Notes on soldier.
SALLABANKS, Harry – Private – 17441, 8th Bn. Bedfordshire Regt.
He was thevson of John & Alice SALLABANKS of Lug Farm, Ramsey, enlisted at Huntingdon. He was killed by the explosion of an enemy shell while he was asleep, on Thursday, 20th April 1916, aged 21 years, and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. [Not on Ramsey memorial; on Bury memorial]
SAUNDERS, Edwin Walter – Lieutenant, 1st Bn. Cambridgeshire Regt. (Temporarily attached to
the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry)
He was the son of Mrs. Elizabeth & the late Walter Shepperson SAUNDERS of Glassmore House, Pondersbridge, was killed in action on Friday, 7th May 1915, aged 22 years, and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Iepers, West-Vlaandered, Belgium. He died instantly when a tiny piece of shell went through his brain, when his unit were caught up in heavy fire as they were trying to secure Armagh Wood. [Not on Ramsey memorial; on Pondersbridge & Whittlesey memorials]SEEKINGS, Bertie Charles – Private – 2884, 1st/4th Bn. Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regt.)
He was the son of Arthur Charles & Julia Ann (nee RICHARDSON) SEEKINGS of Ramsey Fortyfoot, enlisted at Halifax. He died on Saturday, 2nd September 1916, aged about 18 years, and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.
SEEKINGS, R.J., Kings Liverpool Regt. [Added to Ramsey memorial] - Research ongoing.
SETCHELL, Ernest – Private – 99642, 8th Bn. King’s Liverpool Regt.
He was the son of William & Sarah E. SETCHELL of Ramsey St. Marys, died of wounds in France on Tuesday, 17th September 1918, aged 31 years, and his grave is in the Bac-du-Sud British Cemetery, Bailleulval, Pas de Calais, France. He left a widow Minnie (nee HARPER) SETCHELL, who he had married at Ramsey St. Marys on 10th June 1909, and some young sons, living at Ramsey Heights. [Also on Ramsey St. Marys memorial]
Sergt. J. O. Seymour, Ramsey St. Marys, Cambridgeshire Regiment, Wounded in the Dunes. Newspaper September 1st 1917.
Pte S. A. Seymour, Bedfordshire Regiments from Ramsey, was wounded and suffered from blood poisoning.
Pte S. A. Seymour Sewell, Ramsey, Bedford Regiment, blood poisoning. [By 22nd September 1917.]
Sergt. R. W. Shaw, Ox and Bucks L. I., Ponders Bridge, Gassed.
SHELTON, George William – Private – 19359, 2nd Bn. Bedfordshire Regt.
From Ramsey Heights, son of Elijah & Fanny Elizabeth (nee SLOUGH) SHELTON of Upwood, enlisted at Huntingdon, and was killed in action on Wednesday, 16th June 1915, aged 31 years, and is commemorated on Le Touret Memorial, Le Touret Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. He left a widow, Albina (nee TIBBLES) SHELTON, who he married at Ramsey St. Marys on 29th June 1911, living at Oilmills Road, Ramsey Mereside. [Added to Ramsey memorial; on Ramsey St. Marys memorial]
SHELTON, Ronald William – Lance Corporal – PS.10667, 23rd Bn. Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regt.)
He was born on 18th March 1897, elder son of William & Martha Julia Layton (nee NIXON) SHELTON, of Hazeldene, Ramsey, enlisted at London. He was killed in action near Cambrai, France, on Monday, 30th September 1918, aged 21 years, and buried in the Noyelles-sur-L’Escaut Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord, France. [Also a memorial window in Ramsey Church]
SILK, Arthur – Private – G.40262, 13th Bn. Middlesex Regt. (Duke of Cambridge’s Own)
From Ramsey, born at Hemingford, son of John & Hephzabah SILK, enlisted at Bedford. He died of wounds in France on Sunday, 31st March 1918, aged about 25 years, and was buried in the Etretat Churchyard Extension, Seine-Maritime, France. [Also on Ramsey St. Marys memorial]We never thought when we said goodbye,
It was for ever and you were to die,
Too far away your grave to see, But not too far to think of thee.
Somewhere in France in an unknown grave,
Our soldier boy is sleeping,
For his King and Country his life he gave,
Into his savour's keeping.
Twelve months ago it seems so long,
Since first the tidings came,
One year has passed since that sad day,
When one we loved was called away,
His loving ways and pleasant face,
No one can fill his vacant place.
September 8th 1917 = Pte. William Sinclair, Ramsey Heights, Hunts Cyclist attached Worcestershire Regiment. Killed in action.
