Source: 18th Battalion Nominal Roll, April 1915.
Family Search: Ralph William Smith was born on 29 May 1895, in Twerton, Somerset, England, United Kingdom. He married Ada Alice May Gillmore on 1 January 1920, in London, Ontario, Canada. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 4 daughters. He immigrated to Canada in 1913 and lived in London, Ontario, Canada in 1921 and Victoria, British Columbia, Canada in 1965. He registered for military service in 1914. In 1914, at the age of 19, his occupation is listed as cook. He died on 24 June 1965, in Saanich, British Columbia, Canada, at the age of 70, and was buried in Veterans Cemetery, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
Private Ralph William Smith, reg. no. 54075.
This man was an original member of the 18th Battalion.
This man enlisted with the 18th Battalion on 27 October 1914 at London, Ontario.
He was a cook following the Anglican faith.
He arrived in England on 29 April 1915 aboard the SS Grampian and began the next stage of his training at West Sandling Camp along with the rest of the 2nd Canadian Contingent (Division).
He was assigned as a bugler for “A” Company on 1 September 1915.
He went overseas with the 18th Battalion on 15 September 1915 and began is combat service.
Private Smith had some medical issues from 13 December 1915 to 2 January 1916 requiring medical treatment at No. 4 Stationary Hospital.
He was granted a 10 day leave on 14 December 1916.
He suffered from a Pyrexia of Unknown Origin on 18 April 1917 and was designated Class “A” and returned to duty on 6 June 1917 and then was classed unfit for active service and appointed Corporal without pay and was in charge of the Sergeants Mess, 2nd Canadian Infantry Base Depot at Etaples, France.
Private Smith received another leave of 14 days starting 2 November 1917 and was transferred to other units working as a cook, eventually achieving the pay of $1.75 a day (normal infantry pay overseas was $1.10).
The war over, he ran afoul the military police being given 12 days Field Punishment No. 1 for being AWL and then forfeited 10 day’s pay for being drunk and disorderly.
He was returned to the 18th Battalion in early 1919.
He was discharged due to demobilization on 24 May 1919 at London, Ontario.
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 