Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Whitehead, a boot trade machinist, born in the January quarter of 1846 in Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire (son of John Whitehead and Ann Hitchcock, 1828) and his wife Caroline Whitehead (nee Newton, married on the 2nd June 1868 in the Church of St. John the Divine, Leicester), born in the July quarter of 1848 in Leicester (daughter of John Newton and Hannah Johnson). Cooper Ralph was born on the 2nd February 1891 in Leicester and was baptised on the 9th May 1892 in St. Margaret’s Church, Leicester, his siblings were, John Newton, a boot trade machinist, born on the 14th October 1871 and baptised on the 29th May 1878 in St. Matthew’s Church, Leicester, Annie Elizabeth, a boot trade fitter, born in the April quarter of 1875 and baptised on the 14th August 1877 in St. Matthew’s Church, Leicester, Ellen Gertrude, a boot trade machinist, born in the April quarter of 1877 and baptised on the 14th August 1877 in St. Matthew’s Church, Leicester, Alma Caroline, a schoolgirl, born on the 14th April 1879 and baptised on the 19th May 1879 in St. Matthew’s Church, Leicester, Florence Edith, a schoolgirl, born in the April quarter of 1881 and baptised on the 13th April 1884 in St. Mark’s Church, Leicester, William Garner, a schoolboy, born on the 15th September 1883 and baptised on the 13th April 1884 in St. Mark’s Church, Leicester and Emily Ann a schoolgirl, born in the April quarter of 1886 and baptised on the 9th May 1892 in St. Margaret’s Church, Leicester, all his siblings were born in Leicester, in April 1891 the family home was at 90, Church Gate, St. Margaret’s, Leicester. In March 1901 Ralph was residing in the family home at 13, Halkin Street, Belgrave, St. Michael & All Angel’s, Leicester, together with his father, a boot trade machinist, his mother and siblings, Florence, a hosiery trade machinist, William, a fishmonger and Emily, a hosiery trade machinist. In April 1911 Ralph was employed as a general engineer’s clerk and was residing in the family home at 81, Upper Kent Street, Leicester, together with his father, a boot maker and his mother.
FAMILY NOTES: Ralph also had an older sibling, Catherine born 18th May 1869 in Leicester and baptised on the 29th May 1878 in St. Matthew’s Church, Leicester. Born and officially registered at birth as Cooper Ralph Whitehead, the second Christian name of Ralph appears to have been the preferred name.
Ralph’s army service enlistment documents do not survive, therefore the currently available information pertaining to his military service has been obtained from the following sources: - 1921 HMSO Publication, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914 - 1919, WW1 Service Medal and Award Rolls, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Registers.
Enlisted/Attested in Mountsorrel into the Territorial Force. Date not known.
Joined. At Leicester. Date not known.
Posted. To Leicestershire regt. Pte. Date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 2782.
Posted. To 1/5th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
First entered the theatre of war in France. 29/6/15.
Transferred. To 2nd Bn. South Staffordshire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
Killed in action. In the Field. 17/2/17.
Body not recovered. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.
Awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In the event of his death, Ralph nominated his mother, Caroline as his sole legatee.
On the 14th September 1917, Ralph’s mother, Mrs. Caroline Whitehead, Sileby Road, Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire was awarded a weekly Army Dependant’s Pension of six shillings, commensurate on the 18th September 1917. The Pension ceased upon her death on the 21st April 1924.
The War Diary records: 16-17-Feb-17 - BRUCE HUTS - IN THE LINE. The Battalion left BRUCE HUTS in the evening for the line proceeding by the ALBERT – BAPAUME ROAD and the cross-country track to DYKE VALLEY. The thaw made going very difficult and the carrying parties were late in arriving. Hostile artillery was above normal and our forming up places were subjected to heavy shelling. The cloudy weather resulted in a dark morning. At 5.45am our barrage opened, and the assaulting lines began to crawl forward to get close to it. The position was for some time very obscure but hostile Machine Gun fire was very heavy. It afterwards transpired that the attack had been given away and the German line reinforced with men and Machine Guns. The casualties both in officers and other ranks were very heavy. Of ten officers who went over to the attack one only returned uninjured. Three returned wounded, two remaining at duty. 2nd Lieutenant WRIGHT was killed and Lieutenant CHIPMAN and 2nd Lieutenant CAVE were found to have been killed later. The missing were Captain’s TATE and DOUGLAS-WILLAN and 2nd Lieutenant OXLADEN. This night Battalion Headquarters which had been at No.8 post in the front line was withdrawn to Brigade Headquarters in DYKE VALLEY.
