Reported missing during the First Battle of Ypres. His death was confirmed by a letter from a fellow officer, then a prisoner in Germany, in 1915:

Haserden Kaserden, Crefeld, Germany, Nov. 24, 1914:

“after daylight and throughout the morning we were subjected to the most severe shelling, and the Germans attacked several times, but were beaten off, merely owing to the magnificent way Ralph handled his machine gun. The enemy’s shells were falling all round him, they had located our position and were doing their utmost to knock out our machine gun. Throughout all this Ralph fought his gun so splendidly that they could not get past his right, his gun was shooting throughout the morning. It was not until he was killed and his gun put out of action that the enemy succeeded in turning the position and enfilading our trenches. His men told me that poor Ralph was shot through the head when too bravely looking out of the trench for a good target for his gun. He was one of the bravest, keenest and best officers on active service I have had, and his loss is the greatest calamity to the regiment...”