In 1930, William Ralph, 14, arrived at Perth, Australia, in a group of 56 Barnardo boys en route to Sydney, Australia.

On Friday, July 11, 1930, the Argus (Australia, page 11) reported:

BARNARDO BOY MISSING

PERTH, Thursday. --Before the sailing of the Steamer Balranald from Fremantle to the eastern States last night it was found that one of a party of boys from the Barnardo Home in England was missing. The boys, who were booked to Sydney, were under the control of Matron Hodgett, who said that early in the evening a woman approached her and said that she was the foster-mother of William Ralph, one of the boys. The woman asked permission to take the boy ashore, but the request was refused. When the matron returned from dinner she found that Ralph was missing. The vessel left Fremantle at half-past 10 o'clock, and the police are making inquiries.