Ralph Charles Lancaster (25 November 1907 – 28 August 1942) was an Australian rules footballer who played for Geelong in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
Family The son of Thomas Stanley Lancaster (1878-1960), the Town Clerk of Newtown and Chilwell,Deaths: Lancaster, The Sydney Morning Herald, (Thursday, 6 October 1960), p.24. and Maud Amelia Lancaster (1878-1938), née Cory,Deaths: Lancaster, The Argus, (Wednesday, 4 May 1938), p.10. Ralph Charles Lancaster was born in Numurkah on 25 November 1907.
He married Jean Loveniah McCurdy (1912-1968), later Mrs Arnold Start Henderson, in 1938.
Football Lancaster was recruited locally, from Geelong College.
A rover, he kicked 20 goals in his debut season,Weekly Times Football Series--Geelong Team, 1929, The Weekly Times, (Saturday, 1 July 1929), p.39. and the following year was 19th. man in Geelong's 1930 VFL Grand Final loss to Collingwood.Geelong, Runners-up, The Australasian, (Saturday, 18 October 1930), p.28.
Military service During World War II, Lancaster served in New Guinea as a Gunner with the 9th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, of the Royal Australian Artillery.
Death He died of wounds sustained whilst on active service in New Guinea on 28 August 1942.Latest Lists of Australian Casualties: Australian and the Islands: Died of Wounds Accidentally Received: "Gnr. R. C. Lancaster, Geelong."Taylor, Percy, "They Work Hard, But Play When They Can: Sportsmen in the Greater Game of War", The Australasian, (Saturday, 26 September 1942), p.12.
He is buried at the Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery.Gunner Ralph Charles Lancaster (VX44992), Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
See also List of Victorian Football League players who died on active service
Notes
References Holmesby, Russell and Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers. 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing. Main, J. & Allen, D., "Lancaster, Ralph", pp.286-287 in Main, J. & Allen, D., Fallen – The Ultimate Heroes: Footballers Who Never Returned From War, Crown Content, (Melbourne), 2002. World War Two Nominal Roll: Gunner Raplh (sic) Charles Lancaster (VX44992), Department of Veterans' Affairs. Roll of Honour: Gunner Ralph Charles Lancaster (VX44992), Australian War Memorial. Roll of Honour Circular: Gunner Ralph Charles Lancaster (VX44992) collection of the Australian War Memorial. B883, VX44992: World War Two Service Record: Gunner Raplh (sic) Charles Lancaster (VX44992), National Archives of Australia.
External links
Ralph Lancaster at Boyles Football Photos.