Ancestor Details

Ancestor's Name: James (Commonly referred to as Ralph) William Ralph Coupe

Ancestor's date of birth: 07/10/1871

Ancestor's date of death: 07/12/1951

Cause of Death: Natural causes

Service and Life Before the Boer War: Local Company of volunteers of the 4^th Infantry Regiment, Tamworth NSW

Service Number: 31

Colony or State of enlistment: NSW, Place of Enlistment: Sydney or Newcastle?

Unit: NSW INF (1 NSW MNTD Rifles)

Rank attained in Boer War: PTE, Date Effective: On enlistment

Highest Rank attained (if served after war): SGT, Date Effective: 22/02/1913

Murray Page: 39

Contingent: First New South Wales

Ship: Aberdeen, Date of Sailing: 04/11/1899

Other Boer War Service: NSW Infantry Company / E Squadron NSW Mounted Rifles

Memorial details: Laid to rest in Tamworth Regional Council cemetery

Awards/Decorations/Commendations: Queen Victoria's South Africa Medal with: Diamond Hill, Wittegergen, Johannesburg and Cape Colony clasps. King Edward VII Coronation Medal. King George V "Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal" (Engraved on the side is "No 12 Sgt RJ Coupe 14th INFY 22.2.13".)

Personal Characteristics: A well known and respected Tamworth businessman, Ralph Coupe was a Master Tinsmith and Plumber.

Reasons to go and fight: To serve Queen and country as was the patriotism of that period.

Details of service in war: December 1899 - December 1900 in northern Cape Colony, Free State and Transvaal; sub-unit converted to mounted rifles December 1899, joined to NSW Mounted Rifles as E Squadron May- November 1900.

Service and life after the Boer War: Returned to Australia on the Orient, 8 January 1901. Ralph Coupe was also selected to represent Australia at the Coronation of King Edward VII held in 1902.

Descendant Details

Name of Descendant: Peter Jon Coupe, Tintinhull via Tamworth NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Grandson

Name of Descendant: Ian Coupe, Lake Munmorah NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Grandson

Name of Descendant: Dorothy M Chaleyer, Metung VIC
Relationship to Ancestor: Daughter

Name of Descendant: Robyn Johnson, Tamworth NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Grand daughter

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