SINCLAIR, William Robert– Private – 30331, 14th Bn. Royal Warwickshire Regt.
He was the third son of Daniel & Mary J. (nee LANGLEY) SINCLAIR of Ramsey Heights, was killed in action on Sunday, 3rd September 1916, aged 19 years, and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. [Also on Ramsey St. Marys memorial]
From an unknown newspaper dated July 8th 1916.'Casualty Lists' = The casualty lists of the week tell the following story locally:- Wounded - Skeif, Sergeant W. A., Bedfordshire Regiment, Ramsey.
SKINNER, William – Private – 41319, 4th Bn. North Staffordshire Regt. (The Prince of Wales’s).
He was the son of Joseph & Sarah Ann SKINNER of The Boat & Anchor Inn, Ramsey, was fatally wounded in the head by gunshot while in action at the Front. He died on Monday, 21st October 1918 at the 82nd Casualty Clearing Station, France, aged 20 years, and his grave is in the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Poperinge, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. He had been in action for ten months and was recommended for the Military Medal five times.
SLACK, John William – Private – 203282, 7th Bn. Bedfordshire Regt.
He was from Farcet; born at Ramsey, the son of Thomas & Eliza (nee ROBERTS) SLACK of Great Whyte, Ramsey, enlisted at Peterborough, and was killed by a bomb in an air-raid while serving at the Western Front. He died on Monday, 11th February 1918, aged about 36 years, and his grave is in the Noyon New British Cemetery, Oise, France, leaving a widow Alice (nee PARROTT) SLACK and a large family, living at Red Row, Farcet. [Also on Farcet memorial]
SMITH, Owen William (Billy) – Gunner – 163881, 1st/1st (Highland) Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery.
He was the only son of Owen & Sarah Ann (nee GODFREY) SMITH of 79 Great Whyte, Ramsey, enlisted at Bury St. Edmunds. A gunner in the Highland Fife Heavy Battery, he died at the 62nd Casualty Clearing Station in France on 28th March (Good Friday) 1918, aged 42 years, and his grave is in the Anzin-St. Aubin British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. He left a widow Gertrude Annie (nee SAWYER) SMITH who he had married at Ramsey Church on 27th June 1910, living at Wood Hall, Hemel Hempstead, Herts.
SMITHDALE, Ernest Alfred – Private – G.10173, 10th Bn. Royal West Surrey Regt. (The Queen’s).
He was born at Acle, Norfolk, only son of Alfred & Elizabeth Rebecca SMITHDALE of 21 Star Lane, Ramsey, enlisted at Peterborough. As he was involved in an attack, he was shot through the head by a bullet as he was jumping into a shellhole, and was killed instantly. He died on Friday, 15th September 1916, aged 20 years, and his grave is in the Guards’ Cemetery, Lesboeufs, Somme, France [Also on Ramsey St. Marys memorial] Formerly 22678 Northamptonshire Regt.SMYTHE, Rudolf Meade – Captain, 5th Bn. (Territorial) Bedfordshire Regt.
He was the son of Mrs. SMYTHE of Eaton Ford, and the late Revd. Henry Meade SMYTHE, M.A., Vicar of Caxton. When War broke out he was the Manager of Barclays Bank in Ramsey, but had been in the Territorials for some years. He died of wounds, received in the fighting on the Gallipoli Peninsular, at the No. 16 Casualty Clearing Station, on Wednesday, 13th October 1915, aged 29 years, and was buried at No. 2 Post, Anzac, Gallipoli, and his name is also commemorated on the Helles Memorial, which stands on the tip of the Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey. Mrs. SMYTHE’s only other son, Lt. B.S. SMYTHE, was also attached to the 5th Bn. Bedfordshire Regt. [Also on Eaton Socon memorial]STACEY, Herbert William, Machine Gun Corps.
He was born 2nd September 1895, the second son of William & Sarah (nee WRIGHT) STACEY of Wood Lane, Ramsey, died at the Cambs. Tuberculosis Colony, Papworth Everard, on Saturday, 19th April 1919, aged 23 years, and was buried in Ramsey cemetery. He had spent some time in the Military Hospital at Nottingham before going to the Papworth Sanitorium. Prior to joining the Army in 1916 and serving in France, he was employed at the Steam Roller Mills of Messrs. FLOWERS & ADDINGTON of Great Whyte, Ramsey. [Also on Ramsey Fortyfoot memorial]
STACEY, John William – Private – 202404, 17th Bn. Royal Welch Fusiliers.
