Ralph Lancaster

Ralph Charles Lancaster (25 November 1907 – 28 August 1942) was an Australian rules footballer who played for Geelong in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Ralph Lancaster
Personal information
Full name Ralph Charles Lancaster
Date of birth (1907-11-25)25 November 1907
Place of birth Numurkah, Victoria
Date of death 28 August 1942(1942-08-28) (aged 34)
Place of death Port Moresby, New Guinea
Original team(s) Geelong College
Height 170 cm (5 ft 7 in)
Weight 66 kg (146 lb)
Position(s) Rover
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1929–1932, 1935 Geelong 44 (34)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1935.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Family

The son of Thomas Stanley Lancaster (1878-1960), the Town Clerk of Newtown and Chilwell,[1] and Maud Amelia Lancaster (1878-1938), née Cory,[2] Ralph Charles Lancaster was born in Numurkah on 25 November 1907.

He married Jean Loveniah McCurdy (1912-1968), later Mrs Arnold Start Henderson, in 1938.

Football

Lancaster was recruited locally, from Geelong College.

A rover, he kicked 20 goals in his debut season,[3] and the following year was 19th. man in Geelong's 1930 VFL Grand Final loss to Collingwood.[4]

Military service

During World War II, Lancaster served in New Guinea as a Gunner with the 9th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, of the Royal Australian Artillery.

Death

He died of wounds sustained whilst on active service in New Guinea on 28 August 1942.[5][6]

He is buried at the Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery.[7]

See also

Notes
  1. Deaths: Lancaster, The Sydney Morning Herald, (Thursday, 6 October 1960), p.24.
  2. Deaths: Lancaster, The Argus, (Wednesday, 4 May 1938), p.10.
  3. Weekly Times Football Series--Geelong Team, 1929, The Weekly Times, (Saturday, 1 July 1929), p.39.
  4. Geelong, Runners-up, The Australasian, (Saturday, 18 October 1930), p.28.
  5. Latest Lists of Australian Casualties: Australian and the Islands: Died of Wounds Accidentally Received: "Gnr. R. C. Lancaster, Geelong."
  6. Taylor, Percy, "They Work Hard, But Play When They Can: Sportsmen in the Greater Game of War", The Australasian, (Saturday, 26 September 1942), p.12.
  7. Gunner Ralph Charles Lancaster (VX44992), Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

References
  • Holmesby, Russell and Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers. 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing.
  • Main, J. & Allen, D., "Lancaster, Ralph", pp.286-287 in Main, J. & Allen, D., Fallen – The Ultimate Heroes: Footballers Who Never Returned From War, Crown Content, (Melbourne), 2002. ISBN 1-74095-010-0
  • World War Two Nominal Roll: Gunner Raplh (sic) Charles Lancaster (VX44992), Department of Veterans' Affairs.
  • Roll of Honour: Gunner Ralph Charles Lancaster (VX44992), Australian War Memorial.
  • Roll of Honour Circular: Gunner Ralph Charles Lancaster (VX44992) collection of the Australian War Memorial.
  • B883, VX44992: World War Two Service Record: Gunner Raplh (sic) Charles Lancaster (VX44992), National Archives of Australia.
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