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1895 Oct 12. Born in Saltram Crescent, Kilburn, London
1901 census at 76, Marlens Square, Abbots Langley, Herts
1907 May 11. Baptised at Abbots Langley
1911 census at Abbots Road Abbots Langley
1914 Aug joined up with the Hertfordshire Yeomanry,
1914 Aug 24. Discharged Herts Yeomanry as medically unfit, but re-enlists 10 days later with 10th London Regt
1914 Sep 4. Enlists with 10th London Regt
1914 Nov 3 Landed in France
1914 Christmas day. From a letter home that he sent
We manned the trenches about 6 o’clock on Wednesday evening and had a fairly quiet night and following day, except for one or two German sniper, who are quite hot. On Christmas Eve, 4.30, I was detailed off for rations, that is, to go back to our transport and draw rations for the following day and the following day’s breakfast. There was a lovely moon and it was beginning to freeze, but there was not enough frost then to save us from getting knee-deep in mud and water as we went out through the communication trench (connecting our trench to the village behind). About 8 o’clock, when we were returning, we could see the German trenches all lighted up by about twelve groups of lights, which proved to be Christmas trees with Germans walking around. Naturally, instead of using the trench in returning, we walked along the top, which was frozen hard by this time. Before the Christmas trees were lighted up it appears that a German soldier hailed us – “English soldiers, the German soldiers wish the English soldiers a happy Christmas” and then “You no shoot me if I come half way” (the trenches were about 150 or 200 yards apart), whereat two of our boys went out and met him and then returned with a bottle of homemade wine and a box of cigars. That set the ball rolling, and all night greetings were being exchanged; of course there was plenty of carol singing. When Christmas Day broke the Germans came out of their trenches and we met them half-way between the barbed wire entanglements, exchanged greetings and shook hands. Souvenirs were being exchanged all day, and I myself had several German cigarettes, and a very good cigar, of which they seemed to have plenty. At dinner time we gave them some Christmas pudding and bully beef, for which they seemed extremely grateful, but in return they could only give us some of their black bread, which we thought afterwards would make admirable cases for shells. As we were out on the top of the trenches we took the opportunity to repair them in front. This unofficial truce was to last until 12 o’clock, but the Germans much wanted it to last longer, as they said “You no shoot, we no shoot” and up to the present the fighting hasn’t regained the former pitch. By the way, there was heavy firing on either flank whilst we had our holiday.
1915 Dec 10. Discharged Medically unfit from 10th London Regt
1916 Mar 8. Attests to Seaforth Highlanders. London Vlla, Abbots Rd, Abbots Langley
1916 Aug 11 Posted to France. Ralph embarked at Folkestone and disembarked at Boulogne on 10th August 1916. He was posted to the 7th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders on 11th August 1916, and then to the 8th Battalion on 24th August.
1916 Sep 11. He was admitted to No 2 Casualty Clearing Station, and moved to No 5 General Hospital at Rouen two days later. He was despatched to England on a Hospital Ship on 20th September. On 16th October he was discharged for a third time being no longer fit for Military Service. The report of the Medical Board of 2nd October noted that his heart problems had returned, but were not a result of, but had been aggravated by active service.
1916 Oct 16 Discharged medically unfit from Seaforth Highlanders. He was suffering from VDH (Valvular Disease - Heart)
1916 Nov 24. Re-enlists and is serving in 7th Reserve Veterinary Hospital. His name was once again removed from the Pension List. Throughout 1917 the Parish Roll of Honour listed Ralph serving with the AVC, however by January 1918 and through to the end of the War it was noted that he served with the rank of Lieutenant with the Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA). Ralph was listed in the Absent Voter Records for Autumn 1918, Spring 1919, and Autumn 1919 serving with the RGA. He gave his address at Abbots Road, Abbots Langley.
1918 Jan 6 Commissioned 2nd Lt in RGA
1918 Nov 23 2nd Lt. R. J. H. Welland, R.G.A., Spec. Res, and to be temp. Lt. whilst empld. as Comdt. of a Prisoner of War Camp.
1920 Apr 1. RGA. The undermentioned relinquish their commns , and retain the rank of Lt.: R J H Welland
1920 Sep 24 Joined ADRIC with service no 629, posted to J Coy
1921 Mar 2. Posted to Depot Coy
1921 Mar 12. Posted to P Coy.
1921 Apr 9. "Dismissed the force" by A/Commandant
1921 Apr 22. Lt. R. J. H. Welland, late R.G.A., Spec. Res., relinquishes the rank of Lt. He then enlsits as a Private in the Scots Guards
1928 Jul 28 Leaves UK for Canada. His profession is "farming"
1930 May 10 Arrives in UK from Canada. His address is Post Restante, Birmingham, and he is a "farmer"
1936 Apr 2. He transfeers the licence of New Inn at Swadlincote to someone else
1930 Apr/Jun Marries in Birmingham to Effie R Shepherd
1939 Register. He is at 113 Manor House Lane , Birmingham . He is Book Keeper Armament Tariffs Department and is with Effie.
1940 Jul 7. RA to be Lt. - Lt. Ralph John Hibbert Welland (120953).
1944 Sep 26. Lt. R. J. H. Welland (120953) is cashiered by sentence of a Gen. Court-Martial
1945 Jul/Sep . Died Ipswich