of Versailles signed on 28 June 1919. Through 1919 the men of the 43rd Battalion returned to Australia in drafts for demobilisation and discharge.

References

• • AWM4/23/60/1: March 1916 - July 1917 unit diary

  • E.J. Colliver and B.H. Richardson, The Forty-Third: The story and official history of the 43rd Battalion AIF, (Adelaide: Rigby Limited, 1920).

KI Connection

OUR HEROES

A SOLDIER'S FAREWELL.

An enjoyable evening was spent at the residence of Mrs. Phillips, "Kia Ora,"

James street, Southwark., to bid au revoir to Private F. G. Ratcliff, of Salt Lagoon, Kangaroo Island. The programme consisted of musical items and games, and after supper "Auld Lang Syne" was sung, and the soldier re ceived many useful little parcels includ- ing a small pocket Bible.

OUR HEROES. (1917, June 23). Daily Herald (Adelaide, SA : 1910 - 1924), p. 6. Retrieved May 27, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article105413081

The A.I.F. Project

https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=249936

Frederick George RATCLIFF

For sources and more details, click here

Descendants of :

James Frederick RATCLIFF

1. James Frederick RATCLIFF was born 1873 in Whroo, Victoria and died 09 Jan 1945 in Adelaide, SA. He married Sophia SPECK 22 Feb 1893 in Williamstown, SA. She was born 02 Jul 1875 in Truro, SA and died 29 May 1896 in Hawker, SA, daughter of Henry SPECK. He married Margaret Maria Ann SPECK 20 Jul 1897 in Williamstown, SA. She was born 10 Jul 1879 in Truro, SA and died 11 Sep 1968 in Woodville, SA, daughter of Henry SPECK.

Children of James Frederick RATCLIFF and Margaret Maria Ann SPECK:

i. Venus Florence RATCLIFF was born 13 Dec 1897 in Islington, SA and died 11 Jan 1898 in Mount Crawford, SA

ii. Frederick George RATCLIFF was born 1899 in Broken Hill, NSW and died 25 Nov 1926 in North Adelaide, SA

iii. Horace Hurtle Ernest RATCLIFF was born 01 Jun 1902 in Portland, SA and died 27 Sep 1966 in American River, Kangaroo Island, SA

iv. Florence Lillian May RATCLIFF was born 05 May 1904 in Cuttlefish, Kangaroo Island, SA

v. William Alfred RATCLIFF was born 03 Jun 1906 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 05 Feb 1962 in Woodville, SA

vi. Herbert RATCLIFF was born 22 Jan 1910 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 07 Jan 1979

vii. Edith Eliza RATCLIFF was born 22 Aug 1912 in Southwark, SA

viii. Kathleen RATCLIFF was born 24 Jan 1916 in Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island, SA

ix. Edmond Ray RATCLIFF was born 06 Feb 1918 in Southwark, SA and died 14 Oct 1988

x. Carnell Roland RATCLIFF was born 13 Jun 1921 in Rose Park, SA

Children of James Frederick RATCLIFF and Sophia SPECK:

xi. William Henry James RATCLIFF was born 26 Apr 1894 in Mount Crawford, SA

xii. Sarah Maud RATCLIFF was born 19 Mar 1896 in Mount Crawford, SA and died 06 Dec 1897 in Prospect, SA

Last updated : 29 May 2021