Ralph Catterall was born in Chorley in 1893, the eldest of five children born to Jane and Ralph; the family were living at 21 Frederick Street in Farnworth in 1901.
Ten years later, he was living with his aunt, Sarah Greatorex, at 7 Alexandra Street in Chorley. He gave the same address upon joining the Pals in Chorley on the 16th September 1914 and his mother Jane as his next of kin (she was at 105 Brackley Street in Farnworth).
Ralph was wounded at Serre on the 1st July 1916, eventually being admitted to a hospital in Liverpool on the 8th July. He returned to France on the 14th November, being posted to the 1st Battalion of the East Lancashire Regiment; rejoined the Pals (the 11th Battalion) “in the field” on the 23rd December 1916 and attended a Divisional Signalling Course from the 14th January to 18th February 1917 before re-joining the Battalion.
Ralph was wounded and gassed on the 5th September 1917 near Vimy Station, being admitted to 8th General Hospital in Rouen and duly repatriated to England on the 19th. He rejoined his Regiment in France but with the 1st Battalion as Private 35417 on the 4th April 1918, eventually being demobilized on the 19th March 1919.
Ralph married Jane Riley at Chorley in 1921 and their son, Thomas Bernard, was born a year later; Ralph was known to worship at St. Mary’s Church in the town.
