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| Regiment/Service: |
1st Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
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| Date Of Birth: |
07/06/1893
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| Died: |
01/07/1916 (Killed in Action) |
| Age: |
23 |
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| John Ramsay was the only son of John and Annie Ramsay. John was born in the Shankhill area of Belfast in 1893. John’s father died when he was very young. He lived in Belfast all his life. John enlisted in Belfast in August 1914 with the 6th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. He landed at Suvla Bay on 7th August 1915, and was wounded and subsequently invalided home. Thereafter, he joined the 3rd Inniskillings at Clonmany. Corporal John Ramsay transferred to the 1st Battalion and the Western Front. Corporal John Ramsay was reported missing on 1st July 1916, later listed as killed in action. It seems unlikely Corporal John Ramsay lived in the Cookstown area at any time. |
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| John Ramsay was the only son of John and Annie Ramsay. John Ramsay and Annie Storey were married on 24th August 1888 in Belfast.
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| John was born in Shankhill, Belfast on 7th June 1893. He was the youngest of three children.
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| Family: John Ramsay, Annie Ramsay, Ruth Anna Ramsay (born 27th August 1889), Georgina Ramsay (born 21st January 1891), John Ramsay (born 7th June 1893).
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| His father died when he was very young (before 1901). There was a John Ramsay who died in Belfast on 25th December 1896, aged 45.
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| The 1901 census lists the family living in Genoa Street, Saint Anne's Ward Belfast. John was seven years old. His mother was a widow
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| The 1911 census lists the family living in Belgravia Street, Belfast. John was seventeen years old and working as a clerk.
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| John was the nephew of Mr George Ramsay (National School Teacher), Mountain View, Cookstown, County Tyrone. George Ramsay was at this time the President of the National School Teachers’ Association.
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| John enlisted in Belfast in August 1914 with the 6th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
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| He landed at Suvla Bay on 7th August 1915, and after being in action eight hours, was wounded in the thigh.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 28th August 1915: Corporal John Ramsay
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| Word has just arrived that Corporal John Ramsay, 6th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, has been wounded at the Dardanelles. The casualty took place at the late landing in Suvla Bay. He is at present in hospital in Aberdeen. Corporal Ramsay, of 22 Wilmot Terrace, Lisburn Road, Belfast (an only son of a widowed mother, and nephew of Mr George Ramsay, Mountain View, Cookstown), enlisted at the outbreak of the war in the 6th Inniskillings. He was in the employment of Messrs John Thompson and Sons, Belfast, and he receives half pay from that firm while he is in the army. He and the men of C Company speak very highly of their officer, Captain Crothers, who is greatly appreciated and loved by the men.
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| Invalided home, he remained some short time in hospital, thereafter joining the 3rd Inniskillings at Clonmany.
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| A draft of this company was about to set off for the Near East; he volunteered for service, was accepted, and sailed again for eastern waters on 17th November 1915.
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| As part of 87th Brigade, 29th Division, the 1st Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers were given the task of capturing German-held positions between the village of Beaumont Hamel and the Ancre River as part of the ‘Big Push’ on July 1st 1916. The frontage of the advance was 2,000 yards on the morning of July 1st and 10 minutes before the advance, a mine containing 40,000 pounds of Ammonal was exploded at Hawthorn Redoubt, in front of the enemy positions. It was hoped that the brigades in advance in this sector would consolidate at the crater, but the Germans took advantage of the 10 minute delay between the explosion and the infantry advance, and the oncoming troops were cut down by rifle and machine gun fire.
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| At roll call, the casualties of the 1st Battalion were high, 4 officers killed (including Lieutenant Colonel Robert Campbell Pierce). Total casualties amounted to 549, over half the strength of the battalion. The published figure in the aftermath of the war is 228 other ranks of 1st Battalion Inniskillings killed on 1st July 1916.
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| Corporal John Ramsay was reported missing on 1st July 1916, later listed as killed in action.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 26th August 1916:
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| Official intimation has been received that Corporal John Ramsay, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, is wounded and missing since 1st July. He is a nephew of Mr George Ramsay, N.T., Mountain View, Cookstown. His mother, who resides in Belfast, has endeavoured to obtain further information regarding him without success. It is hoped that he may be a prisoner of war.
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| Corporal Ramsay has no known grave and is commemorated on panels 4D - 5B on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
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| The CWGC record Corporal John Ramsay as the son of Annie Ramsay, of 22 Wilmont Terrace, Lisburn Rd., Belfast, and the late John Ramsay. It also records that he enlisted in August 1914 and also served at Gallipoli and was wounded.
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| It seems unlikely Corporal John Ramsay lived in the Cookstown area at any time.
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