Jordan, Ralph Austin

Ralph was born on 19th January 1921 in Blaengwynfi, Glamorgan, Wales. He was one of 13 children; he had 7 older and 5 younger siblings.

His father Frederick Donald was born in about 1877 in East Dean, Gloucestershire and by the age of 14 was a coal miner. Ralph’s mother Lillian Annie was born in Cheltenham in 1885. They married in 1907 in Pontypridd, Glamorgan. Frederick became a coal hewer working at the coal face. He died in 1934 aged 57.

According to the 1939 census Ralph was living with his widowed mother at 66 Hanworth Road, Warwick. His brothers Douglas and John (known as Jack) were also residing at this address with two others, whose names are redacted. We think one was Ralph’s cousin Philip whose name is on the Warwick War Memorial. He was orphaned and appears to have been taken in by the Warwick Jordans.
Ralph’s occupation is recorded as grinding and finishing brakes.

Ralph’s nephew, Greville Warwick, remembers him fondly:
“I recall riding on the crossbar of my uncle Ralph’s Raleigh bike across common land formerly called the Pigwells. That is the piece of land running adjacent to the railway line, now covered with houses and allotments… I inherited the Raleigh bike and used it for many years”

Ralph’s mother continued to live at 66 Hanworth Road until her death in 1971 aged 85.