Sapper, Royal Engineers - probably Arthur William RANSOME (below)

[Spelt RANSOME on Little Common] Private, Surrey Yeomanry, Calvary - See also Little Common

[Spelt RANSON on CWGC] Private G/8654, 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Died of wounds at Rouen 28 November 1916 with British Expeditionary Force. Age 21. Born and enlisted Bexhill. Son of Alfred Ranson, of 36, Beaconsfield Road, Bexhill-on-Sea. Buried in ST. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, ROUEN, Seine-Maritime, France. Section O. Plot III. Row Q. Grave 5. - See also Bexhill-on-Sea - St Mary Magdelene

Sergeant G/574, 7th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Died of wounds 8 October 1918 with British Expeditionary Force. Age 27. Born Sidley, Sussex, enlisted Bexhill. Awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (D.C.M.), Military Medal (M.M.) and Croixe de Guerre. Son of Fredrick and Caroline Ransom, of 9, North Road, Sidley, Bexhill-on-Sea. Buried in ST. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, ROUEN, Seine-Maritime, France. Section S. Plot II. Row I. Grave 20. - See also Bexhill-on-Sea - St Mary Magdelene

Extract from Bexhill on Sea Chronicle 25 March 1916:

Was wounded a short time back, and is progressing satisfactorily. He had the honour of being present on Tuesday last at the King's invitation party at Buckingham Palace. Sergt. Ransom is a son of Mrs. Ransom, of 9, North Road, Sidley.

Extract fronm Bexhill-on-Sea Observer - Saturday 6 April 1918, page 4:

Sergeant Frederick J. Ransom. Royal Sussex Regiment, son of Mrs. Ransom, of 9, North Road. Sidley, has been awarded the Military Medal. He joined the Army at the commencement of the War and has been wounded twice. He was formerly a well-known Sidley footballer.

Extract fronm Bexhill-on-Sea Observer - Saturday 19 October 1918, page 8:

THE LATE SERGEANT RANSOM

Mr. and Mrs. F. Ransom, of 9, Northroad. Sidley, have received a letter written by one of the Sisters for the Matron of the General Hospital, where their son, Sergeant F. J. Ransom, Royal Sussex Regiment, died of his wounds. The writer says: "We did all that we possibly could for him. He was visited by the Padre. He is being buried to-morrow with military honours in the St. Severs Cemetery, Rouen, and the number of his grave is 7219. He was unconscious for some time before he died so was unable to leave you any message."

After mentioning that personal belongings would be forwarded, and that a photograph of the grave could obtained if desired, the writer proceeds: "May I say how very sorry I am for you in this trouble. It is unspeakably sad to think of the many brave lives given in this dreadful war, but it must be a great consolation that your son has given his life in such a noble cause.

A memorial service at All Saints’, Sidley, on Friday evening of last week was attended by the relatives and many friends, including Mr. H. Cook, an old member of the football team, with which Sergeant Ransom was associated. The Rev. H. G. Ellam conducted the service. A funeral march was afterwards played.

[Spelt without the E - RANSOM on St Mary memorial] Lance Corporal 55315, 2nd Battalion, Welsh Regiment. Killed in action 20 April 1918 in France and Flanders. Age 22. Born Sidley, Sussex, enlisted Bexhill. Son of Mr. and Mrs. F. Ransom, of 9, North Road, Sidley, Bexhill-on-Sea. No known grave. Commemorated on LOOS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 77 and 78. - See also Bexhill-on-Sea - St Mary Magdelene

Extract from Bexhill-on-Sea Observer 11 May 1918:

Official news has been received of the death in action of Lance-Corporal Arthur William Ransom, WeIsh Regiment. He was the third son of Mr. and Mrs. F. Ransom, of 9, North Road, Sidley. Lance-Corporal Ransom was for about five years in the Engineers at Bexhill, and was one of the earliest to join up after the-beginning of the war. He was at various places in England, engaged in engineering work. Soon after going to France, he was transferred to the Welsh Regiment. He had been out there about a year. Not very long ago he came home on leave. He was 21 years of age. His brother gained the Military Medal and his sister is in a V.A.D. hospital.

Sergeant 6152, The Scots Guards Guards Division. Died of wounds in base hospital at Etaples 27 September 1916. Aged 28. Son of George Fordham and Eliza Read of Bexhill. Husband of Mrs Emily Rosa Fordham Read of 122 Guiness Buildings Draycott Avenue Chelsea. Born in Bexhill and enlisted in St. Leonards. ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Plot XI. Row C. Grave 16A.

