Captain Ronald WelchPrint Page

The plaque commemorates Captain Ronald Welch who was killed at Flers, France in September 1916 during World War One.

Captain Welch was the eldest son of the Reverend Edwin J Welch of the Ballan Presbyterian Church. 

Extreme regret was expressed when news was received by cablegram on Friday last that Captain (Dr) E. R. Welch, R.A.M.C., elder son of the Rev.and Mrs E. J. Welch, of the Ballan Presbyterian manse, was killed in action on September 16th. Captain Welch was born at Sandgate,Queensland, in the year 1887, thus making him at the time of his death 29 years of age. He spent some years at the Ballan State school, after which he attended Grenville college, Ballarat, from which he matriculated. Between matriculation and University he taught in several private schools, amongst them being St. Paul's Cathedral choir boys' school and St. Patrick's Cathedral Christian Brothers' school. During his medical course he obtained several scholarships, which enabled him to become a resident of Ormond college for about 4 years. After graduation, he enlisted for service in the British army on May 12th, 1915, for one year, and went to England for a short period of military training. Afterwards he went to France, where he served as a lieutenant in the Royal Army Medical Corps. At the end of his term he signed on for another year, with the rank of captain, hoping to return to Australia at the end of his second year's service. But this was not to be, and a very promising career was cut short. Captain Welch was near the front trenches in the first days of the great Somme offensive, where, it is surmised, he met his death, full particulars of which cannot come to hand for some time. The heartfelt sympathy of all is extended to the bereaved relatives. 
Ballan Times (Vic), 5 October 1916.

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