Hello Janet and Gary,

I have finally got around to sending you some more information on Ralph. I am very sorry for not making contact with you both a lot earlier.

This webpage can not be seen by anyone else, unless you send the webpage link to them which will enable them to see this information as well.

A few things have happened since I last made contact. I do not know or can’t remember what I told you last time about Ralph so I will tell you both what I have done, some might be new to you both or it may be that you already know about it.

Well Ralph has had his story told on our local radio station here in New Plymouth (nearly 1hr long). This was after reporters came around and listened to Dad and I tell Ralphs story. She then went away and told Ralph Military history on air, a copy is on the DVD. Some of her comments and interpretations of what we told her are not correct and I apologize to you both for this, Sorry. This is a link to the Puke Ariki website and to Ralph’s story that the reporter has added into the Taranaki Story section.

Ralph has also had some of his Diary extracts placed into a book that was published in Australia. A copy of this book was also sent over to us as thanks for letting Ralph’s story be told in the book. It is titled, Aussie Soldier Up Close and Personal. Under, About the Book – War Diaries and Letters

I have also placed a magazine in the parcel I have sent to you. This magazine that came over from England contains Ralph’s story as well, there website is called, The Gallipoli Association

I have managed to track down Ralph’s ANZAC Commemorative Medallion. This Medallion was issued in 1967 (many of them have not been claimed). It was issued to all servicemen who had served in the Gallipoli campaign, or to their close relatives. I had it issued to Ralph Ward who then with a lot of thanks, passed it on to me for all the work that I had done for him. This Medallion came over from Australia and is cast in bronze and is very heavy.

I hope that you can click on the link shown below, it is a PDF copy of a book that I made up and then passed on to our local library, who then sent it up to Auckland to be published. They placed a copy of the book in the Resource Centre when it came back from Auckland, so that it can not be issued out to any light fingered person. They made two lovely books, one for the library and one for me. I have also commented on your contributions to the transcribing of the diaries on the Acknowledgments page.

I have updated the website slightly with a few added features. Ralph’s parents his 4 Sisters and Diaries per month. More photos have been added into the five Diaries, plus New Photos in the photos section. You may have already seen these new features.

I hope that all goes well with the links above, let me know if they do not and I will correct it. I also hope that you are both in fine health since I last made contact with you.