HONOURING THE SACRIFICE MADE BY A FALLEN SERVICEMAN 95 YEARS AFTER HIS DEATH
In May 2012, Donald Kingsmill took his family over to Belgium and visited Coxyde Military Cemetery
The family were there to pay their respects to Lieutenant Ralph Doughty.
Having located his resting place the family then placed a small wooden cross [that they had made and taken over with them from Australia], laid some poppies [for our family] by his headstone and thanked him for what he had done for their family 95 years ago.
Donald thanked him for saving both his fathers life (Lieutenant Ken Kingsmill), (and his) and also for the family that had travelled over with him, that would not be here today, just by Ralph Doughty saying these five words 95 years ago, ‘Go on, hop in ‘Kingie’.
On the wooden cross were the words:
ADMIRED BY HIS FELLOW OFFICERS AND REMEMBERED WITH HONOUR BY THE KINGSMILL FAMILY IN AUSTRALIA
Entered into the visitors book are the words:
LIEUT. R.D.DOUGHTY MC. DIED BESIDE MY FATHER. SEVERAL DAYS LATER MY FATHER RODE OVER AND PLACED A SMALL WOODEN CROSS ON HIS GRAVE. I HAVE TODAY DONE THE SAME THING, 95 YEARS LATER
On the poppy label:
HONOURED AND NEVER FORGOTTEN BY HIS FAMILY IN NEW ZEALAND Photos Shown Below
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