Pocket note book kept by Ralph whilst on active service. Included in the notebook are a number of photos of Hilda Giles (his fiancée), names and addresses, results of army training, and a copy of the Rudyard Kipling poem 'If'.

Ralph Claridge was born at Auburn and moved with his family to Adelaide where he attended Marryatville Public School, Prince Alfred College and the South Australian School of Mines. He enlisted in the 10th Battalion AIF in August 1914 aged 22.

Wounded in action at Gallipoli in May 1915 he was evacuated to Cairo but rejoined his battalion in July and was made Lance-Corporal in September.
Promoted to Corporal in January 1916, he transferred to the 50th Battalion in February, and in March was promoted to Sergeant. Claridge arrived in France June 1916. Wounded at Pozières in August, he was transferred to England to recuperate.

Transferred to the 70th Battalion in March 1917 and promoted to 2nd Lieutenant, he was transferred back to the 50th Battalion in September. In France in early 1918 Ralph Claridge was promoted to Lieutenant.

Lieutenant Ralph Elesmere Claridge was killed in action by machine gun fire at Villers-Bretonneux, 25 April 1918.

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