Gunner 134740, 59th Siege Battary, Royal Garrison Artillery. Died 30 October 1918 in France and Flanders. Age 35. Born Southborough, Kent, enlisted Bexhill.Husband of Florence Kate Read, of 26, Windsor Road, Bexhill-on-Sea. Buried in ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Plot LXVI. Row M. Grave 4.

Extract from Bexhill on Sea Observer - Saturday 9 November 1918:

Gunner W. A. Read
Butcher Dies of Wounds.

A member of a highly respected Southborough family, gunner William A. read, R. G. A. of Windsor Road, has succumbed to wounds received on the Western Front.

The sad news was conveyed through the Record Office, the earlier intimation being that he was at a base hospital, and that he had a fractured spine. Gunner Read leaves a wife and one child. He had a long record of excellent work as a butcher in civil life to his credit. For about ten years he worked for Messrs. Waghorn at Tunbridge Wells, and afterwards for nine years for Mr. E. P. Waghorn at Western Road. His father was in business at Southborough, and has now retired. A brother worked at Western Road for four or five years. Gunner Read joined up about two years ago.

Sapper, Royal Engineers probably Jonathan Relf, Sapper 554360, 70th Field Company, Royal Engineers. 12th Division. Died of wounds 24 September 1917. Aged 30. Son of Edwin and Mary Ann Relf, of Eastbourne; husband of Alice E. Relf, of 1, Hobney Houses, Pevensey, Sussex. Enlisted in Victoria Park, Middlesex. Buried in DUISANS BRITISH CEMETERY, ETRUN, Pas de Calais, France. Plot V. Row B. Grave 22.

Guardsman 29448, 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards, Guards Division. Killed in action at Cambrai 27 November 1917. Born in Wimbledon and enlisted in Hastings. No known grave. Commemorated on CAMBRAI MEMORIAL, LOUVERVAL, Nord, France. Panel 2.

Lance Corporal 3763, 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own). 8th Division Killed in action at Aubers Ridge. 9 May 1915. Aged 24. Son of Charles and Kate Robards of 28, Western Road, Bexhill-on-Sea. Born and resident Bexhill, enlisted Eastbourne. Buried in RATION FARM MILITARY CEMETERY, LA CHAPELLE-D'ARMENTIERES, Nord, France. Plot VI. Row A. Grave 26.

Extract from Bexhill-on-Sea Observer - Saturday 29 May 1915, page 3:

THE LATE CORPORAL ROBARDS.

Mr. and Mrs. Robards, 28, Western-road, have received official intimation of the death of their son, Corporal William Edwin Robards, 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade, who, as reported in the “Observer” last week, was killed in action.

A friend of the deceased soldier, writing to the parents, says:—

“I once more write in answer to your letter, but sorry to say I cannot give you any better news. My dear friend, Corporal Robards, your son, was killed in action in the last battle we fought, on the 9th inert. It grieves me very much, for we were great friends, and had been for such a long time that we understood each other. I offer you my deepest sympathy, also the sympathy of the Company which is left. He was respected and loved by all. I feel this blow almost much aa anyone, for we knew each other, and I always felt I had one whom I could talk to about things, he was so faithful and true. May God bless you and help you through this trouble.”

ROGERS

Alfred

Private 19749, Coldstream Guards. Guards Division. Killed in action near Langemarck 9 October 1917. Aged 37. Son of James and Elizabeth Rogers, of Enfield, Middx.; husband of the late Alice Rogers. Born and enlisted in Enfield Middlesex. Buried in RUISSEAU FARM CEMETERY, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Row C. Grave 25.

RUNACRE

Reginald James

Gunner 905892, "C" Battery, 107th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Killed in action 2 November 1918. Aged 21. Son of James and Jemima Runacre, of 10, Belmont Terrace, Sidley, Bexhill-on-Sea. Born and enlisted in St. Leonards. Buried in CROSS ROADS CEMETERY, FONTAINE-AU-BOIS, Nord, France. Plot II. Row G. Grave 15.

Extract from Bexhill on Sea Observer - Saturday 7 December 1918, page 4:

Signaller R. J. Runacre

One of the last local victims of the war was Signaller Reginald James Runacre, R.F.A., youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. James Runacre, of Belmont Terrace, Sidley. He was killed in action on the 2nd November, but the sad news was only received by his parents on Thursday morning of last week in a letter from a comrade who was next to him at the time, and was himself wounded. The official news was received the same night. The chum has kindly written giving details of Signaller Runacre’s burial, and the assurance that he did not suffer in his death.

Signaller Runacre was only 21 years of age. He was in the grocery business at Sidley before joining up in 1915. He was a young man of fine physique, and his loss in almost the last fighting is much regretted. A brother, Gunner G. Runacre is now in England, in hospital, sick. Another brother (Percy) in France with the Royal West Kent Regiment, has just rejoined his battalion after illness.