Trafford

Born during the June quarter 1892 in the Manchester R.D. - ref: 8d/254, the
son of John Henry & Jane Ratcliff (nee Blackwell).

1901 Census - "Trafford Hotel", 699 Chester Road, Stretford.   Son - aged 9
- born: Manchester.  Head of household - John Henry Ratcliff - Married -
aged: 39 - occ: Hotel Proprietor - born: Manchester.  Also - Jane Ratcliff
- Wife - aged: 34 - born: Manchester.  Plus 2 bothers, 2 visitors and 7
servants - staff of Hotel.

1911 Census - Hippodrome Cafe, 155 Great Bridgewater Street, Manchester. 
The form is signed by John Henry Ratcliff but he is not listed on it. The
top entry is Horan Douglas Ratcliff - aged: 19 - occ: Apprentice
(Manufacturing) - born: Manchester.  He is listed as "Son", but that is
crossed out and "Head" written in.   Second entry is John Ratcliff - Son -
aged: 18 - occ: Apprentice Architect - born: Manchester.  Plus 5 servants,
a cook, housemaid and barmaids.
His parents were residing at Woodside Abbot, Sale.   Father - John Henry -
Hotel Proprietor - his Mother - Jane, plus their eldest son Herbert and 1
servant. Douglas was obviously managing the Manchester Cafe.

MIC confirms that he was a Corporal with the 17th Bn Manchester Rgt.  He
was posted to France and embarked at Folkestone on the 8th November 1915.  
He qualified for the 15 Star, the BWM & the VM.   Recorded simply as
Douglas Ratcliff.

WO363 confirms that he dropped the Horan part of his name when he enlisted
into the 2nd City Battalion, Manchester Rgt on the 3rd September 1914. He
was then aged: 22 years 4 months and employed as a Warehouseman.   He was 5
feet 7½ inches in height - he weighed 122 lb - chest expansion of 30 -
33½ inches - hair: Brown - eyes: Grey - complexion: Brown - religion:: C
of E.   Whilst in training at Grantham, on the 8th July 1915, he was
charged with being - Dirty on Parade at 09.30 hrs and given 3 days C.B.
(Confined to Barracks).  Promoted to Lance Corporal on the 19th August 1916
and to Corporal on the 12th October 1916.

The 17th Battalion, Manchester Rgt served with the 30th Division, 9th
Brigade and were involved throughout the Battle of the Somme 1916, starting
with an attack on Montauban on the 1st July and finishing at Ribemont on
the 22nd October 1916.

Reported as Missing on the 23rd April 1917 during the Second Battle of the
Scarpe 23rd - 24th April 1917.  On the 23rd April, the British launched an
assault east from Wancourt towards Vis-en-Artois. Initial gains were made
and they were able to secure the village of Guémappe but, after suffering
heavy losses could advance no further east.   Farther north, German forces
counter-attacked in an attempt to recapture Monchy-le-Preux.  British
commanders were decided not to push forward in the face of stiff German
resistance and the attack was called off the following day - the 24th
April.

By the time of his death, his parents were residing at "Ashleigh", Park
Road, Timperley.

Commemorated as D. Ratcliffe (with an 'e') on St. Alban's Memorial.  Listed
as Douglas Ratcliff on the CWGC website.