William Ramsden 1913-1943 age 29

Barnsley Chronicle 15 May 1943
Thanks to Barnsley Archives

Born: 1913 in Barnsley Q3

Son of: Samuel and Margaret Ada Ramsden nee Hardman. They married in St Edward's Church on 24th March 1913, both giving their address as 6 Shaw Street, Barnsley. At the time of son William's death they lived at 18 Herbert Street, Barnsley. Samuel (1891-1981, died age 89) served with the Royal Engineers in France in World War One, and the couple had 7 children: 

• William 1913 died in WW2
• Muriel 1915
• Thomas 1919
• Walter 1921
• George 1926
• Betty 1928
• Jean M 1939

Husband of: Minnie Ramsden nee Thompson. William and Minnie married in 1936 and Minnie's address at the time of William's death was 7 Grafton Street, Barnsley. Minnie and William had 3 children:

• William 1936
• John D 1939
• Michael 1943  

Military Service: William was a Gunner in the Royal Artillery 56th Heavy Regiment, Service number 961321.  

Death: 21st April 1943 in Tunisia, North Africa.

Buried: Massicault War Cemetery in Tunisia, grave number III.K.9. William's body was moved here on 17th March 1944 from elsewhere. His grave bears the inscription:

At the going down of the sun

And in the morning

I shall remember you

"Mizpah" 

Commonwealth War Graves Commission link: here 
Remembered: St Edward's WW2 Memorial plaque, Barnsley 

Notes: From The Barnsley Chronicle of 15th May 1943

Barnsley Gunner

Among the Fallen in North Africa

First by telegram and then confirmation by letter, Mrs Ramsden, 7, Grafton Street, Racecommon Road, Barnsley, has received word from the Records Office that her husband Gunner William Ramsden (29) R.A. is reported killed in action in North Africa. Gunner Ramsden voluntarily joined the Royal Artillery early in 1940 and went overseas in January of this year. Previous to his war service he worked for the Yorkshire Electric Power Co. and 
before that at Woolley Colliery. As a boy he attended Racecommon Road School. He leaves a wife and three children (boys) the eldest of whom is seven. 
Gunner Ramsden who is the son of Mr and Mrs Samuel Ramsden, 18 Herbert Street, Kingstone, was a member of the Barnsley National Reserve Club. His father served in the last war with the Royal Engineers in France and his father-in-law Mr George Thompson, 18 Della Avenue, Racecommon Road, is an old Army veteran who was in the South African War with the 2nd Battalion Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and in the last war with the 1st Batt. 5th York and Lancaster Regiment. He has the King and Queens medal with six bars for the first campaign and the 1914-15 Star, General Service medal and Victory medal for the European War.  

Research by James Corbett and Gill Brookes of St Edward's Church,Barnsley