2nd Lieut Eric Ronald Ratcliff-Gaylard

• Age: 21
• From: Openshaw, Manchester
• Regiment: Duke of Cornwalls L.I.
• Died on Wednesday 19th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Laventie Mc
  Panel Ref: II.E.19

Eric Ronald Ratcliff-Gaylard was born in Blechynden House, Openshaw, Manchester, Lancashire on the 23rd December 1894. He was baptised on 10th February 1895 at Christ Church in Manchester. He was the son of James Ratcliff-Gaylard and his wife Jeannie (nee Watt). His parents  married 1888 in Aberdeen. 

The 1901 Census shows the family are living at 7 Grey Mare Lane, Chorlton, Manchester. Eric is six years of age and lives with his parents and two siblings. His father James is a 39 year old Surgeon, born in Uxbridge, whilst his wife Jeannie is 36 years of age and was born in Aberdeen. His siblings are recorded as Cecil Charles Alexander aged 11, born in Shildon, Durham and Edith Alice Louisa aged 9 born in Manchester. There is also a servant registered at the property; Charlotte Gething.

By 1911 the family have moved to 10 Clifton Road, Birkenhead. Eric is 16 and listed as still at school, he lives with his parents and two siblings. His father is now 49 and is listed as a General Practitioner, whilst his mother is now 46 years of age. His siblings are; Cecil Charles Alexander now a 21 year old clerk and Edith Alice Louise aged 19. His parents advise that they have been married for 22 years and have had three children, all of whom have survived. There are two servants listed in the household; Catherine Coffey and Margaret Winifred Kelly.   

He was educated at Probus School, Cornwall, King's College Taunton and Birkenhead Institute. When he completed his education he took up employment as a clerk with Lloyds Bank, Birkenhead before he enlisted.

Eric enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on the 02nd September,1914, joining the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 15918. He advised that he was aged 19 years and 243 days and was born in Openshaw. His occupation was a clerk and he was described as being 6' 2" tall, weight 132lbs, with a 36" chest, sallow complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair. He stated his religion as C.of E. He gave his father, James Gaylard, 10 Clifton Road, Birkenhead as his next of kin.

He was discharged for commission and posted to the 5th Battalion of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry serving overseas from 19th May 1916.

He was killed in action leading an attack on German first line trenches near Laventie on 19th July, 1916, aged 21. 

He now rests at Laventie Military Cemetery where his headstone bears the epitaph: 

"I ASKED LIFE FOR HIM AND THOU GAVEST HIM LIFE FOR EVERMORE"

The men of the 61st (2nd South Midland) Division of the British Army began burying their fallen comrades at this site in the latter half of June 1916. Over 80 members of the Division who were killed or mortally wounded during the Battle of Fromelles (July 19 1916) were laid to rest here, and the cemetery was used by British units holding this part of the line throughout 1916 and ’17. From June 1917 until April of the following year, the cemetery was also used by the Portuguese Corps. After the Armistice, the remains of over 170 Portuguese soldiers were removed and re-interred at the Portuguese National Cemetery at Richebourg L’Avoué. During the 1920s, the graves of British, Indian, and Chinese servicemen killed at different stages during the war were brought here from the surrounding battlefields. There are now almost 550 casualties of the First World War buried or commemorated at Laventie Military Cemetery.

His death was reported in the Aberdeen Evening Express on 26th July 1916 and the Liverpool Daily Post  on 27th july 1916: 

"RATCLIFF-GAYLARD - Killed in action, 19th July, Eric Ronald Ratcliff-Gaylard, second-lieutenant, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, aged 21, the younger and only surviving son of Dr and Mrs Ratcliff-Gaylard, Clifton Park, Birkenhead, and grandson of Mr and Mrs Alexander Watt, 29 St Swithin Street, Aberdeen"

His death was also reported in the Liverpool Echo on 27th July 1916:

Second Lieutenant Eric Ronald Ratcliffe-Gaylard who was killed in action June 19, (sic) aged twenty one years, was the younger and only surviving son of Dr and Mrs Ratcliff-Gaylard, Clifton Park, Birkenhead. He was serving with the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry at the time of his death. He was educated at Probus School, Cornwall, KIng's College, Taunton, Somerset: and the Birkenhead Institute. At the time of the outbreak of war he was on the staff of Lloyds Bank, Birkenhead, but joined the King's (Liverpool Regiment) being transferred eight months later to the Inns of Court OTC.      

Eric featured in an entry on the De Ruvigny's Roll:

His parents had now suffered a second loss during the war as his elder brother Cecil Charles Ratcliff-Gaylard was also killed in action on 20th May 1915 aged 25 in Gaba Tepe, Gallipoli, Turkey. He enlisted in Randwick, New South Wales, Austrailia and was serving as Private 167 of the 2nd Battalion A.I.F. He now rests at Lone Pine Cemetery, Anzac CWGC Cemetery/MemorialGallipoliTurkey III. D. 2.  where his headstone bears the same epitaph as his brother:

"I ASKED LIFE FOR HIM AND THOU GAVEST HIM LIFE FOR EVERMORE"

Cecil Charles Alexander also featured in an entry on the De Ruvigny's Roll: