RAMICOURT BRITISH CEMETERY
Aisne
France
Location Information
Ramicourt is a commune 31 kilometres south of Cambrai, and 10 kilometres south-east of Gouy, in the department of Aisne. The British Cemetery is on the south side of the village on the road to Levergies.
Visiting Information
The location or design of this cemetery makes wheelchair access impossible.
Historical Information
The village of Ramicourt was immediately east of the German fortification known as the Beaurevoir-Fonsomme Line. It was captured by the 1/5th, 1/6th and 1/8th Sherwood Foresters on 3 October 1918, and the cemetery was made immediately after, close to a small German cemetery (since removed), by the 18th Field Ambulance and the 18th Corps Burial Officer.
Ramicourt British Cemetery contains 118 First World War burials, ten of them unidentified.
Total Burials: 118.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 90, Australia 18. Total 108.
Unidentified Casualties: 10.
The cemetery was designed by W H Cowlishaw.
Ramicourt is a commune 31 kilometres south of Cambrai, and 10 kilometres south-east of Gouy, in the department of Aisne. The British Cemetery is on the south side of the village on the road to Levergies.
Visiting Information
The location or design of this cemetery makes wheelchair access impossible.
Historical Information
The village of Ramicourt was immediately east of the German fortification known as the Beaurevoir-Fonsomme Line. It was captured by the 1/5th, 1/6th and 1/8th Sherwood Foresters on 3 October 1918, and the cemetery was made immediately after, close to a small German cemetery (since removed), by the 18th Field Ambulance and the 18th Corps Burial Officer.
Ramicourt British Cemetery contains 118 First World War burials, ten of them unidentified.
Total Burials: 118.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 90, Australia 18. Total 108.
Unidentified Casualties: 10.
The cemetery was designed by W H Cowlishaw.
5015 Private
Reginald Atchison Craig
21st Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
5th October 1918, aged 24.
Row B. 43.
Son of John and Elizabeth Ester Craig, of Merton, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Till The Morning Break And The Shadows Flee Away; O Our Beloved."
5033 Private T. J. Holmes gave the following information;
"Reg Craig was my pal and I also knew him in Australia. He was next to me when he was killed instantaneously by a shell wound in the chest. The casualty occurred at 6:15pm on 6/10/18 (actually 5th) in a railway cutting in front of Ramicourt. He was buried in a civilian cemetery and a cross erected over his grave."
Reginald Atchison Craig
21st Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
5th October 1918, aged 24.
Row B. 43.
Son of John and Elizabeth Ester Craig, of Merton, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Till The Morning Break And The Shadows Flee Away; O Our Beloved."
5033 Private T. J. Holmes gave the following information;
"Reg Craig was my pal and I also knew him in Australia. He was next to me when he was killed instantaneously by a shell wound in the chest. The casualty occurred at 6:15pm on 6/10/18 (actually 5th) in a railway cutting in front of Ramicourt. He was buried in a civilian cemetery and a cross erected over his grave."
Lieutenant
John Foster Gear, M. C. 24th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F. 5th October 1918. Row C. 16. |
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The image on the right was taken at Armentières, France. c. 1916-05. Portrait of 2036 Private Clifford (Cliff) Arthur Ellis and 2040 Corporal John (Jack) Foster Gear, both of 24th Battalion. Ellis was later awarded the Military Medal (MM) for action at Lone Pine, Gallipoli, on 6 July 1915 and Gear was awarded the Military Cross (MC) for his action at Villers Bretonneux, France, on 4 July 1918. Lieutenant Gear was later killed in action during the battle for Montbrehain, 5 October 1918.
43227 Private
Herbert Higginbottom
1st Bn. King's Shropshire Light Infantry
9th October 1918.
Row A. 17.
Herbert Higginbottom
1st Bn. King's Shropshire Light Infantry
9th October 1918.
Row A. 17.
6103 Private
Ernest Henry Owens
24th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
5th October 1918, aged 23.
Row B. 23.
Son of Christopher John Owens, of Bullagreen Station, Armatree, New South Wales. Native of Lowes Vale, Coolah, New South Wales.
Ernest Henry Owens
24th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
5th October 1918, aged 23.
Row B. 23.
Son of Christopher John Owens, of Bullagreen Station, Armatree, New South Wales. Native of Lowes Vale, Coolah, New South Wales.
1988 Lance Corporal
Leslie Ray 21st Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F. 5th October 1918, aged 22. Row B. 17. Son of George and Grace E. Ray, of Warrion, Victoria, Australia. |
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His headstone bears the inscription; "He Answered His Country's Call He Gave His Life His Best, His All."
A farmer from Warrion, Victoria prior to enlistment, Pte Ray originally embarked for overseas service with the 3rd Reinforcements from Melbourne on HMAT Anchises on 26 August 1915. Later developing enteric fever, he returned to Australia on 13 March 1916. Following his recovery, he re-embarked with the 16th Reinforcements from Melbourne on HMAT Nestor on 2 October 1916. Later promoted to Lance Corporal, he was killed in action on 5 October 1918, aged 22.
6910 Private J. E. Weston gave the following information;
"We were attacking about 4:15am on the 5th October 1918, against Montbrehain. I was beside Ray, when the same shell, which got 4 other chaps, burst near him. He was hit about the body and killed instantly. He was No.1 of a Machine Gun crew, and we were advancing on the outskirts of the village at the time. I saw him immediately afterwards and I am positive he was killed. We had to continue on and afterwards he was taken back and buried and a cross erected at Ramicourt British Cemetery."
