Thomas Ramsell
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 15 may 1887 |
| Place of Birth | Kings Lynn, Norfolk, England |
| Death | 17 Mar 1969, aged 81 |
| Place of Death | North Beach, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 29 years old |
| Description |
5'7" (1.70m) tall ; 140 lbs 63.503 kg ; dark complexion ; blue eyes ; black hair |
| Occupation | Baker |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Armadale, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Mother , Mrs Mary Elizabeth Ramsell |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 2383 |
| Date of Enlistment | 13 Jun 1916 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 43rd Battalion, 4th Reinforcements / 11th Brigade, 3rd Division |
| Date of Embarkation | 30 Oct 1916 ‒ 28 Dec 1916 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A16 Port Melbourne |
| Date of Return | 31 May 1919 ‒ 12 Jul 1919 |
| Ship Returned On | HMAT A60 Aeneas |
| Fate |
Wounded in Action 3 Jul 1917 at Messines Returned to Australia |
| Monument |
Armadale War Memorial (West Armadale panel) Armadale and Districts Roll of Honour |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
A widower with one child when he enlisted.
War Service
On entering camp he was placed in the 73rd Depot Company, and then after a week's basic drill he was allocated to the 7th Reinforcement draft for the 51st Battalion. On 5 Sep 1916 this was changed to 4th reinforcement draft for the 43rd Battalion.
On arrival in Devonport, England Tom was posted to the 11th Training Battalion at Durrington, and on the completion of his training travelled to France on the HMPS Golden Eagle from Folkestone on 25 Feb 1917.
Tom joined the 43rd Battalion on 3 Mar 1917 in the line at Armentiès. Four months later, on the day that he was wounded at Messines, the Unit War Diary reports active enemy artillery, snipers and machine gun fire. Tom received a GSW to the thigh which was treated at the 9th Field Ambulance, the 11th Casualty Clearing Station and he was admitted to the 8th Stationary Hospital in Wimereux on 4 Jul 1917. On 13 Jul 1917 he was embarked for England on the HMHS St Denis from Boulogne.
On arrival in England he was admitted to the Military Hospital in Fulham on 14 Jul 1917, and on 9 Aug 1917 had improved enough to be transferred to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital. Checked out, he was released on furlough from 13 - 27 Aug 1917 before spending time gaining strength in convalescent depots before being sent overseas again on 14 Oct 1917. In France, Tom rejoined his unit on the 23rd at Avroult, west of Armentiès in France, where they were rebuilding after a period in the front line.
In Mar 1918 he enjoyed another furlough in England and in both Jun and Aug 1918 he spent time in hospital due to illness (malaria, arthritis and diarrhoea). Tom remained with his unit other than another leave break in Feb 1919, and a period in 3rd Australian General Hospital from 14 - 29 Apr 1919 with complications from his earlier wound. Evacuated to England on 29 Apr 1919he entered the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital on 30 Apr 1919, and was retained by them until he was returned to Australia on 31 May 1919.
Discharged 5th Military District 2 Sep 1919
..."sailed with the 4th reinforcements of the 34th Battalion on 30 Oct 1916..."[1] This is an error as his battalion was the 43rd.
Post War
Married Lillian Beatrice Eva Fowler in Canning district in 1923. She died 30 Nov 1973 aged 76. Son Keith E Ramsell born 1924, and Barbara I Ramsell born 1932.
Electoral Roll entries - 1923 - 25 a farmer at "Tuney" on Ninth avenue, Armadale; 1931 - 1949 at 213 Loftus street, Balkatta a pastrycook; 1954 retired at Folewood road, Toodyay; 1958 - 1963 at 22 Kitchener street, North Beach; 1968 street number changed to 36 Kitchener street, North Beach, with Lillian still there in 1972.
References
- ↑ "The Drill of the Foot-Hills" (PDF) (1917). Western Australia. Mar 1917. p. 12. Retrieved 16 May 2017 – via State Library of Western Australia.