CORRESPONDENCE
Headquarters
6th Infantry Brigade. 18/2/17
I have to report on the attack made by the Battalion under my command on the morning of the 17th instant. The road to the forming up places was very bad and the march up from BRUCE HUTS consequently took much longer than had been anticipated. The message that forming up was complete was therefore sent late, but the men were in position in plenty of time, and although the forming up – especially from left company was interfered with by hostile shell fire which was above normal all night. It was especially heavy after about 4.45am increasing in intensity up to 5.30am when it became quiet. Interviewed the Company Commanders with the exception of the left Company Commander, I also saw the Officer Commanding Trench Mortar Battery and his two group Commanders at my dugout, and the arrangements previously made were gone over again. I watched the beginning of the attack from a point close to my headquarters, which was hardly fixed on at all. As far as could be seen with the uncertain light the start was admirable. The Companies came out of their forming up positions just as had been practised and appeared to reach their objectives. As it became lighter, I could observe no movement on our right and I concluded that the attack on the junction of GUARD TRENCH and DESIRE SUPPORT had been a success. While the barrage was falling the enemy put up golden rain rockets from his front-line trench, but the very lights later seemed to come from further back, which encouraged me in the hope that the attack had been successful. 6.15 – 6.30am the reports of wounded men who began to come back in about an hour after ZERO was inclined to be pessimistic in several cases, but I could gather nothing very definite, and as the reports of wounded are normally not hopeful, I did not attach much importance to what they said. About 7.30am. An officer of the left centre Company came in wounded in the head and left leg. He reported very heavy casualties on that flank. About 8.30am. I heard from the officer Commanding the Company of the KING’S LIVERPOOL REGIMENT in the line that the attack on the left had collapsed, and shortly afterwards a subaltern of the Company and a Sergeant who commanded a platoon arrived at my Headquarters and made reports. This Company had two sections in reserve which did not go over. Its strength is now 43. The Sergeant reported that he and two men were the survivors of his platoon. Nothing having been heard from the right, though patrols were sent out, and all being quiet on that side, I proceeded on the assumption of partial success and that flank of the right centre, to go into plans for tackling the strong position on the left with the left platoon commander and the Officer Commanding left Trench Mortar Group. About 9.10am. This took place at the KING’S LIVERPOOL REGIMENT Company Headquarters in No.9, but on my return to Headquarters I got news from the right gathered by the Acting Adjutant that its position on the flank was equally hopeless, in fact that unless some details were holding out in DESIRE SUPPORT in the neighbourhood of the PYS ROAD, the attack had broken down completely. It seems that the assaulting platoon of the right Company was completely lost. This Company is now 50 strong, the apparent initial success of the attack led to the platoon in reserve not being employed. About 10.00am. News was heard of the Commander of the right centre Company from the Company Sergeant Major who came to Headquarters and reported that he had seen him in a shell hole in front of the German wire with only about half a dozen men with him. I told the Company Sergeant Major to go out to him again and that they were to try and gain information of the situation round the PYS ROAD. If “A” Company was wiped out and the Company Commander could collect us more of “D” (“A” was left centre and “D” right centre) they were to try and make their way back. When the Company Sergeant Major came back, he said he had gone back to the same place and officer and party had disappeared, he saw no signs of “A” Company: Of these two Companies the left centre has 37 survivors, the right centre 22. The Officer Commanding left Company got into DESIRE SUPPORT trench and bombed a dugout, his Company had had heavy casualties and he had only a Lance Corporal and a wounded Private with him so he got out to see if he could collect a party from men who might have got into the shell holes when the Machine Gun fire was heavy and causing many casualties. About 2.30pm. After waiting about in a shell hole for about five or six hours he made his way back. He reported that the enemy came out and fetched our wounded. All report heavy casualties from Machine Gun fire and bombs, and that the German trenches were very strongly held and reinforced. I noted the following points from personal observation: - The right Trench Mortar Group appeared to be firing very effectively – the greater number of the left right assaulting platoon actually got into the trench, but seem to have been outnumbered. The barrage appeared very light. It was rather too long as far as the right subsidiary attack was concerned. As the three periods of 1 minute intense from the Stokes on the flanks where there was no artillery barrage, were not sufficient to keep down the abnormally strong garrison, a shorter barrage would have given more element of surprise. The points mentioned by officers were: - The great strength of the enemy garrisons was not expected. There was a good deal of uncut wire on the DESIRE SUPPORT TRENCH. The gaps were extraordinarily well covered by Machine Guns. The barrage is said to have come back after lifting from the wire in front of the left centre Company. A point as to the nature of casualties was remarked on by the Medical Officer: - There was a larger proportion of bullet wounds.
