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Charles Ramsey

1234, Private Charles Ramsey, age 34
16th Battalion, (The Queen's) Lancers
Died 21 November 1914

Private Charles Ramsey, 16th Battalion Lancers. Died 21/11/1914. 

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Born in Felixstowe the sixth child of James Ramsey & his wife Ann nee Rush. His mother appears to have died either during or shortly after the birth of his younger brother John. James remarried & the family were living at Hill Cottage, Old Felixstowe in 1891. 

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Charles originally joined the 8th Hussars in 1900 where he was posted in India from 1900 to 1908. He appears to have had a rather chequered career with his Good Conduct badge being withdrawn a number of times & a short imprisonment for Insubordination in 1905. He was then Court Martialled & sentenced to 112 days imprisonment in 1907, for which he served 56. He was transferred to the Army reserve in Feb 1908 & subsequently struck off for absence & failing to render his life certificate in the July. He then didn't report before time expired in 1912.

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This may explain why when he joined the 16th Lancers he appears to have used the first name Herbert? He is  found in the 1911 census with the 16th Lancers stationed at Cavalry Barracks, Cavalry Street, Norwich & would have been stationed at The Curragh, Ireland when war was announced. The 16th as part of the 3rd Cavalry Brigade mobilised to France in August 1914 where they first saw action at the Battle of Mons. Charles was killed in action  on November 21, 1914, aged 34 during the first Battle of Ypres and he has no known grave . Charles is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Felixstowe Seafront Memorial and the St Peter and St Paul WW1 Memorial.

Ramsey, Herbert.jpg

Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial

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1914 Star.JPG
16th Lancers.JPG

16th The Queen's Lancers

1914 Star

Ramsey, Herbert Medal.jpg

Medal Card

Ramsey, Charley (1234).jpg
16th_Lancers_September_1914.jpg

16th Lancers Retreat from Mons Sept 1914

Pension Record

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