Ralph Murchison Wakeling was born in Ballarat and was a Turner & Fitter when he enlisted in the 29th Battalion, D Company on 19 July 1915 at the age of 18. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A11 Ascanius on 10 November 1915. In February 1916 he was hospitalised a Serapeum with tonsillitis, but by June he was fit to travel with his battalion to France. In July he was disciplined for æcreating a disturbance after lights out'. He avoided battle wounds, but during the next two years he had periods of treatment for tonsillitis, mumps and gastritis. In October 1918 he was transferred to the 32nd Battalion for the final weeks of the war. He returned to Australia on the Wyreema and disembarked at Melbourne on May 31st 1919.
Tree No. 3359