|
|
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site you agree to accept cookies.
If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation.
Site Home
Help & FAQs
Features
Submissions
Information
Advertisements
World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment
Capt. Harry Sherwood Ranken VC
British Army Royal Army Medical Corps
from:Irvine, Ayrshire
(d.25th Sep 1914)
Harry Rankin died of wounds on the 25th of September 1914 and is buried in Braine Communal Cemetery in France. He was awarded the Chevalier of the Legion of Honour (France), for gallant conduct during the operations from 21st to 30th August 1914. Harry was the son of the Rev. Henry Ranken and Helen Morton Ranken, of The Manse, Irvine, Ayrshire. Native of Glasgow.
An extract from The London Gazette, No. 28976, dated 13th Nov., 1914, records the following: "For tending wounded in the trenches under rifle and shrapnel fire at Hautevesnes on 19th September and on 20th September continuing to attend to wounded after his thigh and leg had been shattered. (He has since died of wounds.)"
Pte Samuel Rankin
British Army 13th (1st County Down) Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
Rflmn. Thomas Henry Rankin
British Army 11th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles
from:Antrim
Spr. Robert Rankine
British Army 54th Field Company Royal Engineers
from:Edinburgh
My Grandfather, Robert Rankine, enlisted in the Royal Engineers in 1913. He was unaware at that time that his sweetheart Agnes was pregnant with my father who was born in June 1914. Robert landed in France on 5th October 1914. I cannot begin to imagine what horrors he and his comrades experienced and witnessed but he was invalided out through Dykebar on 21st March 1918. He was said to have dementia praecox. He married Agnes on 4th April 1918: sadly she died in February 1919 of Spanish 'flu.
On 6th October 1919 Robert enlisted in the The King's Own Scottish Borderers where he served for 4 years and 96 days. He was invalided out in February 1923 with dementia praecox and malaria (from 2+ years in India).
Robert went on to enlist in the Merchant Navy but was discharged in 1936. He enlisted again in October 1939 when he joined the Duke of Wellington's regiment. He was immediately transferred to the Pioneer Corps. In June 1940 he was evacuated from St Nazaire. His ship picked up survivors from the stricken Lancastria. In May 1941 he was discharged as unfit for service suffering from paraphrenia. From 1941 - 1943 he passed through various institutions and ended up in Roslynlee, which was then an asylum. This was in July 1943. He died there on 24th November 1966.
A sad, sad story which I'm sure is repeated many times in your records.
Sgt. Charles Henry Rann
British Army 2nd Btn., D Coy. Rifle Brigade
from:Winchester
(d.28th July 1917)
Pte. Louis Frederick Rann
British Army 2nd Btn. Royal Warkwickshire Regiment
from:Birmingham
(d.17th May 1915)
Pte. John Rannigan
British Army 1/5th Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers
from:Jarrow
(d.15th Nov 1916)
John Rannigan served in the 1/5th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers and died aged 24 on the 15th November 1916. He is remembered at St. Paul's Church and is buried in Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension. His medal card shows the award of the War and Victory Medals and that he died from his wounds.
John was born in Jarrow 1892, son of John and Mary Rannigan. He was married to Elizabeth Welsh formerly Rannigan nee Little, 109 Western Road, Jarrow. In the 1911 census the family is living at 58 Old Church, Jarrow with the father John (49) a labourer at Chemical Works and his wife of 36 years Mary(47). They had 12 children of whom 9 survived and 7 are living at this address. John (19) is the second of 4 sons. He and the eldest, Thomas (26)are also labourers in the Chemical Works. The other 2 boys Hughie (13) and William (7) are both attending school. The three daughters are Ellen(30), Margaret(21) and Catherine 10.
Pte. George John Ransom
British Army 2nd Battalion Leinster Regiment
from:Sheffield
(d.10th Aug 1917)
Pte George John Ransom
British Army 2nd Battalion Leinster Regiment
from:Sheffield
(d.10th August 1917)
Pte William Ransom
British Army 5th Btn. Durham Light Infantry
from:38 Wren St, Stockton on Tees
(d.1st May 1915)
William Ransom is buried in his home town.
Pte John Henry Ranson
British Army 9th Btn Scottish Rifles
(d.25th October 1918)
Pte. Arthur Joseph Rant
British Army 7th Btn. Leicestershire Regiment
(d.15th May 1918)
My uncle was Arthur Joseph Rant. At 15 years old he joined the Norfolk Regiment and was sent to France. His mother had him released as he was well under age. At eighteen he was consripted and joined the 7th Battalion Leicesters and was with them on the 14th/15th May 1918 in front line trenches when the Germans attacked across the Chemin des Dames roar that night. He was reported killed in action along with 19 officers and 503 other ranks of that battalion out of a total of 570 officers and men. He was 19 years of age. I have visited the area near Reims twice trying to find the exact trench line without any luck. Any information would be welcome
Pte. George Potts Rantoul
British Army 22nd Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers
from:Wallsend
My Grandfather George Rantoul, was a Private with the 22nd Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers (Tyneside Scottish). His grandfather was Scottish. When the 22nd was so depleted (down to cadre strength) he was transferred to the Royal Engineers and finished of the rest of the war as a Sapper.
