Harrogate Herald - 27th January 1915

Gunner G Ramsden, 45496, 117 Battery, 26th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, whose portrait appears on our photo page, in a letter to the Editor, says :

Dear Sir, Thanks for our home paper received today. I am pleased to see what a lot of Harrogate boys have joined the colours. The quicker we all get to work together the sooner will the Kaiser's chosen be smartened up. They have not got the stomach for this game that our chaps have. We have had proof of that, eh? In one of our tight corners they had only to make one bold rush and we could not under the circumstances having avoided losing our guns and ourselves along with them, but they had not got it in them to come right on. Had the infantry been British they would have walked over us with the numbers they had. We are falling in with the customs of this country as to diet. The other morning our cook made the tea in the dark, and when we got to the bottom of the Dixie, we found a frog, which he had not noticed on filling the pan. We let it pass, as we are in France and have to keep to the customs of the country, but it upset the boys a little for dinner. I have asked my mother to forward you photo taken in India. I think we shall come out on top when the final deal comes, and I think that it the firm opinion of us all out here. Germany will have to go under. We are nicely settled down to the business now, and give them plenty of souvenirs - 18 pounders - both by night as well as day. Hoping the boys in training in Harrogate are feeling as fit and able to keep it up as we are. I now conclude with every good wish for yourself and all the workers on our behalf at Harrogate.

Yours sincerely, G Ramsden

Harrogate Herald - 27th January 1915

Photo - Gunner G Ramsden, 117th Battery, Royal Field Artillery, who contributes an interesting letter, which will be found on Page 4.

Harrogate Herald - 3rd March 1915

February 26th, 1915

Dear Editor, Just a few lines to report all well, and also regular arrival of the Harrogate Herald. By the assistance of its columns, Jackson (late of Messrs J Farrah, Limited) found my address, also Wright, of the West Yorks. I have had letters from both. We have been having a brief spell of rest after seven weeks in action, and are once more thinking of chipping in. I think there is a little improvement in our weather. We are hoping it will keep up; and trade will be better in our line then. It would be the best way to have a good wade in and make a quick finish of the game. Shall be able to say more perhaps when we have moved into action again, so it is very quiet in this region; nothing doing at all. With best wishes to staff, and all the boys on service, I remain

Yours sincerely,

G Ramsden

Harrogate Herald - 18th April 1917

Roll of Honour

Bombardier G Ramsden has been wounded in the right thigh on April 6th in the same place where he was wounded at Loos in September, 1915. He is going on nicely, though suffering great pain. He has been removed to the Northumberland War Hospital at Gosforth, Newcastle-on-Tyne.

Harrogate Herald - 2nd May 1917

Roll of Honour

Bombardier G Ramsden, who is now an inmate of the Northumberland War Hospital, Gosforth, Newcastle-on-Tyne, writing to Mr W H Breare, says : Am just getting over effects of third operation, the result of a direct hit on my gun pit. I have two wounds and also bad fracture of the right leg, so splints do not allow of much writing yet. With best wishes.

W H Breare letter

Bombardier G Ramsden has been wounded a second time, and is now in Ward 19, Northumberland War Hospital, Gosforth, Newcastle-on-Tyne. His wound is somewhere in the leg, and I understand that he is not likely to return to the service. You will remember, perhaps that he is a relative of Day and Sons, house agents, Harrogate. A nephew of Alf and Charlie Day. He has been in the war from the commencement, and seen a good deal of service. For a long time he was very fortunate, and came safely through lots of hot places; then he was wounded for a first time, and is a casualty now a second time. We are wishing hard for him to get better soon.

Letters

G Ramsden, RFA, says : I am feeling in better form now, so take the opportunity to write a few lines to you. I was wounded at Arras, and had a rough time, as they did not discover until I had an operation here that in addition to my two wounds I had a compound fracture of the bone of my leg, so you may guess the time I had travelling from the firing line without any splints or support. However, the worst of my lot is over, and it is only a case of lie and mend. I have almost got to the same spot as last time I was wounded, and have had the good fortune to get into the hands of a first-class specialist in fracture cases. I had two operations in France and have had one here, which I thinks completes the course, and a close shave of losing the right leg. Trust to being able to call and see you when I am once more able to stump about. With every good wish.

Harrogate Herald - 16th January 1918

W H Breare letter

My friend, Gunner George Ramsden, of whom you have heard before, called to see me on Saturday, and he was in smart mufti, for he had been discharged from the Army on the very day he had completed 11 years' service. He has fought in 1914-5-6-7, and is a Mons hero. Was badly wounded last time - first time at Loos, second at Arras. He belonged to the First Division. Ramsden told me of a case where a Mons man had been refused admission somewhere. When it was discovered he was a Mons hero the reply came, "Go in, Mons men go anywhere!". The last wound of Ramsden left him with one leg shorter than the other. By an ingenious arrangement, it is not obvious to those who see him. My visitor is a nephew of Charles and Alf Day (Day and Sons). He looks better than he has ever done, and I trust will keep on improving. He has had a rough time, and deserves every stroke of good fortune the future can heap upon him. The same applies to you all, dear lads.