(Signed) G. Dawes Lt. Col.
2nd South Staffordshire Regiment.
SECRET
Headquarters
2nd Division
Reference the attack carried out by the 6th Infantry Brigade this morning: -
At present, 3.00pm, it appears improbable that any of our men are in DESIRE SUPPORT or GUARD TRENCHES. Patrols have been sent out to ascertain definite information on this point.
The attack as a whole appears to have failed from the following causes: -
[1] Insufficiently heavy barrage.
Reports speak of the enemy firing Machine Gun fire and rifle fire throughout the barrage, and of being visible in considerable numbers on the left, firing from their trench.
[2] Machine Gun fire.
Considerable Machine Gun fire was met with, chiefly from direction of M.13.b.3.9 – R.12.c.8.7. approximate vicinity of TANK TRAP in M.7.d.
[3] The hostile barrage and heavy shelling before the attack.
The former is stated to have been put down sometime before ZERO. The latter was continuous and heavy throughout the night. The attack against GUARD TRENCH appears to have reached objective, but the attack on their left failing, they were isolated and cut off. The attack against the SALINT appears to have failed owing to Machine Gun and rifle fire. That astride the PYS ROAD seems possibly to have effected an entry into objective, but not in strength. It is of any of this Company being in DESIRE SUPPORT that doubt exists. In my opinion it is highly improbable as with the attack on their right failing, and the failure on their left, against Sap, M.7.d.0.2., it seems probable that even were an entry made those effecting it would have been isolated. Under the circumstances this is partly borne out by reports as to enemy having been seen outside this portion of their trench.
The situation was obscure until about 11.35am. It appeared that the right and left Company attacks had definitely failed, and that possibly some few in centre of attack had effected an entry. I had previously arranged for a bombing attack towards Sap, M.7.d.0.2., supported by Stokes, but this as I reported to you subsequent to receipt of your order to this same effect I cancelled.
I now hold original front line, and have given orders for front to be rewired, where required, and wire strengthened generally.
With regard to this latter can the ½ Company Pioneers be used for this purpose, please.
(Signed) R. K. Walsh, Brigadier General
17/2/17. Commanding, 6th Infantry Brigade.

6th Brigade No. G.S. 626/50
Officer Commanding,
2nd South Staffordshire Regiment.
The attached is forwarded for your information. I only wish to add my very sincere regret for the heavy casualties you incurred, and to say how much I recognise the efforts made by you personally, and all other ranks, throughout the period of preparations for the attack.
R. K. Walsh
Brigadier General,
21/2/17. Commanding, 6th Infantry Brigade.

2nd Division G.S. 1085/6
General Officer Commanding
6th Infantry Brigade.
I have read your account of the attack made by the 2nd South Stafford’s on the 17th February, and I attribute the failure of the attack entirely to the fact that a deserter had given the enemy several hours warning of our intended attack, this enabled him to bring heavy artillery barrages on the troops assembled in the open and to increase the garrison of DESIRE and support trenches and to have Machine Guns trained to meet the attack at ZERO. I very much regret the heavy losses that the 2nd South Stafford’s have incurred, and I know that if it had not been for the warning the enemy obtained, we should have captured the objective with comparative ease. Great care and patience appear to have been expended by this Battalion in preparation for the attack.
