SHANKS, Ronald Ernest


No.26111, Private, Ronald Ernest SHANKS
Aged 23


7th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
formerly 26304, Bedfordshire Regiment
Killed in Action on Friday, 15th June 1917


Ronald Ernest Shanks was born in Withersfield (Risbridge Q3-1893 4A:701), baptised in St Mary's Withersfield on 3rd June 1894, son of Fuller and Ellen SHANKS (née HEARN).

1901 census...Aged 7, he was at Lilley Cottage, Withersfield with his father Fuller SHANKS [42] carpenter; his mother Ellen M [42] born Balsham; brothers Joseph [16] a baker, Charles [11], Fuller [10], Marcus [4] and Hilary [2]; sisters Ellen [14] and Bertha [13]. All except his mother were born in Withersfield.

1911 census...Aged 17, a farm labourer, he was still at Lilley Cottage with his parents, brothers Joseph (baker); Charles, Fuller, Marcus (all farm labourers) and Hillary. All nine siblings survive.




He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds.
Oostaverne is south of Sint Elooi on the N336. The battalion war diary :-
" Oostaverne Wood - 15th - Orders received for relief by 10th R.WARWICK R on night 15th/16th. Further working parties on the same trenches ordered for the night. These parties absorbed the whole battalion, less 3 platoons. From 9:0 am to 3:pm the situation was quiet with intermittent shelling on the front line. At 6 pm enemy opened a heavy barrage on the right which continued until 9 pm. Message received at 7 pm that Div on left had been counter-attacked but that situation had quietened down.
10:30 pm 10th R WAR.R. arrived. Enemy shelled OOSTAVERNE WOOD an area in vicinity. Relief complete by 11:30 pm but battalion was not clear of the trenches owing to working parties until 2 am. On relief, Bn marched back to DE ZON CAMP-",


CWGC figures put the deaths at 16, with only 2 men with known graves.



photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission



Ronald Shanks is commemorated on the Menin Gate, Ypres panels 41 and 43

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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