A farmer from Warrion, Victoria prior to enlistment, Pte Ray originally embarked for overseas service with the 3rd Reinforcements from Melbourne on HMAT Anchises on 26 August 1915. Later developing enteric fever, he returned to Australia on 13 March 1916. Following his recovery, he re-embarked with the 16th Reinforcements from Melbourne on HMAT Nestor on 2 October 1916. Later promoted to Lance Corporal, he was killed in action on 5 October 1918, aged 22.
6910 Private J. E. Weston gave the following information;
"We were attacking about 4:15am on the 5th October 1918, against Montbrehain. I was beside Ray, when the same shell, which got 4 other chaps, burst near him. He was hit about the body and killed instantly. He was No.1 of a Machine Gun crew, and we were advancing on the outskirts of the village at the time. I saw him immediately afterwards and I am positive he was killed. We had to continue on and afterwards he was taken back and buried and a cross erected at Ramicourt British Cemetery."
306224 Private
Salathiel Sanderson
1st/5th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
3rd October 1918, aged 23.
Row A. 13.
Son of Hannah Sanderson, of 71, Newcastle Avenue, Worksop, Notts.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Memory Like The Ivy Clings; Gone But Not Forgotten, Mam."
Salathiel Sanderson
1st/5th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
3rd October 1918, aged 23.
Row A. 13.
Son of Hannah Sanderson, of 71, Newcastle Avenue, Worksop, Notts.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Memory Like The Ivy Clings; Gone But Not Forgotten, Mam."
75062 Gunner
James "Jimmy" Smith 73rd Bty. 5th Bde. Royal Field Artillery 8th October 1918, aged 29. Row A. 10. Click on team photo to enlarge |
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James "Jimmy" Smith was born in Stafford in 1889. He first came to prominence in the local leagues as a centre forward with both Hanley PSA and Hanley Swifts before eventually signing for Brighton of the Southern League in January 1911. He spent almost 2 years on the south coast, scoring 37 goals in 59 appearances before he was transferred to Bradford (Park Avenue) for the (then) substantial fee of £735.00 plus inside forward, Bobby Simpson. He was prolific in front of goal for Avenue, scoring 60 goals in 100 games, a goalscoring record better than 1 in 2. Sadly for Jimmy and Park Avenue, war intervened, he joined the Royal Artillery and was killed just a month before the Armistice, he was 29 and due to be married in the next few weeks.
Bradford (Park Avenue) FC 1914-1915 Finished in their highest ever place of 9th in the first division
Back row: L to R. James 'Jimmy' Smith, Mr Sterling, Alexander Watson, Ernest Scattergood, George Jobey, John (Jack) McCandless, T. E. Maley, Frederick Kirby.
Front: Tommy Little, John 'Jack' Scott, David Howie, James 'Jimmy' Bauchop, Samuel Blackham.
Bradford (Park Avenue) FC 1914-1915 Finished in their highest ever place of 9th in the first division
Back row: L to R. James 'Jimmy' Smith, Mr Sterling, Alexander Watson, Ernest Scattergood, George Jobey, John (Jack) McCandless, T. E. Maley, Frederick Kirby.
Front: Tommy Little, John 'Jack' Scott, David Howie, James 'Jimmy' Bauchop, Samuel Blackham.
202 Private
James Arthur Steer
2nd Australian Pioneers
5th October 1918.
Row B. 4.
James Arthur Steer
2nd Australian Pioneers
5th October 1918.
Row B. 4.
516 Company Sergeant Major
Rees William Thomas, M. M.
21st Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
5th October 1918, aged 22.
Row C. 1.
Son of Harry Osbourne Thomas and Annie Thomas, of Bedford Rd., Ringwood, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Until We Meet Again Before His Throne; Goodnight."
5596 Private C. Fletcher gave the following information;
"Thomas was C.S.M. of C. Coy. When it was broken up, he came to A. Coy. A man, 5ft. 9ins, stout, dark about 29 or 30. In Montbrehain the last stunt the infantry did, the 21st and 24th (battalions) Hop-over. Our barrage started at 6am, about 6.10, Thomas was hit. He was leading us, about 50 yards ahead waving us on - when he got into our own barrage, our Captain (Sullivan) was hit badly. I saw Thomas hit, went up to him, he was quite dead when I reached him. I got hit myself just then and both Thomas and Captain Sullivan were lying there when I was taken away. The Hins did not hold this ground again."
Rees William Thomas, M. M.
21st Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
5th October 1918, aged 22.
Row C. 1.
Son of Harry Osbourne Thomas and Annie Thomas, of Bedford Rd., Ringwood, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Until We Meet Again Before His Throne; Goodnight."
5596 Private C. Fletcher gave the following information;
"Thomas was C.S.M. of C. Coy. When it was broken up, he came to A. Coy. A man, 5ft. 9ins, stout, dark about 29 or 30. In Montbrehain the last stunt the infantry did, the 21st and 24th (battalions) Hop-over. Our barrage started at 6am, about 6.10, Thomas was hit. He was leading us, about 50 yards ahead waving us on - when he got into our own barrage, our Captain (Sullivan) was hit badly. I saw Thomas hit, went up to him, he was quite dead when I reached him. I got hit myself just then and both Thomas and Captain Sullivan were lying there when I was taken away. The Hins did not hold this ground again."
7th October 1918; Enemy dead in one of the trenches at Montbrehain, two days after the capture of the village by the 21st and 24th Battalions guarding the flank. The place was thick with enemy dead, there were over 500 killed, for the village was tenaciously held by the German machine gunners, who desperately fought to the last and were mostly killed by Australian bayonets, while tanks crushed the machine gun nests. In one instance in a large quarry where forty dead were counted forty machine guns and sixty prisoners were taken.
17th September 1918; An aerial view showing the Bellicourt Montbrehain area of Folemprise Farm, Estrees, Wiancourt, Ramicourt, Joncourt, Nauroy.