(Signed) C. E. Pereira
20/2/17 Major General,
Commanding 2nd Division.

G. S. 626/60
General Officer Commanding
6th Infantry Brigade.
In returning 2nd Division G.S. No. 1085/6 may I thank you on behalf of the Battalion for your own message and also for all the assistance you gave us in our preparations. The interest you took in the practice parades was very highly appreciated by all ranks. All very much regret that they failed to carry your plans to a successful conclusion, but at the same time are gratified to have your assurance that you do not attribute the failure to lack of effort on their part.
(Signed) G. Dawes Lt. Col.
2nd South Staffordshire Regiment.
Headquarters
6th Infantry Brigade 19/2/17.
I attach a sketch made by a man whom I believe to be reliable, he was half an hour or so in an enemy trench with Lieutenant CAVE and about half a dozen others. The four Machine Guns covered about 70 yards. The dugout entrances were small and very close together about 10 yards in all. By the PYS ROAD the trench was deep, by the machine gun opposite the gap in wire it was shallow, it was dry, un-boarded, and apparently freshly cleared. The communication trench was good and freely used. From the left of it enemy counter-attacked over the top. The dugout was bombed witness bayonetted one man who came out bomb in hand. The party maintained its position by sniping and bombing, a number of German bombs found in the trench were used. The wire was uncut except for the gap marked in the sketch which seemed to have been made by the enemy as a trap. When the party was surrounded, the officer gave the word to get out and they got through the gap. He made an unsuccessful attempt to collect a party in the shell holes in front of the wire. He destroyed the left centre Machine Gun with a pick before he left. He states casualties very heavy from Machine Gun, no enemy shelling and our own barrage about 30 yards beyond the trench. A Lewis gunner of the left Company got a Lewis Gun into the wire and kept it in action against the enemy who were on the parapet on the left while witnesses party got in. The ground was very heavy going over and the carrying parties seem to have got held up. Witness returned four or five hours after the assault. He saw enemy patrols taken out which gathered up our wounded. Some unwounded prisoners appear to have been taken – about sixteen or twenty in ones and twos on a fairly wide front, this was corroborated by Captain WOOLLEY who saw these patrols moving about from a different point.
(Signed) G. Dawes Lt. Col.
[2] 2nd South Staffordshire Regiment.
2nd Division
Forwarded for your information, and return please.
(Signed) R. K. Walsh Brigadier General.
20/2/17 Copy to Infantry Brigade.
[3]
Headquarters
6th Infantry Brigade
Returned to you as requested
(Signed) W. Wilson Major
21st Feb 1917 For Lt. Col. G. S. 2nd Division
The 3rd April 1917 edition of the Leicester Mercury published the following under, ROLL OF HONOUR: Pte. R. C. Whitehead, Leicester’s and S. Staffs., killed in action Feb 17, aged 26, son of Mr. W. Whitehead, Sileby Road, Barrow. The article also carried a photograph.
On Thursday February 17th, 1921, The Leicester Daily Mercury published the following article on page 5, under the heading. – BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS. – IN MEMORIAM. – WHITEHEAD. – Sacred to the memory of our beloved and youngest son, Ralph, killed February 17th, 1917. Bravely you passed, my darling. The great surrender made; And sad and bitter was the day, But Christ, our Redeemer, passed the self-same way. – Sorrowing Mother and Father, Barrow-on-Soar.
WHITEHEAD. – In unfading memory of my dear brother, Ralph, killed Feb. 17th, 1917, age 26 years. He shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; Age cannot weary him, or the years condemn. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning. I shall remember him. – Lovingly remembered by his Sister Alma, Birmingham.
WHITEHEAD. – In proud remembrance of a loving brother, killed Feb. 17th, 1917. Oh! true brave heart; God bless you. Whereso’er in God’s bright universe thou art today. – Sister Florrie.
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