No.8275, Private, Ralph RANNER
Aged 19
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Ralph Ranner was born in Ashley cum Silverley in 1897, (Newmarket Q2-1897 3B:502) , baptised in Ashley cum Silverley in 1897, son of Thomas Ernest and Mary
Emily RANNER (née HARVEY).
1901 census...Aged 3, he was in Silverley with his father Thomas E RANNER [38] groom, born Ashley; his mother Mary E [31] born Mistley, Essex; sister Gladys E [13] born Cheveley and his twin sister Rose [3] born Silverley and brother Thomas A [6] born Ashley. 1911 census...Aged 13 a page boy, he was in Silverley with his parents, brother Austin (Thomas A), a farm labourer, and sister Rose. |
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He enlisted in Hull. The 108th Company, Machine Gun Corps were part of the 36th (Ulster) Division from 26 January 1916. On the first day of the Somme, the worst day in the history of the British Army, they were attacking from astride the Ancre River towards the Schwaben Redoubt. This was one of the most heavily fortified positions on the German line. When relieved on the 2nd July, the Division had suffered 5104 casualties of who approximately 2069 died. 20 of the dead were from 108 Company, Machine Gun Corps and only 6 of these have an identified grave. |
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