PRIVATE RALPH BURTON FOWLER
CANADIAN INFANTRY
3RD JANUARY 1917 AGE 23
BURIED: TRANCHEE DE MECKNES CEMETERY, AIX-NOULETTE, FRANCE
The 18th to the 25th June 1917 was Red Cross Week. Fundraising posters were issued in Britain, Canada and the United States with the slogan "For humanity's sake". Whilst each country has its own Red Cross Society, they are all meant to be part of an international humanitarian organisation. This is why the fundraising is "For humanity's sake", a strictly neutral cause. However, one of the posters is headed, 'Civilization vs Barbarism' and enough newspaper articles had accused the Germans of barbarism for the public to know for which side the money was being raised. Another poster, not a Red Cross poster this time, shows a child holding up its handless arms against the background of a burning town with the message: "They mutilate - for humanity's sake enlist". Who 'they' are is made clear by the use of the word 'Kultur', the German word culture and civilization.
Ralph Burton Fowler came from Nova Scotia and enlisted in the 106th Overseas Battalion Nova Scotia Rifles, which was raised in November 1915. It crossed to England in July 1916 and was absorbed into the 25th Battalion Canadian Infantry. 1 January 1917 found them in the trenches near Bully-les-Mines engaged in working parties. On 3 January they went into the trenches, the war diary records the day:
"Relieved 24th Canadian Battalion in Angres Sector 1, "A" and "C" Co'ys going into front line, "B" and "D" in support trenches. Artillery and Trench Mortars active on both sides. Private R.B.Fowler being killed and Pte. McA. Blackburn fatally wounded, and two OR shell shocked."
Ralph Fowler's father chose his inscription, no doubt influenced by the Red Cross and recruiting posters he must have seen.
