Ralph Bernard Randell (1892 - 1995)

Born 3 May 1892 in St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Gwendolen Mary Norma (McLean) Randell — married 1931 in Victoria, Australia

Died 19 Feb 1995 at age 102 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: David Stitt [send private message]

Biography

Ralph Bernard Randell was born to George William Randell and Eliza Jackson 3 May 1892 in St Leonards, NSW^[1].

Ralph married Gwendolen Mary Norma (Gwen) Maclean in 1931^[2], the marriage registered in Victoria^[3].

Ralph died in February, 1995 in Sydney and is buried in the Gore Hill cemetery in St Leonards, NSW^[4].

He provided his family history and photos to other Stitt family members in the 1980s.

WW1: enlisted 16/3/1917 2nd Lieutenant^[5].

WW2: enlisted 8/9/1941 Major, AHQA at discharge in October 1945^[6].

He was a businessman with interests in mining and manufacturing, and held several Australia patents^[7]

He and Gwen had no children but he was the legal guardian for his brother Otto's grandchildren on the deaths of their parents Richard Cowell & Ottoleine Randell.

His personal papers are held by NSW State Library: http://archival.sl.nsw.gov.au/Details/archive/110095097

TITLE Major Ralph Bernard Randell papers, 1870-1995 CREATOR Ralph Bernard Randell, 1892-1955 CALL NUMBERMLMSS 8456 LEVEL OF DESCRIPTION fonds DATE1870-1995 TYPE OF MATERIALTextual Records, Graphic Materials, Cartographic Materials, Objects, Albums, Clippings, Ephemera, Photographs, Posters REFERENCE CODE153034PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION1.63 metres of textual material (8 boxes)
ADMINISTRATIVE/ BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY Ralph Bernard Randell (1892-1995) was the youngest son of George Randall and Eliza (nee Jackson). His eldest brother was George, his next brother was Otto, and his sister was Flora. Another brother died as an infant.
During World War I, Randell served with the 1st AIF - in the 7th Australian Light Horse in Palestine. In 1918 was sent to train with the Australian Flying Corps at Oxford. After the war, Prime Minister Billy Hughes sent him to the United States to investigate the dehydration of fruit and vegetables.
Randell joined with Rupert Mitford in the first scheme to bring potato chips to Australia, in a venture named 'Oddie's Tasty Taters'. When this was unsuccessful, Randell started discounting shirts with the name of Wilkes Todhunter. This venture was a success and his company was listed on the Stock Exchange and sold in World War II when Ralph rejoined the army.
Mining ventures from the mid 1930s with Wallace Smith were also successful, with their company being the first to pipe natural gas in Australia.
In 1932 he married Gwen (nee McLean). They had no children of their own, but were legal guardians of Otto's grandchildren, following the death of their parents.
The Randell name is also referred to as Randall throughout the collection.
Reference: Compiled from the collection Library correspondence file 'Centenarian with flair for adventure', The Australian, 10 March 1995, p. 28

SCOPE AND CONTENT
BOX 1 Correspondence mainly between Ralph Randall and Gwen, including letters from before they were married (many letters undated), invitations, black and white photographs, 1873-1947

BOX 2 Folder 1 Letters and papers of Eliza Randall, including sketch map of Australia, pressed flowers, a knitting pattern, recipes, poems, newspaper clippings, visiting cards, and Christmas cards, 1870-1933

Folder 2 Diary of Roy Treloar and explanatory note, 1919; booklet on Antarctic Ocean Kelp; Randell Places: a guide to places of significance for William Beavis Randell and his family; restricted directory of geographic place names in the Southwest Pacific area ..., 1943; restricted military telephone directory, 1944; maps of London, Broken Bay, and New York

Folder 3 Locking of the Darling River (Reports, plans, &c.), New South Wales Legislative Assembly, 1890

Folder 4 Department of Defence Co-ordination, letters from Miss B. Hayden Smith to Ralph Randell, Australian Military Liaison Officer to USASOS, September 1943-June 1944

Folder 5 Papers on McLean family genealogy, including family trees, family history, school certificates, photographs, copies of birth certificates etc., and newspaper clippings, 1919-1994

BOX 3 Folder 1 Papers including letters, telegrams, postcards, newspaper clippings, magazines, brochures, cruise ship memorabilia, 1918-1970

Folder 2 Cards, newspaper clippings, and copies of telegrams congratulating Ralph on his 100th birthday, 1992

Folder 3 Letters and cards of condolence to Gwen following the death of Ralph, newspaper clippings and obituary, and copies of funeral sermon, 1995

Album 1 Ralph Randell's trip from Sydney to London on the S.S. Ceramic, being mainly photographs of tourist attractions, harbours, and on the ship, 1924

Album 2 Ralph and Gwen's world tour, being mainly postcards and photographs of Gwen and Ralph, monuments, tourist attractions, architecture, etc., 1935

BOX 4 Folder 1 Papers relating to Otto Randell and his business, being a clipping from the Johnstone River Advocate, pay slip, and copy of letter from Otto to Flora, 1891-1911

Folder 2 Copy of the Randell & Shannon Pacific Review, volume 1, issue 1; Randell & Shannon letterhead, 1915

Folder 3 Papers relating to World War I, including Christmas card from the Australian Flying Corps, memorial program, letters, pay book, etc.; and World War I photographs from Palestine, 1916-1918

