Category: Military
Rank: Sergeant G/574
Regiment or Ship: 7th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment
Service Number(s): G/574
Occupation: Bricklayers’ Labourer
Date of Birth: 1892
Date of Death: 18.10.1918
Place of Death: France but no mention of the locality has been found.
Place of Burial / Memorials:
St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen.
1) St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, Seine-Maritime, France. Grave S. II. I. 20.
2) St Mary Magdelene’s church memorial.
3) Bexhill’s War Memorial.
Address: 9 North Road, Sidley, Bexhill
Photos and newspaper articles
Click on any image to see a larger version
Family Information
Parents:
Frederick Ransom, born 1863 in Sidley, Bexhill on Sea, East Sussex; died 30th April 1936 in 9 North Road, Sidley, Bexhill on Sea, East Sussex, and Caroline Vitler, born 1862, in Hooe, East Sussex; died in March 1925, aged 63 and buried on 6th March 1925 in Bexhill.
The couple were married in Hailsham district (probably at the church in Hooe) in 1887.
Siblings:
Noami Ransom, born 1890, in Bexhill, Sussex.
Thomas Ransom, born 1894, in Bexhill, Sussex. W0194 RANSOM Thomas
Arthur William Ransom, born 1897, in Bexhill, Sussex. W0101 RANSOM Arthur Wm.
Emma May Ransom, born 1902, in Bexhill, Sussex.
Albert George Ransom, born 1904, in Bexhill, Sussex.
Irene Lillian Ransom, born 1910, in Bexhill, Sussex.
Spouse: No record has been found of Frederick ever being married. His effects, following his death, were sent to his mother, Caroline Ransom.
First World War Experience
The only service records, of Frederick James Ransom, which seem to have survived are his entries in the Medal Roll Index and in the “UK, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929”, and his Medal Roll Index Card (MRIC), which gives the following information: –
The first theatre of war that he served in was No. 1 (France) disembarking on 31.5.1915.
His name was originally written, in red ink, as F. J. Ransom but this was later changed, in black ink, to read Frederick. Similarly, his rank appeared in red ink as “a/Cpl” (acting Corporal) and this was changed to “Sgt” (Sergeant). These changes have been noted in the “Remarks” column on the MIRC.
In the same column ia note has been added, which reads, “D of W. 8.10.18” [meaning died of wounds on 8th of October 1980]. It also notes that the D.C.M. was awarded on 5. 12. 18.
He was entitled to the Victory Medal, the British Medal, and the 1915 Star Medal.
He was wounded in “several places in the leg” according to a report in the Bexhill-on-Sea Observer, dated 18th March 1916.
The only explanation for his being awarded the D.C.M., the M.M., and the Croix de Guerre, is given in a short statement in the Bexhill Chronicle, dated 14th of December, 1918.
Frederick’s two brothers, Thomas and Arthur William Ransom, also joined the army – their younger brother, Albert George, born in 1904, was too young to join of be called up.
Thomas joined the Royal Engineers as a driver and survived the war; Arthur joined 1/24th London Regt. Queen’s (Royal West Surrey) Regiment, and, later, the Welsh Regiment, rising to the rank of Lance Corporal before his death, in action, in 1918.