Lawrence Fairbrother Ramsey - Died 7 Jan 1919 (post-discharge)

[melliget]

Last year I filed this one from The Times (9 Jan 1919) in my "check later" folder. Lawrence Fairbrother Ramsey, died in a nursing home in England on 7 Jan 1919 (post-discharge). Reportedly as a result of shell shock, sustained on the Somme. His name is on a West Wittering war memorial. Some discussion and background on this forum.

http://sussexhistoryforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=9381.0

 

Has his case ever been looked at?

 

Martin

 

[ss002d6252]

#4350 Ramsey - discharged from 5th London on 28 Dec 16. Enlisted 11 Dec 15. Discharged as wounded.

 

Service record - http://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=gbm%2fwo363-4%2f007270782%2f00930&parentid=gbm%2fwo363-4%2f7270782%2f62%2f930&highlights=""

Craig

Edited 4 October , 2016 by ss002d6252

[melliget]

Thanks a lot, Craig.

[ralphjd]

Martin. Are you putting this case to the IFTCP .? Ralph.

[melliget]

Hi Ralph.

 

I've had a couple of UK cases but I mainly focus on Australian ones. Have a few in the pipeline and I'm looking into a bunch more and more to check. Not sure if they're all cases but I will probably need to order a fair number of DCs. I was just wanting to make sure Lawrence Ramsey wasn't missed or at least got looked at. If someone wants to put him forward, that would be good.

 

Martin

 

 

Edited 5 October , 2016 by melliget

[John_Hartley]

4 hours ago, melliget said:

 If someone wants to put him forward, that would be good

 

 

 For CWGC to consider the case, there needs to be documentary evidence that confirms that the cause of discharge was caused by or aggravated by war service and that there's a link between that cause and the cause of death. The former certainly exists in this case.

 

By the by, In From the Cold Project's funding from the Veterans Agency does not permit us to obtain death certificates "on spec". However, we can submit cases on behalf of others, assuming we agree there is sufficiient evidence. In such cases, we are able to refund the cost of acquiring the death certificates.

 

Personally, I think this may be a tricky one. He was wounded in 10/16 but the file suggests this was relatively minor (only 10 days in hospital). The actual cause of discharge appears to be the symptoms of shell shock, rather than the physical injury. It is obviously of interest that he is dead within a few weeks of returning to the UK and the actual cause of death would be crucial in determining a possible commemoration. Was it, in fact, something related to his wound that may not have been properly diagnosed? Or something related to his mental state (very tricky ref commemorations)

 

John

[mandy hall]

West Wittering is not that far from me, I don't mind paying for the death certificate to see if he can be added.  Will order tomorrow.

 

Mandy

[chrisharley9]

Hello Mandy,

 

If the case is good I will get the grave details confirmed.

 

Chris

[mandy hall]

Thanks Chris.  Death certificate ordered.  

[melliget]

Great. Well done, Mandy.

[mandy hall]

 

The death certificate has arrived, attached is the relevant part.  Guessing nothing can be done as the doctor signing the certificate did not mention the war.

 

Mandy

[chrisharley9]

Sorry cannot read the last word "Exhaustion from ?" 

[CGM]

mania?

Appropriate for shell shock....

Edited 14 October , 2016 by CGM
grammar

[melliget]

Exhaustion from mania? Is that a possible link to shell shock? Though duration only 15 days. Discharged for over 2 years.

 

Gastro Enteritis. No pm (post mortem).

[CGM]

I think associating shell shock with the mania they saw developing was possibly a "comfort" for the family.....

[chrisharley9]

Sorry, but I cannot see how this one can go forward. However I am going to ask for a second opinion.

 

Chris

[melliget]

Unfortunately I tend to agree, Chris. Although his war experiences may well have led to his early demise, sadly there's nothing definitive on the DC that can be tied back to his war service. Also, with his nervous breakdown before the war, there's the element of a pre-existing condition.

 

Probably a bit late in the day (it was summarised in the forum thread referenced above), here are his service/pension papers:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0BxlGEUmD-tydOHpyTW01Z0ptRGs?usp=sharing

Edited 15 October , 2016 by melliget
Added link to service papers.

[chrisharley9]

On ‎14‎/‎10‎/‎2016 at 15:51, chrisharley9 said:

Sorry, but I cannot see how this one can go forward. However I am going to ask for a second opinion.

 

Chris

 

Sadly as Martin says nothing definite on the DC to link with his war service.

[mandy hall]

I was just browsing through the pension cards for men from Chichester on the WFA site and came across a pension card for Lawrence.  Just adding it here for completeness.  I guess no pension was paid as there are no figures on the card.

Image courtesy of The Western Front Association.

 

Mandy

[ss002d6252]

50 minutes ago, mandy hall said:

I was just browsing through the pension cards for men from Chichester on the WFA site and came across a pension card for Lawrence.  Just adding it here for completeness.  I guess no pension was paid as there are no figures on the card.

Image courtesy of The Western Front Association.

 

Mandy

Many cards dont show the calculation, even where the pension was paid.

 

Craig

[mandy hall]

Thanks for the information Craig.

 

Mandy