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George Samuel Ramsdale was born on 17 November 1859 at 2 Court, Great Russell Street, Birmingham, in the parish of St. George. George had various occupations: wire drawer (1886 and 1887 at Back 34, Hingeston Street); wire drawer journeyman (1889 at 2 Great Western Terrace, Icknield Street, 1891 and 1897 at 215 Icknield Street, Birmingham and 1899 ?), newsvendor (1921 and 1938), tram car guard (?), journeyman (1899) and shopkeeper (1895 at 215 Icknield St.)
On 26 April 1886 George married Mary Ann Horton in the Parish church, Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire, His residence at time of marriage was Park Road, Soho, Birmingham.
Mary Ann was born on 28 July 1860 at Myring Place, Sutton Coldfield and was baptised on 19 August 1860 also at Myring Place, Sutton Coldfield, (daughter of William Horton and Caroline Perks).
Mary Ann died on 14th June 1899 in the General Hospital, St. George, Birmingham. Her death certificate records her cause of death as (1) ulcer of leg, (2) pyaemia and (3) exhaustion. A post mortem was carried out. Her address at time of death was Back 218, Park Road, Birmingham. Pyaemia is a type of septicaemia that leads to widespread abscesses of a metastatic nature. It is usually caused by the staphylococcus bacteria by pus-forming organisms in the blood. Apart from the distinctive abscesses, pyaemia exhibits the same symptoms as other forms of septicaemia and was almost universally fatal before the introduction of antibiotics.
Their children were
- George Frederick Ramsdale was born in 1887 in Hockley, Birmingham and married Fanny Pullen in Birmingham in 1916. Fanny and George died in Birmingham, respectively, in 1936 and 1942
- Caroline Emily (Sissie) Ramsdale was born in 1889 in Hockley, Birmingham and married Emmanuel Dyson in West Bromwich in 1924
- Charles Samuel Ramsdale was born on 17th July 1891 in Hockley, Birmingham and married Millicent Anne Ashbolt in West Bromwich in 1917. Charles died in Solihull in 1972 and Millicent died in Solihull South in 1980
- William James Ramsdale was born on 21st September 1893 in Hockley, Birmingham and married Elsie MASON in Birmingham on 31st July 1921. Elsie died in Birmingham on 15 May 1975 and William died in Birmingham on 16th January 1982
- Sidney Joseph Ramsdale was born in 1897 in Hockley, Birmingham and married Dorothy M. D. Wyatt in West Bromwich in 1924. Sidney died in Birmingham on 19th November 1967
George died on 23 August 1938 at 81 Alexander Road, Soho, Birmingham. Cause of death was certified as (1) coronary thrombosis, and (2) arterio sclerosis. George was described as a "retired newsvendor" on his death certificate.
William, when residing at 3 Back 118 Park Road, Hockley, Birmingham, was indentured as a Letterpress Machineman to J G Hammond and Company Limited, Printers and Publishers, of 12 to 16 Scotland Passage and 139 Moor Street, Birmingham on 24 October 1910 at the following rates of pay: from date of indenture to the age of 17 years 8 shillings a week from the age of 17 to the age of 18 9 shillings a week from the age of 18 to the age of 19 11 shillings a week from the age of 19 to the age of 20 13 shillings a week from the age of 20 to the age of 21 15 shillings a week The Deed of Indenture is endorsed with the signatures of William James and his father George Samuel Ramsdale, and "As we understand William James Ramsdale is about to enlist in the army we agree to cancel the remaining portion of his indenture. August 31st, 1914."
William's trade before enlistment is described on the Certificate as "Printer (Letterpress)" being also confirmed in the "Certificate of Transfer to Reserve Z on Demobilization" (Army Form Z 21) which describes his Medical Category as "B11".
William enlisted (#4573, regimental number 94210) in the Sixth [Service] Battalion of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry on 29 August 1914 and served in that regiment until 19 May 1916 when he was transferred to the 10th (Light) Royal Berkshire Regiment.
On 13 May 1917 he was transferred to the 158th Labour Corps. Source - "Certificate of Employment During the War" (Army Form Z 18) completed by Lieutenant L V Wilson whose "Special Remarks" read as follows:
"During the whole time this NCO has been with this Company he has given the entire satisfaction as a Sergeant."
William arrived in France on 21 May 1915 and was eventually assigned to Class Z Reserve on 26 March 1919 (most fit soldiers were transferred to this category) - Serial # ZR 47/R/99. He was wounded twice and decorated three times.
1914-15 Star
Private
15ST Roll LC/32C Page R/41/1Victory Medal
Sergeant
BWM.VIC. Roll LC/101 B57 Page 5762British War Medal
Sergeant
BWM.VIC. Roll LC/101 B57 Page 5762
The 1914-1915 Star was sanctioned in December 1918, and was nearly identical in design to the 1914 Star. It was awarded to all personnel who served in any theatre of war against the enemy, even those who served at sea, between 5 August 1914 and 31 December 1915. Those already in possession of the 1914 Star were not eligible for the 1914-1915 Star. This medal is always issued with the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
The Inter-Allied Victory Medal was agreed to by all the allies in March 1919. All medals were to be almost identical to obviate the need to exchange allied medals and each was patterned after a French medal of 1870. The medal was authorised in Britain on 1 September 1919. The medal was awarded to all ranks of the fighting forces, to civilians under contract and others employed in military hospitals who actually served in the establishment of a unit in a theatre of war between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918 (inclusive). It was also awarded to members of the British Naval mission to Russia 1919 - 1920 and for mine clearance in the North Sea between 11 November 1918 and 30 November 1919. This medal was never issued alone and was always issued with the British War Medal. A multiple-leaved emblem is worn on this medal when it was awarded to those "Mentioned-in-Despatches."
