LEATHERHEAD WAR MEMORIALS - WWI
Lance Corporal Ronald Percival Tribe
C Coy 1 Bn The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
Taken, Not Given, Liam Sumption, L&DLHS
L/Cpl Ronald P Tribe
1st Royal West
Surrey Regt
Bac du Sud
Oct 30 1918 *
The Regimental records of the Queens state that his full Christian names
were Ronald Percival and that he died of wounds. He was born in
Leatherhead where he also enlisted. The records also confirm he was
serving with the 1st Bn. at the time of his death. (1)
The unit's War Diary states that on 30th October the battalion "was
employed in training and general activities". (2)
However the Diary states that between 22nd-26th October, the battalion was
engaged in a "special operation N.E. of Le Cateau." No casualties
are stated, and a separate dispatch to which the diary refers is not
appended.
The Parish magazine issue of November 1918 confirms the sad news in the
last days of the war. (3)
Notes on sources
1. Regimental records in the Queens Regiment Museum, Clandon Park, Surrey.
2. File WO95–1280/1350/2422 and 2430 War Diary 1st Bn. Queens, Public
Record Office, Kew, Richmond.
3. Parish magazine of St Mary and St Nicholas, Leatherhead: issue of
November 1918
Further research
Lance
Corporal (Signaller)
TRIBE, RONALD PERCIVAL
Service Number G/63438
Died 29/10/1918 [sic]
Aged 20
"C" Coy. 1st Bn. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
Son of Alfred W. and Ruth E. Tribe, of 7, Byron Place, Leatherhead,
Surrey.
INSCRIPTION
GOODNIGHT MY BOY GOD BLESS & GRANT YOU REST IN PARADISE UNTIL WE
MEET
Buried at DELSAUX
FARM CEMETERY, BEUGNY
Location: Pas de Calais, France
Cemetery/memorial reference: I. A. 11.
* The CWGC's date of death is one day earlier than that
shown on the War Memorial. The correspondence received by Ronald's
parents reported below points to the 30th October.
Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser
Saturday 9 November 1918
WAR CASUALTIES
DEATH OF LCE.-CORPL. RONALD TRIBE.
Mr. and Mrs. Tribe, of Byron-road, Leatherhead, have beard that their
elder son, Lce.-Corpl. Ronald Tribe, died from wounds received in action,
at the 46th Casualty Clearing Station, France, on October 30th. A field
card was received in the early part of the week to say that he had been
wounded, and on Sunday two letters were received from the matron of the
hospital.
The first letter, dated October 29th, stated "I am sorry tell you that
your son, Lce.-Corpl. Ronald Tribe, is here very badly wounded in the
thigh. He is very, very ill, and I am afraid the doctors think very badly
of him. He came on the 25th, and has been very ill all the time. I am
afraid I must prepare you for further news. I can assure you all possible
is being done and has been done for him. He is not really conscious, and
so does not realise much."
The second letter, dated October 30th, was as follows: "Your son, I grieve
to tell you, died to-day. He grew steadily worse since I wrote to you
yesterday, and passed peacefully away in the early morning. He was
unconscious, and did not speak or realise anything. It will comfort you,
knowing we had him here and that he had every loving care and attention
possible. We send you our deepest sympathy."
Lce.-Corpl. Ronald Tribe was 20 years of age, and being an old Scout lad,
was very anxious to do his hit. He tried to get into the K.R.R. before he
was of military age, but was advised by the authorities to wait until he
was of age. He joined up about two years ago and did his training at
Southend, Colchester, and Sittingbourne. Although not physically strong he
got through his training very successfully, and distinguished himself for
shooting and signalling.
On going out to France on Jan.
23rd last, he was attached to a signalling section of the 1st Batt. The
Queen’s, and it was during the recent severe fighting, in which that
battalion has been engaged that he sustained the wounds that caused his
death. Lce.-Corpl. Tribe was well known as a very promising and well
behaved lad, and for some time prior to joining the Army was in the office
of Messrs. Norris and Limming, of Leatherhead, by whom was held the
highest regard. Much sympathy will be felt for Mr. and Mrs. Tribe and
their relatives in this further bereavement which has befallen them.
Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser
Saturday 23 November 1918
AN OFFICER’S TRIBUTE.
in a letter to Mr. A. W. Tribe, of Byron-road, Leatherhead. officer of the
Queen’s writes as follows in regard to the death of Corpl. Ronald Tribe:
"He was wounded on Oct. 22nd by machine gun fire, and though I did not
actually see him after he was wounded I understood from the company
stretcher-hearer, who bound him up, that he was hit by a ricochet bullet
from the road, which rather badly wounded him in the thigh above the knee.
I offer you my deepest sympathy in the loss of your noble lad. He is
greatly missed here by his chums, and by myself, for he was excellent lad
and useful specialist signaller."
Weekly Casualty List (War Office & Air Ministry)
Tuesday 17 December 1918
DIED OF WOUNDS
QUEEN'S (ROYAL WEST SURREY) REGIMENT
Tribe 63348 L-Cpl R (Leatherhead)
Dorking and Leatherhead
Advertiser
Saturday 28 December 1918
ROLL OF HONOUR.
THE YEAR’S RECORD OF THE BRAVE FALLEN.
NOVEMBER
TRIBE, LCE.-CORPL. RONALD, K.R.R., attached the Queen's, eldest son of Mr.
and Mrs.Tribe, Byron-road, Leatherhead.
His life
Ronald Percival Tribe was born 16 October 1898 and baptised on 15
January 1899 at Leatherhead Parish Church, Surrey.
His father was Alfred William Tribe, born 29 December 1868, Leatherhead,
Surrey, a son of Alfred Tribe (1845-1913) and Maria Ann Otway
(1847-1928). He was a Postman.
Ronald was therefore a first cousin of Herbert
Tribe who is also among the WW1 names on Leatherhead's War
Memorial, their fathers being brothers.
Ronald's mother was Ruth Eliza White, living at The Marches, Leatherhead
when she married. She was born on 19 May 1878 in Ockley, Surrey, a
daughter of Joseph White, a Gardener, and Eliza White.
They were married on 28 September 1895 at Leatherhead Parish Church.
Ronald had a brother, Albert Clifford born 10 February 1902, baptised 11
June 1902.
In the 1911 Census his mother is recorded as having had three children
of whom two were living.
Ronald was single when he died.
Ronald lived at:
1899 Baptism: Worple Road, Leatherhead
1901 Census: North Street, Leatherhead/London & County Bank
1902 Brother's baptism: Bank House, North Street, Leatherhead
1911 Census: 9 Kingslea, Kingston Road, Leatherhead
1913, 14 E Reg (father): Byron Road, Leatherhead
After the war
In the 1939 England & Wales Register Ronald's parents
Alfred & Ruth were at 3 Byron Place, Leatherhead (they were at no.7
in the CWGC record). Ruth was a 'Blind, Invalid' and Alfred an Acting
Head Postman, Retired.
After WW2 Alfred, a widower, lived at 12 Queen Anne's
Gardens, Leatherhead and 19 Brookers Close, Ashtead.
Alfred and Ruth were buried in Leatherhead Parish
Churchyard:
E440 TRIBE Alfred William b1868
d1951 83 22/03/1951
E440 TRIBE Ruth Eliza (Lily) b1873 d1941 68 18/04/1941
The death of Ronald's brother
Albert Clifford Tribe at the age of 80 was registered in July 1982, Surrey
South eastern District.
Ronald Tribe is remembered on these memorials
Leatherhead Town Memorial
Leatherhead RBL Roll of
Honour, Leatherhead Parish Church
Ladies War Shrine, Leatherhead
Parish Church
Church Lads Brigade Memorial
Tryptich, All Saints Leatherhead
Surrey
in the Great War
the website editor would like to add
further information on this casualty
e.g. a photo of him, and of any recollections within his family
last updated 11 Aug 20: 25 Dec 20