An OBE DCM group to Major R Ratcliffe RA, who received a field commission in 1916

O.B.E. (Civil) Officer’s 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt; 

GV Distinguished Conduct Medal. Correctly impressed - 22956 Sjt. R. Ratcliffe, 121/Hvy. Bty. R.G.A.

1914-15 Star. Correctly impressed  - 22956 Sjt. R. Ratcliffe, R.G.A.

 Pair (MID). Correctly impressed - Lieut. R. Ratcliffe

Defence Medal 

War Medals 1939-45

Coronation 1937

 

Court mounted as worn.

Condition VF+ 

 

 

Robert Ratcliffe was born in Inverness-shire in May 1891 and enlisted in the Royal Artillery as a boy recruit aged 14 years in August 1905.

 

He was serving as a Sergeant when the Great War broke out. He went out to France on 12th February 1915 with 121 Heavy Battery, RGA. He won the DCM announced in the London Gazette on 12th January 1916;

 

‘For conspicuous gallantry. On one occasion, Sergeant Ratcliffe was largely instrumental in getting a gun which had stuck in the mud into action under very heavy shell fire.’

 

On 15th June 1916, he received a field commission as Second Lieutenant, his service in France ending on 14th January 1917. On 16th August 1917, he was embarked for Salonika, where he was wounded and promoted to Lieutenant.  Ratcliffe was Mentioned in Despatches on 30th January 1919, for his service in Salonika. 

 

In the Post-war years, Ratcliffe served in Gibraltar with the 11th Heavy Battery, RGA  Later on attachment to the 3rd Battalion, Royal West African Frontier Force in Nigeria 1925-29. He was promoted to Captain in May of 1929. His next posting was as a TA Adjutant 1930-35.

 

Ratcliffes' final Regular Army appointment was with  171 Heavy Battery RGA  based in Scotland. He was placed on the reserve list in 1936. He served as secretary of the Territorial and Auxiliary Forces Association for the County of Angus and the City of Dundee . While in this role, he was awarded the 1937 coronation Medal and the OBE in 1949. He was promoted to Major during WW2. 

 

Major Ratcliffe died in Sterlign in 1958.