Heslop’s Local Advertiser 13/10/1916
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
George William Ramshaw was born at Felling, Gateshead, County Durham in 1894, one of 9 children of whom only 5 survived, he was the youngest of 2 sons and had 3 elder sisters. His father William Ramshaw was born at Felling in 1854 and married at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1873 to Hannah Baird native of Byker, Newcastle, both his parents were deaf and dumb. After their marriage they were living at Shield Row, Byker, William Ramshaw was a barber. By 1891 he and his family had moved to High Street, Felling, from where he ran a hairdressers for his own account, at the age of 16 eldest daughter Elizabeth was a shop assistant at a confectioners, Thomas (10) and George (6) were scholars attending High Felling Council School, Annie and Margaret had left home. George’s father died in 1903 at the age of 49, in 1911 both he and his mother were living in 2 rooms at 26, Neville Street, Felling, with Elizabeth, now married to coal miner/stone-man William Rule Winlow, George William (16) worked as a driver, they were both employed by John Bowes & Partners.
On the outbreak of war George William Ramshaw enlisted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, assigned as Private 5474 to the 1st/6th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers and sent to train at Hexham. As part of the British Expeditionary Force the battalion departed April 19th 1915 to France. Attached to the 149th Brigade, 50th Division they participated during the Second Battle of Ypres in Belgium at Frezenberg Ridge and Bellewaarde. June 10th the 149th Brigade joined the 150th Brigade to hold the line north of Menin Road with the trenches at Hooge separated from those of the enemy by only 15 yards where they were trench mortared by the Germans. Between June 21st-25th the Division was transferred to the line around Messines and Wytschaele and after a month sent to the Armentieres sector arriving between July 17th-18th 1916 and where they remained until September 1916 when they participated on the Somme at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, September 15th-22nd, capturing Martinpuich.
Private 5474 George William Ramshaw died of wounds received on active service September 16th 1916 and interred at Demancourt Communal Cemetery Extension, grave II. C. 7. The extension was formed in July 1916 by the XV Corps Main Dressing Station. Private Ramshaw was 22 years old and single.
His mother received all monies due to him and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Heslop’s Local Advertiser 13/10/1916 carries a notice which reads:
“Pte. George William Ramshaw, N.F., died of wounds received in action on Sept. 15th, aged 22 years. Son of Hannah Ramshaw, 26 Neville Street, Felling.
He is listed in Felling on F32.23
