Photo: Brian Chandler
Photo: Brian Chandler
In Newburn (Lemington) Cemetery is the Commonwealth War Grave of:
45741 Private
G. Ramsey
Yorkshire Regiment
8 December 1918
also in loving memory of
21837 Private C.A. Ramsey
Durham Light Infantry
8 October 1916
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Charles Albert Ramsey, one of 7 children, the 2nd born of 4 sons, had 2 elder and 1 younger sister, also 3 half siblings from his father David Ramsey’s first marriage. David Ramsey, listed as surname Ramsay, born in 1853 at North Hylton, a suburb of Sunderland, County Durham, was married in 1872 in the district of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland to Ellen Witton, native of Cockermouth, Cumberland, born 1854. Their son William Matthew was born at Bell’s Close, August 21st 1874, John Witton 1876, both at Walbottle, and Sarah Ellen 1883 at Whorlton, all in Northumberland.
Ellen Ramsey nee Witton died in the district of Castle Ward, Northumberland, during the 4th quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec) 1888, aged 35 years. David re-married at St. Andrews, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, August 17th 1889 to Margaret Owens born May 30th 1868 Cambuslang, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, the eldest child of David Owens and Marion Drummond, who had moved to the outskirts of Newcastle-upon-Tyne post 1881. Their eldest son George was born at Ponteland in 1889, Margaret 1890 in the village of Kenton, in 1891 they were living at 9, Slatyford, where David Ramsey and sons William (17) and John (16) were employed as coal miners. Margaret gave birth to Marion June 10th 1891, Charles Albert, during the 2nd quarter (Apr/May/Jun) 1896, both at Cowgate, Mary Jane 1898, Wilfred 1903 and Norman Drummond, July 28th 1909 at Westerhope. In 1911 David spent the night in the home of widow Margaret Moss with her adopted daughter Sarah Jobling at 15, Page Street, locality unspecified, although his family home consisted of 3 rooms at Benson’s Buildings, Westerhope, Northumberland. Charles Albert (15) and George (22) had now joined their father and elder brothers at the colliery above ground working in the lamp cabin, William Ramsey (38) having lost his wife after under one year of marriage had returned to the family home. David and Margaret’s son Cecil was born in 1913.
In 1914 Charles Albert was barely 18 years of age, he presented himself at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, November 10th 1914 declaring he was a coal miner living at Westerhope, aged 19 years and 242 days. As Private 218 he was assigned that same day to the 16th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, part of Kitchener’s New Armies. In April 1915 it became a Reserve Battalion moving firstly to Darlington then to Penkridge Bank Camp near Rugeley in Staffordshire to continue its training, supplying drafts of soldiers for service overseas.
August 3rd 1915 Private Ramsey was posted to the British Expeditionary Force and departed to France where he was transferred to the 11th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, with a change of service number 21837. The 11th D.L.I. was the Pioneer Battalion of the 60th Brigade, 20th Division, made up mostly of miners, and had arrived in France, July 20th 1915.
November 6th 1915 Private Ramsey was taken from the field by the 61st Field Ambulance to the 20th Dressing Station with a sprained ankle, returning to duty, November 13th. During spring 1916 preparations were well underway for the commencement of the Battles of the Somme, May 4th he was taken by the 61st F. A. to the 50th Casualty Clearing Station at Hazebrouck suffering from scabies, also on June 9th and 11th 1916.
The opening attack on the Somme at Albert was programmed to begin June 29th 1916 but was delayed by bad weather until July 1st 1916. The men of the 11th Battalion were engaged as labourers repairing roads, digging new and repairing damaged trenches mostly at night but also fought as infantry when needed. The division did not participate in any major battle until Delville Wood, July 15th-September 3rd 1916, Battle of Flers-Courcelette September 15th-22nd, Battle of Morval September 25th-28th and the Battle of le Transloy October 1st-18th 1916.
Private 21837 Charles Albert Ramsey Durham Light Infantry was wounded in the field, October 7th 1916 and evacuated back through the lines until he was admitted to the 36th Casualty Clearing Station at Heilly, south west of Mericourt-l’Abbe, where he succumbed to wounds sustained, October 8th 1916 and interred at Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-l’Abbe, Somme, France, grave IV. J. 45. He was considered by the Army to be 21 years of age, he was in fact only 20 years old and single.
His father received all monies due to him from the Army, his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, a pension and also a small book belonging to his son, forwarded to him at his home address of 107, Low Benson’s Buildings, Westerhope, Northumberland, January 8th 1917. His mother commissioned at a cost of 3 shillings 9 pence and additional inscription to be added to his military headstone, it reads, “ Deeply Mourned.”
Charles Albert’s elder full brother George Ramsey also served during WW1 and died, “at home,” in 1918 as a consequence of his service and is considered a casualty of war. Private George Ramsey Yorkshire Regiment is buried within Lemington Cemetery, his military headstone includes an additional inscription commissioned by his mother at a cost of 18 shillings 4 pence in remembrance of his brother, it reads, “Also In Memory Of 21837 Pte. C. A. Ramsey Durham Light Infantry 8th October 1916.”
David Ramsey died aged 79 years in 1929, registered in the district of Castle Ward, Northumberland. His widow Margaret in 1939 was living at 87, West Avenue, Newburn. She and daughter Marion were supported by William Matthew working as a colliery rolley-man, Norman Drummond a builder’s labourer and Gilbert Ramsey born March 18th 1922, (mother Ramsey) a market gardener.
Margaret Ramsey nee Owens died aged 75 years in 1944 registered at Northumberland South.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Acknowledgements: Ron Carson
Charles Albert Ramsey is remembered at Westerhope on W77.01 and at Whorlton on W53.01
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 278
