Ralph Lancelot Bacchus was born on 5th December 1877 in Sydney, Australia, the son of Mary Constance Bacchus, and the late George Henry Bacchus. The family emigrated to Australia in 1899. They sold their property at South Sydney Harbour and moved to Otaki, New Zealand in 1902 and he became a farmer.

Both brothers played for Clifton in the 1893-1894 season.

He served with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade and died with his brother, John Harold Bacchus, on the Somme battlefield. On 15 th September 1916 the brothers were detailed from the front line to carry the wounded back to the Casualty Station and while doing this, a shell exploded very near to them killing both brothers and the man they were carrying. They had only arrived on the Western Front 6 weeks before their death.

Above both brothers are commemorated on the Caterpillar Valley New Zealand Memorial, Somme, France

Above Ralph Lancelot Bacchus. He was born on the 5th December 1877 in Sydney, Australia. He attended Clifton College from 1887 to 1889. He left a wife, Enid Blanche Dorcas (née Harnett).

Above Ralph Bacchus and his family

Images courtesy “Adopt an Anzac Project”.

His name on the Clifton College Memorial Arch.

Above the Clifton College Memorial arch at the entrance to Clifton College in 2008.