Folder 4 Publications, newspaper clippings, letters, relating to food dehydration, Randell Dehydration Company, Wilkes Todhunter, and advertisement for Oddy's Tasty Taters, 1912-1947

Folder 5 Certificate of discharge and flier for the Volumnia, 1924

Folder 6 Papers, newspaper clippings, letters, magazines, catalogues, and advertising for Wilkes Todhunter, 1929-1950

Folder 7 Letters, maps, magazines, company publications including annual reports concerning Roma Oilfields, 1948-1981

Folder 8 Photographs of Roma Oilfields, ca. 1922-1937

BOX 5 Bound report on the South Alligator River Uranium Field, Northern Territory, including photographs attached, 1957

Folder 1 Papers and photograph relating to Zircon Rutile, 1952-1976

Folder 2 Papers and letters relating to Uranium mining in the Northern Territory, 1954-1966

Folder 3 Papers, letters, photograph relating to Chatswood Arcade, 1971

Folder 4 Letter to George Randell from his mother, and cross-stitch in memory of Robert Jackson, ca. 1896

Folder 5 Papers relating to 'Angry Australian', including essays written by students at the King's School, 1970-1974

Folder 6 Papers and map relating to factories in Canberra, 1971-1985 Album Postcards and Christmas cards addressed to Flora Randell, ca. 1904-1913

BOX 6 One small framed photograph; box of coloured slides Album of photographs of friends and family members, 1916-1988 Boxed memorial book from the funeral of Ralph Randell, 19 February 1995

Folder 1 Demobilization procedure book, soldier's record of service book, and photographs mainly from New Guinea during World War II, 1941-1945

Folder 2 Passport of Ralph Randell, photographs of friends, family members, houses, artworks, etc., ca. 1875-1993

BOX 7 Regalia Box containing postage and airmail stamps; wall hanging from Niagara Falls; 3 boxes of playing cards; cigarette case; piece of quartz [?]; empty match box; Red Tulip marzipan rum prunes box; wooden box containing ticket, buttons, and stones

BOX 8 Named photograph of the Australian Imperial Expeditionary Force, 9 June 1916 Poster showing the military uniforms of different countries Cards of Ralph Randell: Medicare, Veterans' Affairs personal treatment entitlement card, membership of the Royal Automobile Club of Australia, membership card of the Australian Society of Authors, World War I Veteran's free pass for travel, ca. 1986-1995 Stationery set, also containing part of a mounted black and white photograph Indexed map of Northern Territory / H.E.C. Robinson [no date] Hand coloured map of Associated Australian Oilfields: Roma Authority to Prospect [Geological compilation to accompany bi-annual report for period April-October 1954] / Geology by J. E. Glover

SOURCE Presented by Peter Yeend, October 1997

ACCESS CONDITIONSThis material is held offsite and is usually available after 4pm on the next business day. Please submit your request through Ask a Librarian COPYING CONDITIONS Copyright status:: In copyright Out of copyright: Photographs created before 1955 Research & study copies allowed: Rights and Restrictions Information:: No publication without prior written approval of copyright holder Please acknowledge: : Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales DESCRIPTION SOURCE Information upgraded as part of the Manuscripts Unprocessed eRecords Project 2011-2012 NAME McLean family Randell, Ralph Bernard, 1892-1955 Randell family SUBJECT Australian letters--19th century. Australian letters--20th century. Soldiers--Australia--Correspondence. Centenarians--Australia. Oil fields--Queensland--Roma. Food--Drying. World War, 1914-1918--Participation, Australian. World War, 1939-1945--Participation, Australian. TOPIC soldiers tourist attractions camels women children oilwells PLACE Queensland Palestine

Sources

1. ↑ NSW b/c.: 32907/1892 St Leonards
2. ↑ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/141422098?searchTerm=randell%20mclean The Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946) Sat 2 May 1931 Page 10
   ENGAGEMENTS.
   A marriage has been arranged and will shortly take place between Miss Gwen McLean, third daughter of Mrs. Norman McLean, of Ardvar, Maffra (V.), and the late Mr. Norman McLean, and Mr. Ralph Randell, youngest son of the late Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Randell, of Sydney.
3. ↑ https://my.rio.bdm.vic.gov.au/efamily-history/60c195840a2f001bed0e3d5c/results?q=efamily RANDELL Ralph Bernard Marriage MCLEAN, Gwendolyn Mary 1931 3981/1931
4. ↑ https://ryersonindex.org/search.php RANDELL Ralph B Death notice 19FEB1995 Death at Sydney The Age (Melbourne) 22FEB1995
5. ↑ https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8026162
6. ↑ https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=6280404
7. ↑ https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ListingReports/ItemsListing.aspx
   
   1. A627 3981/1926 Application for Letters Patent for an invention by Ralph Bernard Randell , titled - An improved refrigerator or cooling appliance 4215190
   2. A627 2456/1926 Application for Letters Patent for an invention by: Ralph Bernard Randell - Titled - Improvements in and relating to the manufacture of dried onion powder and the like 4216157
   3. A1337 6158 Application for registration of a design by Ralph Bernard Randell for Cooling appliances - Class 1 9600055
   4. A1337 5108 Application for registration of a design by Ralph Bernard Randell for Fried potato chips - Class 14 9619035
   5. A1337 5109 Application for registration of a design by Ralph Bernard Randell for Fried potato chips - Class 14 9619036
   6. A1337 5110 Application for registration of a design by Ralph Bernard Randell for Fried potato chips - Class 14 9619037

• personal information passed to other Stitt family members