Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Bown a farm shepherd, born 1859 in Stapleton, Leics., and his wife Ada, born 1864 in Atherton, Oxon. Ralph John was born in 1889 in Dadlington, Leics., his siblings were Sarah, born 1885 in Churchover, Warwks., Elizabeth W., born 1887 in Barwell, Leics., Hannah M., born 1892 in Dadlington, Leics., Charlotte Margaret, born 1894, Ethel M. M., born 1897, Elsie Ann, born 1899 and Millicent Ann, born 1901, the latter four siblings were all born in Barwell, Leics., in March 1901 the family home was at The Brockey, Barwell, Leics. In April 1911 Ralph was employed as a farm labourer and was residing in the family home at Barwell Fields, Barwell, Leics., together with his parents and siblings, Charlotte, Elsie and Millicent, also residing with the family was his paternal nephew, John Silvester Bown, born 1905 in Barwell, Leics. The War Diary for today records that the Battalion marched to its place of assembly (S.29 b) reference Guillemont 1/20000 at 6.30am. About 2.00pm sudden orders were received to proceed to T. 19 a 2.8 in reserve and at disposal of 16th Infantry Brigade. Arrived about 4.15pm and dug our own trenches. Quiet night.