Ralph Hone was born in Hove, Sussex, and was educated at Varndean Grammar School, Brighton. Hone's mother died while he was in his teens; his father, "a man of character", went on to become mayor of Brighton in 1937. His family, the Hones, were distant relations to Nathaniel Hone the Elder of the famous painting, writing, cricket and diplomatic dynasty the Hones. However, Ralph's upbringing was far removed from that of his forebears. In April 1915 Hone passed the British civil service examination. He then joined the Inns of Court Regiment and was commissioned in July 1915 in the London Irish Rifles. He was posted to the 1/18th battalion and was involved in the Battle of Loos in autumn 1915. Hone served in the Notre Dame de Lorette sector and then at Vimy Ridge. During this time Hone was hospitalised with acute trench fever and impetigo. He was promoted to lieutenant on 14 April 1917, and to acting captain on 14 January 1918. On 21 March 1918 the Germans opened their Spring Offensive with 6000 guns. Hone's company halted the German's first infantry assault, capturing 25 German prisoners. Hone was awarded the Military Cross for his actions when the Germans attempted to enfilade the British lines, becoming severely wounded in the process. He was repatriated to England, and by the end of the war had been promoted to a captain. The day after the Armistice he married Elizabeth Matthews, with whom he later had two children, a son and daughter. In 1920 Hone left the army and joined the colonial service in Uganda. He trained as a barrister and on his first long leave was called to the bar by the Middle Temple in 1924, during which time he aided in the prosecution of Patrick Mahon, the perpetrator of the Crumbles murders. The next year he was appointed Zanzibar's registrar to the high court; followed by resident magistrate. His legal career continued with an appointment as crown counsel in Tanganyika, followed by Attorney General of Gibraltar. While he was in Gibraltar the Spanish Civil War broke out; domestic duties included acting as chairman of the Gibraltar government slum clearance commission. From Gibraltar he was posted to Uganda from 1937 to 1943, as Attorney General of Uganda.
World War II
Hone was made commandant of the Uganda Defence Force following the outbreak of the Second World War. In 1941 he was transferred to General Headquarters Middle East, first as legal advisor to advise on law in the conquered Italian territories and later as chief political officer. In March 1943 he was promoted to major-general, "to ease his command over the Brigadiers under him"; he was also appointed CBE. This was followed by a period in the War Office in London, dealing with the war situation in South-East Asia. While working at South East Asia Command headquarters he got to know Louis Mountbatten, later Earl Mountbatten of Burma. In August 1945 Hone was sent to Malaya, to oversee the handover to civilian rule, and was present at the Japanese surrender at Singapore on 12 September.
Post-war career
Hone married again in 1945, and had a son by his second wife Sybil. Hone was awarded the KBE in 1946. He served as Secretary-General to the Governor-General of Malaya for two years from 1946, followed by Deputy Commissioner-General in south-east Asia from 1948 to 1949, and in 1949 he was appointed Governor and Commander-in-Chief of North Borneo. Hone was considered a great success as Governor of North Borneo, encouraging the country's recovery from the ravages of the Japanese occupation and expanding the colony's export trades. He was appointed in 1951.
