Ralph Barber
Seaman
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
He was the son of Ralph Angles and Eleanor Barber and the brother of John Angles Barber. In 1911, they lived at 1, Oxford Street, South Shields. By 1921, the family was lodging with relatives at 15, Albany Street, South Shields. Ralph was listed as an 'apprentice seaman with D&TG Adams Ship Owners'.
Ralph Barker married Ruby Winifred Streek 3/11/1934 and they lived at 3, Sandringham Street, Lambeth. In 1939, Ruby was living at 85, Gracechurch Street, London. Ralph's parents and younger brother were also living there. Ralph is listed as there on leave from HMS King Alfred. He was a sub lieutenant.
Ralph married Olga Patrick in 1942. Ruby married Charles Crawley in 1942 then in 1953 she married Martin Keen. Ralph Barber and Olga Patrick were married at Cleethorpes in 1942. When he left Olga £600 in his will, her address was 'Melbourne Villas' 25, Parker Street, Cleethorpes. She later lived at Lowestoft.
Close family ties to local clergy almost certainly explain Ralph's inclusion on the Trowell war memorial. Ralph Angles Barber's brother John Angles Barber MBE, was the incumbent of St Helen's church, Trowell between 7/11/1942 and his death aged 50 in 1952. He is buried in the churchyard (see photo). His wife Dorothy lived until 19/12/1997 and shares a grave with her late husband.
Thanks to Carol Malone and Rachel Farrand for their contributions to this record.
Ralph Barber was killed in a road accident whilst driving a military vehicle.
Khayata Beach Cemetery BE4 Israel & Palestine (including Gaza)
Rachel Farrand notes: 'HMS Moreta was a Royal Navy shore base and naval training camp located in Haifa, Palestine, during World War II. Commissioned on September 1, 1942, and active until July 1946, the facility served as a depot and patrol base where hundreds of local recruits, including Palestinians, trained for service in the Royal Navy.
As Barber would presumably have been an experienced seaman by 1942, and possibly a pre-war RNR, he could have been an instructor.
Barber was RNR which is not to be confused with present day RNR (also now known as Maritime Reserves) as originally - and up to and including WW2 - a Reserve of professional seamen from the merchant service and fishing fleets.'
The neglected grave of Ralph Barber's brother John Angles Barber in St Helen's churchyard, Trowelll
Photo: David Nunn
The grave of Ralph Barber’s brother John Angles Barber is in St Helen’s churchyard Trowell, Nottinghamshire. He died 5/11/1952. John’s wife Dorothy, who died 19/12/1997, lies in the same grave.
Photo: David Nunn