The British War Medal was authorised on 29 July 1919 and awarded to all ranks who rendered service to His Majesty's Forces between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918, or who had served in a theatre of war. Those who had enlisted in the O.M.F.C. in the United Kingdom and had not served in a theatre of war were not entitled to this medal. The requirements for RAF personnel were the same as for the army. Naval personnel were required to have 28 days of mobilised service or to have lost their lives before this period of service was complete.
WW1 medals were not awarded until after the end of the Great War and attributed to the particular regiments in which the decorated soldiers were then serving - in the case of William James Ramsdale, The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry and The Royal Berkshire Regiment.
British Army Daily Rations: 1914 20 ounces fresh or frozen meat or 16 ounces preserved or salt meat 20 ounces bread or 16 ounces biscuit or flour 4 ounces bacon 3 ounces cheese 0.625 ounce tea 4 ounces jam 3 ounces sugar 0.5 ounce salt 0.03 ounce pepper 0.05 ounce mustard 8 ounces fresh or 2 ounces dried vegetables 0.1 gill lime juice if fresh vegetables not issued (at discretion of commanding general) 0.5 gill rum (at discretion of commanding general) not exceeding 2 ounces tobacco per week The following substitutions were permitted if necessary: 4 ounces oatmeal or rice instead of 4 ounces bread or biscuit 0.03 ounce chocolate instead of 0.17 ounce tea 1 pint porter instead of 1 ration spirit 4 ounces dried fruit instead of 4 ounces jam 4 ounces butter, lard or margarine, or 0.5 gill oil, instead of 4 ounces bacon
Iron Ration
[carried in the field]16 ounces preserved meat 12 ounces biscuit 0.625 ounce tea 2 ounces sugar 0.5 ounce salt 3 ounces cheese 1 ounce meat extract (2 cubes)
William married Elsie Mason in St Silas Parish Church, Lozells, Birmingham on 31 July 1921 in the presence of George A (her only brother) and Nellie Mason (her younger twin sister). Elsie Mason was born at 10am on 27 September 1896 at Back 116, Heaton Street, Birmingham. At the time of their marriage William resided at 81 Alexander Road, Handsworth, Birmingham.
On 4 February 1922 the Ministry of Pensions notified William, then residing at 81 Alexander Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, as follows:
- Disability: GSW (gun shot wound) left thigh and knee
- Decision on Entitlement: Nil Disability due to Service
The accompanying letter from the Awards Section of the Ministry of Pensions reads as follows:
"I am directed by the Minister of Pensions to inform you that having considered the report furnished in connection with your recent medical examination, he has decided to award you a Final Weekly Allowance of 8/6 (eight shillings and sixpence) for 69 weeks plus terminal gratuity of £10:0:0 (Ten Pounds) payable only at end of period."
The Character Certificate (Army Form B 2067) dated 17th August 1923 states that WJR's "character during his service with the Colours has been 'Exemplary'" and that William had been transferred to the Reserve on 26 March 1919 "... after having served with the Colours for four years two hundred and nine days."
From December 1924 to 1928 William and Elsie lived at 43 Haseley Road, Handsworth. They had two children: Mabel Elsie Ramsdale, born on 6 December 1924 and Robert William Ramsdale, born on 3 December 1928.
William's occupation in 1928 was "Printer Journeyman".
On 9 November 1940 F J Palmer, director of J.G. Hammond & Company Limited wrote the following reference:
"Mr W J Ramsdale has been employed by this Company for nearly 30 years as a machine minder and we have always found him during the whole of this period a most willing, honest, sober and trustworthy servant. In the ordinary way we should have been pleased to have employed him for many more years but unfortunately enemy action has made this impossible. We have no hesitation in saying in our opinion he will prove as valuable servant to you as he has done to us."
During the second world war William was employed by Thomas Fattorini Limited as a night watchman at its Regent Street Works in Birmingham. The company presented him with a watch commemorating his bravery in saving the Works from fire following a direct hit by a German incendiary bomb. The damage to the railings near the corner of Frederick and Regent Streets was caused by shrapnel during the raid and has been deliberately left unrepaired by the Fattorini family.
Their last home was 46 Sheppey Drive, Chelmsley Wood, West Midlands.
Elsie died in the East Birmingham Hospital, Bordsley Green, Birmingham on 15 May 1975. Her cause of death was (1) bronchopneumonia due to recumbency following fractured left femur, (2) fall at home, (3) accidental death: “Certificate received from G. Billington, Coroner for Birmingham District. Inquest held 19th May 1975.”
Outward clinical symptoms of bronchopneumonia can include fever, coughing, chest pain, chest congestion, chills, difficulty with breathing and blood-streaked mucus that is coughed up. Upon diagnosis, most people will be treated at home with antibiotics. If the patient has a severe case of bronchopneumonia, he or she may be treated in the hospital where the illness can be more closely monitored. With appropriate treatment, most people recover fully within a couple of weeks. Bronchopneumonia is more common in elderly people who can die from bronchopneumonia if they do not get appropriate treatment.
William died in Birmingham on 16 January 1982.
