RAMPLEY, Sidney Ephraim


No.13624, Private, Sidney RAMPLEY
Aged 25


7th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Killed in Action presumed on Friday, 30th November 1917


Sidney Ephraim Rampley was born on 1892 in Thetford (Thetford Q3-1892 4B:387), son of Joseph and Mary RAMPLEY (née RICE).



1901 census...Aged 8, he was at Undley, Lakenheath with his parents, brother Herbert and sister Gracie [5] born in Thetford.

1911 census...Aged 18, a farm labourer, he was at Euston Road, Barnham with his parents, brother Herbert (farm labourer) and sister Gracie.

His elder brother Herbert died in France in 1917. Both brothers served in the 7th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. see here




He enlisted in Barnham.
From Lt Col Murphy's "History of the Suffolk regiment" :- On November 29th, the battalion, badly in need of rest after fighting along the Scheldt canal at Lateau Wood, were sent back to Brigade reserve. They moved into a sunken road barely half a mile from the front line near Cheshire Quarry.It was intended as a temporary position and possessed no trench system. Early in the morning of the 30th the Germans opened a very active barrage and before the battalion had time to stand to, enormous masses of German troops swarmed round their flanks,attacking from all sides. Hostile aircraft wheeled overhead dropping bombs and firing machine guns. The position was lost, but not without a considerable fight and losses on both sides. Battalion casualties were put at 13 Officers and 219 other ranks missing.

CWGC have 33 of the 7th Battalion killed, and not one has a known grave.

The Bury Free Press of 27th July 1918 reported
BARNHAM SOLDIER FALLS IN BATTLE

Mr. and Mrs. J.Rampley of Euston Road,Barnham have received a letter from the Enquiry Department for Wounded and Missing of the Red Cross Society, stating that their son,Prvt. S.Rampley, who was serving in the Suffolks, fell in battle near Cambrai,and his name appears in the official German list of dead. The letter adds that he is buried on the battlefield, north-east of Gonnelieu Road , by the Bantonville and Gonnelieu Road. Prvt George (sic) Rampley, who was 26 years of age, has been missing since 30th November 1917. This is the second son Mr. and Mrs. Rampley have lost, their eldest son, Prvt Herbert Rampley who was also serving in the Suffolks, being reported killed early March, after having been missing eleven months.

The Germans had buried Sidney and recorded the details for the Red Cross. His grave must have been lost in later fighting, since he is named on the memorial at Cambrai



Sidney Rampley is commemorated on the Cambrai memorial, panel 4

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


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