From Ramsey, son of Robert & Eliza (nee ILETT) STACEY of Benwick Road, Ramsey Fortyfoot, was killed in action on Thursday, 6th June 1918, aged about 26 years, and his grave is in the Bouzincourt Ridge Cemetery, Albert, Somme, France. Formerly 25859 Bedfordshire Regt.
J [John William] Stacey - His name appears on the Ramsey Fortyfoot memorial. This memorial is now located in the new Village hall, prior to that it could be found in the church of St Felix, that used to stand near to that site. IN MEMORIAM - GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS - THE GREAT WAR - 1914-1918.
STEVENS, George – Private – G.11815, 7th Bn. Royal West Surrey Regt. (The Queen’s).
He was born 3rd March 1880, fifth son of Ann (nee SAUNDERS) and the late Robert STEVENS (for many years Ramsey’s useful chimney sweep), enlisted at Cambridge, and was fatally wounded by gunshot in the thigh and hand while serving in France. He died in the General Hospital at Entreat on Saturday, 23rd November 1916, aged 36 years, and was buried in the Etretat Churchyard, Seine-Maritime, France.
STIMPSON, John Thomas – Private – 295791, 4th Bn. Royal Fusiliers (London Regt)
He enlisted at Huntingdon on 14th May 1915. He died on Sunday, 25th August 1918, and his grave is in the Bronfay Farm Military Cemetery, Bray-sur-Somme, Somme, France. As well as his widow Elsie Kathleen STIMPSON, he also left a young son John Reginald. [Added to Ramsey memorial] Formerly 1360 3/1st Huntingdonshire Cyclist Bn.
STOKES, Ernest – Private – 238047, 22nd Bn. Middlesex Regt.
He was the second son of David & Jane Elizabeth (nee GORE) STOKES, of 1 High Street, Ramsey, died on Tuesday, 26th November 1918, aged 32 years, and was buried in Ramsey cemetery. He had served in France for three years. [Also on Ramsey Fortyfoot memorial]
E [Ernest] Stokes - His name appears on the Ramsey Fortyfoot memorial.
This memorial is now located in the new Village hall, prior to that it
could be found in the church of St Felix, that used to stand near to
that site.
IN MEMORIAM - GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS
LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS - THE GREAT WAR - 1914-1918.
SUTTON, Leonard – Private – 43051, 1st Bn. Bedfordshire Regt.
'Coming in Well' = From an unknown newspaper dated
December 11th 1914.
Recruiting for the extra 200 men sanctioned by the War Office, on the
strength of the two Hunts. Cyclist Battalions is going on apace, and the
meetings in which Lord Sandwich has been attending this week are
expected to cause acceleration. The following have joined during the
present month:- 7th December 1914 - L. Sutton [Ramsey St Marys].
He was the son of John & Eliza (nee CROFT) SUTTON of Hern Road, Ramsey St. Marys, enlisted at Huntingdon on 7th December 1914. He was killed in action on Tuesday, 5th September 1916, aged 20 years, and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. [Also on Ramsey St. Marys memorial] Formerly 1077 Hunts. Cyclist Bn.
SWALES, George – Private – 19479, ‘C’ Coy, 8th Bn. Bedfordshire Regt.
From Ramsey St. Marys, son of Samuel & Susan SWALES, joined the Army in February 1915 and went to the Front in August of the same year. During a fierce onslaught by the Germans on Sunday, 19th December 1915, he was struck by shrapnel and killed instantly, aged 23 years, and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium - Panel 33. He had been a regular teacher at the Ramsey St. Marys Church Sunday School. [Also on Ramsey St. Marys memorial]
January 1914 - 8th Beds., Native of Ramsey St. Marys, brother of Mrs C. A. Brown and Mrs. E. Scott, Farcet. [Killed.]
Notes on soldier.
John SERJEANT, Captain, 130430 - served with the Royal Norfolk Regt, attd. 1st Bn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). He was the youngest son of Winifred Louisa Dumella (nee BATEMAN) and the late Frederick Mawdesley SERJEANT of Biggin Lane, Ramsey, was killed in action in Burma on Wednesday, 24th May 1944, aged 29 years, and his grave is in the Taukkyan War Cemetery, Myanmar (Burma). Educated at Wellingborough School, Northants, in 1938 he qualified as a solicitor and for a time practised at Ipswich, and he was due to join his brother, Mr. Frederick Robert Mawdesley SERJEANT, in the family firm of SERJEANT & Son (Solicitors) at Ramsey, on the day he was demobilized. Captain SERJEANT was with the Royal Norfolk Regt. attached to the Cameronians at the time of his death, having served overseas since April 1942. His brother Major James SERJEANT was serving in Italy. He is remembered on the Ramsey War Memorial.
