 He was the second son of Captain (later Colonel) Hugh de Crespigny Eastwood of the King's Dragoon Guards who went on to distinguish himself in the Second Boer War, earned the Distinguished Service Order in 1902 and finished his military career as Inspector of Cyclist Units in 1918.Ralph's mother was Elinor, who married Hugh in 1887 and was the daughter of General John Hall Smyth.Elinor's sister was Ethel Smyth, the composer and militant suffragette.