No.SS/17765, Private, Henry Joseph RANSON
Aged 54
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Henry Joseph Ranson was born in Rotherhithe, London (1st qtr 1863 Rotherhithe 1d:590), son of Stephen and Elizabeth Ann RANSON (née JACKSON).
1871 census...Aged 8, he was at Trinity Street, Rotherhithe with his father Stephen RANSON [39] asphalt works labourer, born Brettenham; his mother Elizabeth A. [32] born Streatham, Surrey; his brothers Richard T. [5] and Robert W. [7 months], both born Rotherhithe. 1881 census...Aged 18, he was at Leamington Terrace, Beckenham, a servant for butcher James EDGECOMB. On 18th November 1884, in Cockfield Congregational Chapel, he married Matilda SCARFE. 1891 census...Aged 28, an innkeeper/butcher, he was in Brettenham with his wife Matilda [27] born Thorpe Morieux; his daughter Hattie E [4] and son Stephen J [1] both born in Brettenham. 1901 census...Aged 38, a farmer, he was at Mills Wood Farm, Cockfield with his wife; sons William [15](working on family farm) born Upton Park, Stephen J [11], Robert P [8] born Brettenham; his daughters Matilda [12], Susannah M.[10], Daisy E. [7], Florence L. [2] and Dora Ann [6 months]. The elder daughters were born in Brettenham, Florence and Dora in Cockfield. 1911 census...Aged 48, a builder's labourer, he was at Windsor Green Cockfield with his wife, daughters Florence, Dora, and Grace E.[5]; sons Richard A [9] and Stanley T [2]. All the children except Daisy were born in Cockfield. His wife had lost 2 of her 12 children. The pension card has his widow at Windsor Green, Cockfield with 3 children eligible of pension, Richard, Grace and Stanley. Richard was an invalid. |
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He enlisted on 5th October 1915 in London, No.17765, Army Service Corps, giving his age as 46 years 10 months, a labourer, married, from
Windsor Green, Cockfield. He was 5 feet 9.5 inches tall, chest 38 to 40 inches, weighing 152 lbs, Church of England. His next of kin was his wife Matilda,
née Scarfe, who he had married at Cockfield Congregational Chapel on 18th November 1884. 4 children are recorded, Richard Alfred
Chris [3-12-1901], Grace Evelyn [22-9-1905, Stanley Thomas 25-4-1909 and Dora Ann 18-9-1900. All born in Lavenham. He was sent just 12 days later to the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. He embarked on SS 'Minnewaska' at Devonport on 18th October 1915, reaching Alexandria on 31st. He then left Alexandria on the SS 'Victorian' on 21st November arriving in Salonika on 25th. Admitted to hospital (debility) on 16th June 1916 and discharged to duty on 22nd June On 2nd March 1917 he was admitted to 29th General Hospital in Salonica and taken to Malta (Cottanera Military Hospital) on hospital ship 'Herefordshire' diagnosed with myocardial degeneration on 11th March and died there on the 12th March. A post-mortem recorded cause of death as subacute nephritis, tertian malaria and hypostatic pneumonia. .
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