Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
ff
Updates for Sergeant Robert Ramsey
Date Information
20/05/2020 01432
07/07/2016
08/03/2016 Robert was back with his unit in time for the Battle of the Somme and took part in the attack of 1st July. The Battalion had been decimated and was withdrawn for reorganisation. A few days later it was moved to the Messines area of Belgium, and it was here, close to Ration Farm Cemetery, on the evening of 22nd August 1916, that he wrote his last letter home.
08/03/2016 Robert Ramsey was born on 7th August 1895 in Kilrea, County Antrim. He was one of five children.
08/03/2016 Family: Daniel Ramsey, Ellen Ramsey, Thomas Ramsey (born 7th May 1894), Robert Ramsey (born 7th August 1895), Mary Ramsey (born 7th April 1897), Daniel Ramsey (born 2nd December 1901), James William Ramsey (born 24th April 1904).
08/03/2016 The 1901 census lists James as age 5 living with the family at house 5 in Culmore, Killoquin Lower, County Antrim. Daniel Ramsey was a coachman to Captain Armstrong of Culmore.
08/03/2016 The 1911 census lists James as age 15 living with the family at house 11 in Culmore, Killoquin. Robert had left school and was working as a telegraph messenger.
08/03/2016 Robert was a member of Ballymaconnelly L.O.L. 360.
08/03/2016 Prior to the war, Robert worked in the linen trade and was a linen lapper at W Clarke’s of Upperlands. He is listed on their WW1 Roll of Honour.
08/03/2016 Robert Ramsey enlisted in Ballymoney in September 1914.
08/03/2016 He went to Clandeboye Camp for initial training. He wrote to his father and mother at least twice a week. By mid October had already been promoted to Lance Corporal and in a letter home says he won’t be content until he gets the other two stripes.
08/03/2016 On being promoted to Lance Corporal, Robert was warned by his superior officers to keep his former mates at a distance and not to associate with them as closely as previously, but his answer to them was that they had always been his pals and nothing was going to change that, not even three stripes.
08/03/2016 By early summer 1915, they were at South Camp at Seaford, on the Sussex coast. It was here that he was made Orderly Sergeant. The extra work meant that during his time at Seaford he was only out of camp on three occasions. Once to London, and twice to Newhaven. From here they were moved in August to Borden Camp in Hants, and by September the weather had turned very wet.
08/03/2016 Robert Ramsey was the second eldest son of Daniel and Ellen Ramsey. Daniel Ramsey married Ellen McMullan on 24th April 1894 in the district of Ballymoney.
08/03/2016 By early June he was again at 4th Army Infantry Training School, for more instruction.
08/03/2016 Sergeant Robert Ramsey was serving with the 12th Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles when he was killed in action at 10:30 on the morning of Wednesday 23rd August 1916.
08/03/2016 Sergeant Robert Ramsey had just fired five rounds and inadvertently stood up straight to reload his rifle when he was hit in the head. A sniper had been waiting for just such a chance. He had been on trench duty and was himself watching for snipers.
08/03/2016 Sergeant Ramsey is buried in Ration Farm Cemetery, (La Plus Douve Annexe). Ration Farm is located ten kilometres south of Ypres in Belgium.
08/03/2016 Robert Rankin is commemorated in Rasharkin Parish Church (Church of Ireland).
08/03/2016 The CWGC record Sergeant Robert Ramsey as the son of Daniel and Ellen Ramsey of Culmore, Rasharkin, County Antrim.
08/03/2016
08/03/2016
08/03/2016 Last Will and Testament of Sergeant Robert Ramsey dated 20th July 1916:
08/03/2016
08/03/2016 In the event of my death, I give the whole of my property and effects to my mother, Mrs Ellen Ramsey, Culmore, Kilrea, County Derry, Ireland. Robert Ramsey. Sgt 18672. 12th Royal Irish Rifles
08/03/2016 In January 1916, he is sent to Army Training School for four weeks, but after returning to his unit the weather deteriorates and conditions in the trenches of rain, snow, frost and mud are atrocious.
Read more