Character
HE WAS A MAN OF HONOUR
OF NOBLE AND GENEROUS NATURE
GUNNER JOHN RIPLEY
This is a tribute from a sister to her brother, John Ripley, a butcher from North Cowton near Darlington in Yorkshire. Called up in 1916, Ripley served with the 9th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery and died of wounds at a Field Ambulance Dressing Station in Dikkebus on 7 August 1917, a week into the Third Ypres Campaign.
I have no doubt that Mary Ripley believed the words she chose to describe her brother: that he was honourable, noble and generous, but they are very much the qualities of an idealised type. However, it shows how important these qualities were considered to be. Yesterday, William Hadley Frank Redgate was described by his wife as 'the most unselfish and loveable natured man". This definitely has the ring of individuality to it, but Mary Ripley has done her brother proud.
DEAR LADDIE
ALWAYS CHEERFUL AND WILLING
ALWAYS AND HAPPY AND BUSY
SECOND LIEUTENANT WILFRED CHARLES GOULDEN
William Goulden's mother confirmed this inscription, I wonder whether it is her speaking? Somehow these don't sound like the words of either a senior officer or a friend, they are more affectionate, more intimate - who else would address this young officer as "dear laddie"?
Goulden was killed whilst the 2nd Battalion were in the trenches at Belle Vue. Having been out of the line since 16 January they had only just gone in again on 11 February. Goulden, the Battalion Intelligence Officer, was killed the next day but the regimental history gives no details of his death.
Educated at Christ's Hospital, Horsham, Goulden left school in 1916 and straight away took a commission in the Middlesex Regiment. His father too was an army officer. Captain F.C. Goulden served in the South African War - from where he was invalided home in 1902 - and in Nigeria during the First World War.