Pte. S. J. Raper
British West Indies Regiment
(d.3rd February 1919)
Private Raper is buried in the St. James Parish Cemetery, Holetown, Barbados
Pte. Henry Wellington Rasche
British Army 10th Btn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
(d.9th Apr 1917)
Fireman Abdur Rashid
Royal Indian Marine
(d.26 Nov 1916)
Rashid Abdur served in Remembered at . WW1
Seacunny Abdur Rashid
Royal Indian Marine
(d.7 Apr 1918)
Abdur Rashid served in Remembered at . WW1
Maj Philip Rashleigh DSO
British Army 110th Siege Bty Royal Garrison Artillery
from:Cornwall England
The first Officer Commanding the 110th Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery in WW1 was Major Philip Rashleigh. On 22nd of July 1916 during the Battle of the Somme, Major Rashleigh was wounded by an enemy shell when he was near the battery's observation post.
Gnr. Thomas Rason
British Army Royal Field Artillery
from:London
Thomas Rason served with the Royal Field Artillery in 15th Brigade, 5th Division.
Pte Frank Rastall
British Army 1/8th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment
from:Broadway, Worcestershire
(d.19 Oct 1918)
Frank Rastall was the youngest son of Elisha and Harriett Rastall, born in Broadway in 1890.
Lt. A. Victor Ratcliffe
British Army 10th Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment
(d.1st July 1916)
Victor Ratcliffe was killed in action Battle of the Somme. He was a close friend of Rupert Brooke and a poet in his own right.
Pte. Alfred Ratcliffe
British Army 1/5th Btn. Durham Light Infantry
from:Burnley, Lancashire
(d.14th Oct 1918)
Alfred Ratcliffe served with the 1/5th Battalion Durham Light Infantry and 151st Trench Mortar Battery. He died as a Prisoner of War on the 14th October 1918, aged 19. He is buried in the Niederzwehren Cemetery in Germany. He was the son of Mrs. M. Ratcliffe, of 22, Aqueduct St., Burnley, Lancashire.
Pte. Alfred Ratcliffe
British Army 1/5th Btn. Durham Light Infantry
from:Burnley, Lancashire
(d.14th Oct 1918)
Alfred Ratcliffe died as a Prisoner of War on 14th October 1918, aged 19. Buried in the Niederzwehren Cemetery in Germany, he was the son of Mrs. M. Ratcliffe, of 22, Aqueduct St., Burnley, Lancashire.
Pte. Ellis Ratcliffe
British Army 18th Btn. Durham Light Infantry
from:Stockport
(d.12th Apr 1918)
This gentleman would have been my great uncle. In Memory of Private Ellis Ratcliffe 81525, 18th Bn., Durham Light Infantry who died age 18 on 12 April 1918. Son of Ellis and Mary Jane Ratcliffe, of 52, Travis St., Stockport. Remembered with honour on the Ploegsteert Memorial.
Information from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission:- Ellis joined up, probably in 1916, under age for overseas service and was assigned to the Lancashire Fusiliers. Service number 51023. Later in the war, at the age of 18 he was transferred to the Durham light Infantry as a replacement for casualties.
On 9 April 1918 the Germans opened the second phase of their spring offensive, known as the Battle of Lys. Ellis was not in action that day. It is thought that he may have been part of 50 new reserves that arrived on 7 Apr 1918. Overnight on the 10/11th the Battalion took up positions at Outtersteene, 5 km SW of Bailleul with orders to attack at 7pm. The start of the attack was delayed 30 mins then 'C' company led the way, with the other 3 companies a little way behind. the first and second objectives were captured and consolidation began to take place. Only 'D' company, on the left, had been severely troubled by an enemy machine gun on their flank.
At 7.30am on the following day all companies reported the enemy massing in front for an attack. This attack was delivered to the battalion next to them - the 13th York and Lancaster, who were forced to retire. This left the Durhams exposed and after 15 mins they were also forced back. The Battalion had suffered 270 casualties - dead, wounded or missing. The Commanding Officer rallied the men into defensive positions with orders to hold at all costs. At this point they were accidentally shelled by the British Artillery, suffering many casualties. 'D' company was reduced from almost 250 to less than 20 men. 'B' company had a similar small number and another retreat was inevitable. They pulled back to a line astride the railway, south of Outtersteene where they held out for an hour before being forced to retreat further. A further significant retreat was ordered for the whole Brigade to a point near Bailleul. It was at some time during the above action that Ellis was killed and his body probably buried by German troops in a quieter period.
