Ralph Cudworth was born in Bury, Manchester on 15 March 1927, the son of Harold and Ethel Cudworth (née Metcalfe). He joined the Royal Navy as a Cadet and was promoted to Acting Sub Lieutenant on 1 April 1948. It is not known when he was appointed to HMS DOLPHIN for the Submarine Course. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 16 October 1950 and served in HMS ANDREW from 1950 to 1951, then XE-8 as First Lieutenant in 1952 and HMS AUROCHS from 1953 to 1954. Ralph Cudworth then served in HMS THOROUGH as First Lieutenant from 29 October 1954 to 1956.

He completed his Commanding Officer’s Qualifying Course in 1956 and was appointed to HMS SOLENT in command on 28 December 1956. He then served in the Type 15 frigate HMS ULSTER from 1958 to 1960, and he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander on 16 October 1958. He then served in HMS CHASER and also in HMS OSPREY at Portland. Ralph Cudworth was then appointed to HMS ALDERNEY in command from 27 January 1961 to April 1963.

He returned to HMS DOLPHIN in November 1963 and served as the Deputy Command Escape Officer and is reported to have died in an accident in the Submarine Escape Training Tank on 9 September 1966.

Ralph Cudworth is buried in the Royal Naval Cemetery at Haslar in Plot G 13 31.