After travelling from New Zealand in 1913 at the age of 22 with the expectation and hope of finding a better job, Ralph like so many other brave men was to enlist with the A.I.F. This he did on the 24th August 1914 as a bombardier with the regimental number - 193. He initially served with the Field Artillery Unit Brigade 1, Battery 2, and at the completion of his training in Australia he embarked for overseas service from Sydney, New South Wales, aboard the Transport ship A8 SS Argyllshire on the 18th October 1914 and headed for Egypt, and more training.

Landing in the Land of the Pharaohs Ralph then travelled onto Cairo and was to make his first entry into Diary One on the 5th April 1915 commenting on the training and high life that was happening around him. Then on travelling back with the Bty to Alexandria aboard a transport train he was to make the first of many entries on his experiences and involvement with taking care of the Bty horses.

On the 10th April on leaving the wharf aboard the SS Indian Ralph was to get his first inkling of where they may be off to by making mention about it in his Diary Don't know where we're off to. Think it's the Dardanelles. During his trip over to Lemnos Is as well as commenting on the care needed in looking after the horses that were aboard, Ralph also commented on his experiences as both the washer woman and resident cook in the serving of bovril and gruel (or concentrated beef extract and light porridge) to his fellow Bty crew members, many of whom were suffering from sea sickness.

Arriving at Lemnos Is on the 12th April the SS Indian anchored under torpedo protection, just in time to receive an Order ‘Enemy’s aeroplanes about, douse all lights’ so it’s bunk with a vengeance tonight. Ralphs first landing on solid ground was not on the Gallipoli shore line but onto Lemnos Is on the 18th April but this was only for one day.

On the 25th April the anchor was hoisted with the transport ship leaving Lemnos Is to arrive within the firing range of the Turkish guns at Gaba Tepe, on the Gallipoli peninsular. After being woken up on the 26th by a Majestic broadside Ralph went and observed some excellent naval fire all morning then went on to have a short snooze before he was woken up again and given Full Marching Orders to go ashore. After seeing to the slinging of the horses Ralph got aboard a punt and was towed ashore by a mine-sweeper, with Ralph reporting, Within a mile from the shore we became a mark for the enemy’s snipers and they served it up pretty hot, one bullet went through Doc’s haversack, while another introduced itself to Sgt Gurd and myself as we were sitting together. Missed Gurd’s head by a matter of decimals of an inch. Passed close to ‘London’ as she let go a broadside. Knocked one chap’s cap off. But Ralphs first landing didn’t last very long as the Bty received Orders straight away to return to the ship, as the landing was too crowded. With Ralph writing I'd like to have 5 minutes with that particular officer who handed out that order. This was Ralphs first landing of many onto the Gallipoli shores, but his life could so easily have finished there and then before he had even begun his long and dedicated service for the A.I.F.

Between the dates of the 27th April and the 3rd May the transport ship Ralph was aboard was being used for a game up and down the Gallipoli peninsular, This afternoon played a game of drawing the enemy's fire just south of our landing place. They let drive at us but no sooner had the cruisers spotted the flash than it was good-night Ethel. Also back on the 28th April Ralph was to enter into his Diary that the AE2 and another British sub got into the Sea of Marmora and sank a transport. Our troops succeeded in establishing themselves 11.5 miles inland. Great praise from the Powers that Be.

On the 4th May the Bty received the Orders that they had been waiting so long for. That the Bty were going to reinforce the 29th Div at Cape Helles. This caused much excitement in that the Bty were finally going to see so action. After disembarking ashore and seeing that the guns came off safely, Ralph and a few of his mates went for a stroll along the foreshore only to find it completely lined with trenches and graves. With Ralph commenting that the 29th had lost terribly and that at one stage they had been driven right back onto the beach. The foreshore had also been strongly fortified with barbed wire placed at least 80yds out under the water to catch the boats as they landed.

The Bty received Orders on the 5th May to travel 4 miles inland to advance trenches. Ralph was to experience his first heavy bombardment coming from a Turkish Bty, but he still managed to get to the rendezvous and start to dig a gun emplacement for his 18lb gun.

From the 5th May to the 22nd June the Bty were constantly being called upon to repel enemy attacks against the troops frontline, as well as assisting in attacking the ‘Turks’ enemy lines ahead of the troops. On the 23rd Ralph was given a very grateful four days rest down at the Wagon Line, and enjoyed it immensely. While he was down at the W.L. he was also given the opportunity to take a commission into Kitcheners Army in England, but he turned this down simply saying that he would rather stay where he was so he returned to the Bty on the 27th and then received Orders to commence a bombardment on the 28th. Getting up at 4am Ralph registered a target and the Bty commenced firing at 10.30am. The Bty crew was constantly firing for 12hrs straight, with the chaps capturing 7 lines of trenches, 14 machine guns, 1 Battery, and taking 500 prisoners. Ralph was also to find out that in the Orders on the 3rd July that he had received a promotion to the rank of Corporal.

The Bty were again called upon for more action, both in attack and defence through to the 26th July up until when Ralph had to finally give into the fever (Pyrexia) that he had picked up (with a temperature of 104!). He was transferred back to Lemnos Is to recover, only to find out that the Hospital he was at was the 16th Stationary and was run by the British. Ralph tried to apply for a transfer to the Australian Hospital, which was only a few yards away but was refused, so Ralph entering in his Diary that Before I’ll come again to a British field hospital they’ll have to shoot me.

Returning aboard a mine-sweeper on the 4th August and still feeling pretty rotten Ralph was to land on W beach, Cape Helles on the 5th to then travel back up to the Bty and get straight back into action that night. Unfortunately Ralph was also to make an entry in the Diary that on the 16th August the transport ship Royal George was torpedoed with the loss of 1400 lives. On the 6th September during an inspection by a General the Bty crew were informed that they were to be transferred to ANZAC cove. Ralph continued making entries of his days and nights in action either sending to or receiving from the enemy, a bombardment, and making many entries on the types of ammunition that he was sending or receiving from the enemy, or just making entries on what had happened while on his days of rest. Ralphs entries continued through until the 15th September, when he had decided on just who he was going to send his first Diary back too, this would of course be, ‘His Mother’.