No. 14061, Private, Herbert RANSOME
Aged 27
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Herbert Ransome was born in Cowlinge, (Risbridge Q2-1891 4A:729) son of John William and Jessie RANSOME (née MANSFIELD).
1901 census...Aged 9, he was at Bury Lane, Lidgate with his father John W RANSOME [40] farm labourer, born Cowlinge; his mother Jessei [40] born Wickhambrook; brothers William H [17] farm labourer, Ephraim [15] apprentice blacksmith, Charlie[12] and Jim [5] all born in Lidgate, and sister Agnes E [2] also born in Lidgate. 1911 census...Aged 14, a labourer, he was at The Belt, Lidgate with his parents (father now a labourer); brothers Alexander Joshua, Frederick Joe, Alfred Martin [9], Francis Herbert [5] and Albert Victor [3] and sister Agnes Edith [7]. All the new siblings were born in Lidgate. Sadly of the 15 children born by Phoebe, 6 had already died. He married May SMITH [10-5-1891] in 1918 (Newmarket Q1-1918 3B:957), later of Ivy Cottage, Ousden. |
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He enlisted in Newmarket. On the 30th September the 2nd Suffolks moved up to trenches between Ribecourt and Marcoing, ready for the attack on Rumilly. The 76th Brigade attacked with the 8th Kings Own on the right and 2nd Suffolks on the left. Severe fighting ensued and the attack was only partially successful. The front and support trenches were found to be full of Germans and machine guns.Over 300 were taken prisoner and many killed but by the time these trenches had been dealt with the attacking troops had lost the barrage and the left company came under very heavy machine gun fire from the front and flanks, making further progress impossible. The right company was shielded by the ground from flanking fire and pushed through the village to a trench on the far side, killing and capturing many Germans.It was not until; late in the evening and after much bitter fighting that the village was finally cleared. Of the 180 or so casualties, 47 were killed.
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
