Silton Church Saskatchewan

Jean Longstaff has submitted the following:-

Thomas was the son of Bishop Auckland engine fitter Thomas Heckels Ramsay and his wife Janet Pinkney, who had married in St. Barnabas’ Church, Hendon in August 1888. Their first child John (who also served in the CEF) was born in 1890, then Thomas and in 1893 Janet. In August 1899 widowed Janet married another engine fitter, widowed Robert Hewson from Houghton-le-Spring , and they had two daughters, stepsisters for John and Thomas. The 1901 census shows them living with Janet’s parents in Rock Terrace, Bishopwearmouth, a house they remained in until they left England.

In 1909 Thomas and his older brother John sailed to Canada, and John applied for a homestead grant in Saskatchewan, allowing them to build a home and farm in Silton, near Regina. Their mother Janet, her husband Robert, and the three girls Janet, Gladys and Dorothy arrived to join them in July 1912.

On 1st January 1915 both brothers enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in Regina, both giving their mother as next of kin, and mentioning the time they had spent in 1st Durham Royal Garrison Artillery based in Sunderland. Thomas made out his paybook will in favour of his mother, apart from his three-year-old bay horse, which he left to a friend, Harold Fox.

Thomas became Private 426221 and was posted to “B” Company, 46th Battalion based at Moose Jaw Armoury, and then on to Camp Hughes, Manitoba in May before embarking for England on 23rd October 1915 with 36 officers and 1115 men, arriving at Devonport docks on 1st November, and moving on to camp at Bramshott where Thomas was promoted Corporal. In the camp military hospital for three weeks with variocele, on discharge he was transferred to the 3rd Battalion and reverting to the ranks he proceeded to join his new unit in France, only to be made corporal again in October and Sergeant at the start of December.

Wounded in his left arm in September 1916 he spent three weeks in No. 1 Australian General Hospital before convalescence at the base depot at Honfleur where he would have heard of the death of his brother John

In July 1917 he spent two weeks at 1st Army Rest Camp, followed immediately by ten days leave, returning to join his unit on 4th August. The end of September 1917 saw him attached to the 1st Army Musketry School for two weeks.

The London Gazette for 13th March 1918 announced that Thomas had been awarded the Military Medal. The citation reads: “After his officer had become a casualty during the attack on Vine Cottages at Passchendaele on 6th November, this NCO took hold of his platoon, consolidated his objective, and by setting his men a marvellous example of gallantry and resourcefulness, kept them under perfect control, although for 24 hours they were being subject to a terrific bombardment. Sgt. Ramsay’s work throughout the whole action was magnificent and a wonderful example to all those who came into contact with him”.

For two weeks in July 1918 Thomas attended 1st Divisional Artillery HQ before rejoining his platoon in the field on 14th July at Agnez-les-Douisans, and then moving with them by train to the front lines at Neuville Vitasse at the end of the month.

On 8th August 1918 Sergeant Ramsay was killed by a sniper during an attack on an enemy machine gun nest south west of Marcelcave. He is buried in Toronto Cemetery, near Demoin, France.

Thomas Ramsay is remembered in Sunderland on S140.048 part 9 page 202.

He is also remembered in Canada on their Virtual War Memorial and in their Book of Remembrance., and on a stained glass window in Silton Church, Saskatchewan. (Name appears on scroll at bottom right of photograph.)

Canadian Book of Remembrance
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
The CWGC entry for Sergeant Ramsay