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James Ralston
James Layton Ralston PC, CMG, DSO & Bar, KC (September 27, 1881 – May 22, 1948) was a Canadian lawyer, soldier, and politician. A Nova Scotian and a lawyer by training, Ralston fought with distinction during the First World War and pursued a career in the Canadian Army, before becoming a Liberal Member of Parliament. During the Second World War, he served as Minister of National Defence from 1940 to 1944, when he was forced to resign by Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King because of his support for the introduction of conscription.
Ralston was born in Amherst, Nova Scotia, the eldest son (he had three brothers) of Burnett William Ralston, a prominent local businessman who served a term as the town's mayor. Known as Layton within the family, Ralston was educated at Amherst Academy and the law school at Dalhousie University. He then became a partner in his uncle's law firm in 1903 and practised law in Amherst.
Ralston was the Liberal candidate for Cumberland in the 1908 federal election, hoping to succeed to his uncle, Hance James Logan; but was defeated. He subsequently entered public life when he ran as the provincial Liberal candidate for Cumberland and was elected in the 1911 provincial election. He was re-elected in 1916.
In 1912, seeking greater opportunities, Ralston moved to Halifax, joining his friend Charles Burchell and A.K. Maclean, MP to form one of the city's main law firms.
In his 30s at the outbreak of the First World War and lacking military experience, Ralston agonized about joining the Army. After training with the Canadian Officers’ Training Corps, he volunteered for military service overseas in 1915, following the lead of his brother Ivan. Joining the 85th Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders), he was involved in recruitment and became the battalion's adjutant in 1916.
Along with the 85th, Ralston went to England in 1916 and to France in 1917, where he distinguished himself in combat. In 1917, he was wounded at Éleu-dit-Leauwette, received the Distinguished Service Order and was mentioned in despatches. In 1918, he assumed command of the 85th and was promoted to lieutenant-colonel. The same year, Ralston was recommended for the Victoria Cross after rescuing a subaltern under fire. The recommendation was turned down by higher authority, since as the unit's commanding officer he should not have been risking his life that way.
He was wounded again in August 1918, this time by a sniper, at the Battle of Amiens, in which his brother Ivan, who was his second-in-command, was killed. In a letter to his parents, Ralston said that "The sun has gone out of life in an instant".
Returning to the front, Ralston was wounded again on 1 October, at the Battle of the Canal du Nord. For his part in the battle, he received a bar to his DSO. In later October, he was wounded a fourth time. The wound having infected, he was operated on twice, and the time he spent in hospital meant that he did not take part in the Hundred Days Offensive.
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James Ralston
James Layton Ralston PC, CMG, DSO & Bar, KC (September 27, 1881 – May 22, 1948) was a Canadian lawyer, soldier, and politician. A Nova Scotian and a lawyer by training, Ralston fought with distinction during the First World War and pursued a career in the Canadian Army, before becoming a Liberal Member of Parliament. During the Second World War, he served as Minister of National Defence from 1940 to 1944, when he was forced to resign by Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King because of his support for the introduction of conscription.
Ralston was born in Amherst, Nova Scotia, the eldest son (he had three brothers) of Burnett William Ralston, a prominent local businessman who served a term as the town's mayor. Known as Layton within the family, Ralston was educated at Amherst Academy and the law school at Dalhousie University. He then became a partner in his uncle's law firm in 1903 and practised law in Amherst.
Ralston was the Liberal candidate for Cumberland in the 1908 federal election, hoping to succeed to his uncle, Hance James Logan; but was defeated. He subsequently entered public life when he ran as the provincial Liberal candidate for Cumberland and was elected in the 1911 provincial election. He was re-elected in 1916.
In 1912, seeking greater opportunities, Ralston moved to Halifax, joining his friend Charles Burchell and A.K. Maclean, MP to form one of the city's main law firms.
In his 30s at the outbreak of the First World War and lacking military experience, Ralston agonized about joining the Army. After training with the Canadian Officers’ Training Corps, he volunteered for military service overseas in 1915, following the lead of his brother Ivan. Joining the 85th Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders), he was involved in recruitment and became the battalion's adjutant in 1916.
Along with the 85th, Ralston went to England in 1916 and to France in 1917, where he distinguished himself in combat. In 1917, he was wounded at Éleu-dit-Leauwette, received the Distinguished Service Order and was mentioned in despatches. In 1918, he assumed command of the 85th and was promoted to lieutenant-colonel. The same year, Ralston was recommended for the Victoria Cross after rescuing a subaltern under fire. The recommendation was turned down by higher authority, since as the unit's commanding officer he should not have been risking his life that way.
He was wounded again in August 1918, this time by a sniper, at the Battle of Amiens, in which his brother Ivan, who was his second-in-command, was killed. In a letter to his parents, Ralston said that "The sun has gone out of life in an instant".
Returning to the front, Ralston was wounded again on 1 October, at the Battle of the Canal du Nord. For his part in the battle, he received a bar to his DSO. In later October, he was wounded a fourth time. The wound having infected, he was operated on twice, and the time he spent in hospital meant that he did not take part in the Hundred Days Offensive.