Geoffrey SHEPPERSON, Cadet/Apprentice on the S.S. CLARISSA RATCLIFFE (London), Merchant Navy. He was the second son of Jack & Kate (nee GREENWOOD) SHEPPERSON of Royston, School Lane, Ramsey, was educated at Ramsey Grammar School and later at The Kings School, Peterborough. When he was seventeen years old, he joined the Merchant Navy and was a member of the crew of the 28-year-old S.S. CLARISSA RATCLIFFE, a merchant ship belonging to the Evans Thomas Ratcliffe Company. In March 1943, one month before his eighteenth birthday, and on his second trip across the Atlantic, the S.S. CLARISSA RATCLIFFE, carrying a load of iron ore and a crew of 41 with 10 gunners, was torpedoed and sunk off Nova Scotia by a German submarine, the U.663 – there were no survivors. On it’s return journey to Breast, the U.663 was sunk in the Bay of Biscay. He died on Tuesday, 9th March 1943, aged 17 years, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, which stands on the south side of the garden in Trinity Square, close to the Tower of London, London. His brother was a physical training instructor with the R.A.F. [Also on Ramsey Grammar School memorial & the Kings School memorial in Peterborough Cathedral] He is remembered on the Ramsey War Memorial.
Geoffrey SHEPPERSON, M. N. His name was inscribed on the original Wooden tablet in Sports Pavilion on Playing Field at Ramsey Grammar School. This memorial tablet is now located in the main Abbey building. This Pavilion was given to the School by Old Grammarians in proud and lasting memory of the fifteen Old Boys who lost their lives in World War II.
Ellis SMITH, Trooper, 5833115 served in the 7th. Queen’s Own Hussars, Royal Armoured Corps. He was the second son of Harry & Emma SMITH of Middlemoor, Ramsey St. Mary’s, died of wounds in the Middle East on Tuesday, 4th August 1942, aged 29 years, and his grave is in the Kirkee (also known as the Khadki) War Cemetery, near Poona, India. He had also been wounded in Libya the previous March. Mr. & Mrs. SMITH had two other sons. He is remembered on the Ramsey War Memorial.
Leslie John SMITH, Private/Gunner 14506530 served with the 7 Medium Regt. Royal Artillery, B.L.A. He was the son of John Alfred & Mabel Gladys SMITH of Ramsey Hollow, died of wounds in a hospital somewhere on the Western European Front on Saturday, 10th March 1945, aged 20 years, and was buried in the Venray War Cemetery, Netherlands. He was called up on 7th January 1943, and landed in France two days after ‘D-Day’ (8th June 1944), and died shortly after spending eight days leave at home. The town of Venray had been liberated by Allied troups in October 1944. [Not on Ramsey memorial] He is remembered on the Ramsey War Memorial.
Ronald Arthur SMITH, Stoker, 1st Class R/KX.112207 served on H.M.S. TONBRIDGE, Royal Navy. He was of Ramsey, son of John Henry & Mary Ann SMITH of 32 Needingworth Road, St. Ives, formerly employed by the Co-op Society, was killed while on duty on Friday, 22nd August 1941, aged 21 years, and is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire. [In memoriam – from all at 8 Field Terrace, Ramsey] [In memoriam – from his aunt & family, Bury Road, Ramsey] [Not on Ramsey memorial; on St. Ives memorial] He is remembered on the Ramsey War Memorial.
Ernest Allen SNEESBY, Private, 5828753 served in the 1st Bn. Cambridgeshire Regt, Suffolk Regt. He was the son of James & Annie SNEESBY of Four Hundred Drove, Ramsey Fortyfoot, was killed in action on Saturday, 14th February 1942, aged 23 years, and is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial, which stands in the Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore. [Not on Ramsey memorial; on Benwick memorial] He is remembered on the Ramsey War Memorial.
Raymond SPENCER, Private, 7758690 served in the the 1st Field Remount Depot, Royal Army Veterinary Corps. He was the youngest son of Walter & Florence SPENCER of Factory Bank, Ramsey, died from internal injuries, sustained by being thrown from his horse, shortly after being admitted to hospital on Thursday, 14th October 1943, aged 21 years, and his grave is in the Beirut War Cemetery, the Lebanese Republic. He joined the Royal Army Veterinary Corps on Thursday, 12th March 1942, and was serving in the Middle East. He is remembered on the Ramsey War Memorial.
Victor George SPENCER, Able Seaman P/JX.523942 served on H.M.S. VICTORY, Royal Navy. He died on Saturday, 15th December 1945, aged 20 years, and was buried in Ramsey cemetery. He is remembered on the Ramsey War Memorial.