Sgt.Maj. Ellis Ratcliffe DCM, CdeG.
British Army 138th Field Ambulance Royal Army Medical Corps
from:Keighley
My Great Uncle, Ellis Ratcliffe, joined the RAMC and was promoted to Sgt Major with the 138th Field Ambulance. He served on the front line commanding the stretcher bearers and he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for directing the recovery of the wounded under continuous heavy enemy fire. This appeared in the Gazette in September 1918 and he was also awarded the Croix de Guerre but I have no details.
I am told that he insisted upon riding a white horse so that he could be clearly seen by his stretcher bearers. Surprisingly, he was never wounded and he returned at the end of the war to pursue a successful career in local education.
Pte. Francis Ratcliffe
British Army 893rd Mechanical Transport Company Royal Army Service Corps.
from:Preston, Lancs.
(d.4th Jan 1918)
Francis Ratcliffe was accidentally killed on 4th January 1918, aged 20 and is buried in the Rocquigny-Equancourt British Cemetery in France. He was the son of Charles and Elizabeth Ratcliffe, of 20 Glover St., Preston, Lancs. Native of Burnley
Pte. James Ellis Ratcliffe
British Army 2/7 Btn. (Leeds Rifles) West Yorkshire Regiment
from:8 Institution Row, Woodhouse, Leeds
(d.28th Nov 1917)
James Ellis Ratcliffe was the uncle of my wife's aunt. He was born in the Woodhouse area of Leeds in 1887, one of seven children of John Ratcliffe and Jane Ratcliffe, née Marshall, three of whom served in WW1. He worked as a warehouse packer before joining the army during the war. He was killed in action at Bourlon Wood, France on 28th November 1917. James has no known grave, but is remembered on Panel 5 of the Cambrai Memorial at Louverval, Departement du Nord, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France.
His brothers George, Army Service Corps, and Ernest, Royal Garrison Artillery, both survived the war. His niece, our Auntie Marjorie was born in 1918 and never knew her uncle James, but has clear memories of her uncles George and Ernest. She is now nearly 96, and, along with her sister Dorothy (my late mother-in-law) served in the Wrens in WW2.
Pte. John Ratcliffe
British Army 75th Coy Machine Gun Corps
from:Cheshire
(d.8th Sep 1917)
John Ratcliffe died in France of gunshot wound to the head after 3 days. He was 27 years old, leaving a wife and unborn baby, Doris.
Pte Percy Ratcliffe
British Army 1st Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment
(d.25th April 1918)
Percy Ratcliffe served with 1st Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment. He was born in Ballingdon, Suffolk. I am researching the lost of my neighbourhood
Lt. Victor Ratcliffe
British Army 10th Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)
(d.1st July 1916)
Lt. Victor Ratcliffe was killed in action during the Battle of the Somme. He is buried at Fricourt New Military Cemetery.
Page 5 of 51
Can you help us to add to our records?
The names and stories on this website have been submitted by their relatives and friends. If your relations are not listed please add their names so that others can read about them
Did your relative live through the Great War? Do you have any photos, newspaper clippings, postcards or letters from that period? Have you researched the names on your local or war memorial?
If so please let us know.
Do you know the location of a Great War "Roll of Honour?"We are very keen to track down these often forgotten documents and obtain photographs and transcriptions of the names recorded so that they will be available for all to remember.
Help us to build a database of information on those who served both at home and abroad so that future generations may learn of their sacrifice.
Celebrate your own Family History
Celebrate by honouring members of your family who served in the Great War both in the forces and at home. We love to hear about the soldiers, but also remember the many who served in support roles, nurses, doctors, land army, muntions workers etc.
Please use our Family History resources to find out more about your relatives. Then please send in a short article, with a photo if possible, so that they can be remembered on these pages.
The free section of The Wartime Memories Project is run by volunteers.
This website is paid for out of our own pockets, library subscriptions and from donations made by visitors. The popularity of the site means that it is far exceeding available resources and we currently have a huge backlog of submissions.
If you are enjoying the site, please consider making a donation, however small to help with the costs of keeping the site running.
Hosted by:
The Wartime Memories Project Website
is archived for preservation by the British Library
Copyright MCMXCIX - MMXXIV
- All Rights Reserved -We do not permit the use of any content from this website for the training of LLMs or for use in Generative AI, it also may not be scraped for the purpose of creating other websites.
