RANSOME, John


No.3/8390, Private, John RANSOME
Aged 23


Depot, Suffolk Regiment
Died of Illness on Wednesday, 12th May 1919
CWGC has 1920


Born in 1896 ( 2nd qtr Bury St.Edmunds 4a:804) son of Edward and Mary Ann RANSOME (née COE)

1901 census...Aged 5 he was at Out Westgate, 7 Albert's Row with his parents; sisters Julia, Alice and Annie [9]; brothers Frederick (farm labourer), Thomas (George)[11] and Arthur [2].

1911 census...Not yet found, he enlisted in Suffolk Regt in November 1911 having added to his age ( he also lied to the Germans, adding 3 years) ..Brother George was a private in the 2nd Bedfordshire Regiment in St.Georges. Bermuda. At 28 Church Walk, Bury St.Edmunds were his parents; sister Annie; brothers Arthur and Harry[9]. All 10 of his mother's children survive.

His brother Arthur Edward RANSOME 6454931 (Saddler) Royal Fusiliers died of disease in 1922. Not recorded by CWGC as this was after the permitted date (31st August 1921).
His brother George died of wounds in 1918 see here


He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds on 27th November 1911 in 3rd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. He gave his age as 17 years 9 months, born Bury St.Edmunds, a farm labourer, 5 feet 4.25 inches tall, weighing 113 lbs, chest 31.5 to 33.5 inches, bow legged.
On 4th November 1912 he was rejected for the line due to anaemia. Arriving in France on 2nd September he was in and out of Field Ambulances,and hospital with fevers and sore throat until being admitted to 9 General Hospital, Rouen he was diagnosed with tonsillitis and evacuated per HMHS Asturias to UK on 15th December 1914. There is much confusion of dates o his record regarding his medical condition. He does however seem to have n]been posted to the 1st battalion in April 1914.The one page that would have answered many questions (such as his repatriation date) is too badly damaged to read. He was posted to 2nd Suffolks on 8th August 1914, He was in France by 2nd September 1914. Not having a clasp to his 1914 Star it seems no one claimed it.
German records have his date of birth as 16 March 1893. He was captured on 8th May 1915 at Ypres with wounds to his right side and left shoulder and taken to hospital in Cologne. Apparently at some time he was interned on Switzerland and was repatriated and arrived London at some time prior to 9th December 1918. This strange guessing at dates does not help, but he was definitely discharged with TB on 23rd December 1918 from Suffolks Depot. Again his date of death varies, CWGC has 12th May 1920, his Award Sheet on discharge has been annotated "man died 15th May 1919". His death was registered in Bury St.Edmunds as 2nd qtr 1919




John Ransome is buried in Bury St.Edmunds Cemetery compartment 34 grave 70A

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


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