Hugh Ramsay, Gordon Highlanders

Hugh Ramsay, Corporal, Gordon Highlanders.

1. List of places where Hugh Ramsay served. 1 image.
2. Attestation paper for Hugh Ramsay, dated 28th October 1914 when he joined the 7th Gordon Highlanders and a form to be filled up and signed by the soldier. 2 images.
3. Document about units going to camp at Scone Park, Perth. 1 image.
4. Medical note dated 17/6/15 saying that Hugh Ramsay is unfit for duty and recommending that he be granted leave for 10 days. 1 image.
5. Extract from a newspaper published 25/10/15 in Perth about the closure of Scone Camp. 2 images.
6. Poem: Scone’s Goodbye to the Gordon Brigade. Relates to closure of Scone camp. 1 image.
7. Programmes of Grand Military Concerts held in the Drill Hall, Blairgowrie, on Thursday, 2nd March, 1916, and Friday, 3rd March, 1916. 6 images.
8. Poem: The 64th’s Lament. Taverham Camp, 22nd June, 1916. 1 image.
9. Poem: The Air Raid. Taverham Camp, 1916. 1 image.
10. Poem: The Passing of Major John Brown Gordon Highlanders. Taverham Camp, 6th September, 1916. 3 images.
11. 192nd Infantry Brigade. Programme of Highland Gathering held on Thursday, August 9th, 1917, at Witton Park, North Walsham. 7 images.
12. Programme of a concert. There is neither date nor place on the programme. 1 image.
13. 192nd Infantry Brigade Headquarters. Programme of Sergeants Mess Annual Dinner held on Saturday, December 15th, 1917, at “The Oaks”, Harvey Lane, Norwich. 2 images.
14. Transfer Statement of Clothing and Necessaries when Hugh Ramsay transferred from 2/5th Gordon Highlanders to 4th Res Battalion, dated 2.2.1018. 2 images.
15. Newspaper cutting of the Times, February 24, 1919. This lists the award of the Meritorious Service Medal, including Sgt Kidd. 2 images.
16. Photographs of soldiers and groups of soldiers in postcard format. Where there is writing on the reverse the digitised copy of the writing follows that of the photograph. 20 images.
17. Accounts for the sale of furniture from the Sergeant’s Mess at Cromer when it was closed down. 1 image.
18. Cover of Certificate and Other Documents of Soldiers on Demobilization, Transfer to Reserve or Discharge. 1 image.
19. Protection certificate and certificate of identity for a soldier not remaining with the colours for Hugh Ramsay. It was issued at Kinross and dated 16 May 1919. 1 image.
20. National Health Insurance certificate for Hugh Ramsay. It gives date of discharge as 13.6.1919. 1 image.
21. Certificate of Employment During the War for Hugh Ramsay. It indicates that he was Clerk in Bde H.Q. 192 Inf Bde from Feb. 1915 to May 1919. 2 images.
22. Certificate of Disembodiment for Hugh Ramsay, dated 13th June 1919. 1 image.
23. Memoranda regarding pay for Hugh Ramsay. 10 images.
24. Certificate of thanks for his service issued to Hugh Ramsay by the Brigadier-General Commanding 192nd Infantry Brigade. It was issued on 15th May, 1919, at Brigade Headquarters, Cromer. 1 image.
25. Statement as to disability. Army form Z21. This has not been completed. 2 images.
26. Unused voucher for reduced rate railway ticket. 1image.
27. Cover for Out of Work Donation Policy. The vouchers inside are unused. 2 images.
28. Hugh Ramsay’s medals. These are the 1914 Star, the British War Medal and the Victoria Medal. There is also a notice to warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men (Army Form Z 21A) concerning medals. 2 images.
29. Soldier’s Pay Book for Hugh Ramsay. 5 images.
30. Soldier’s Own Note Book and Diary for 1916. 3 images.
31. Soldier’s Own Note Book and Diary for 1918. 2 images.

Hugh Ramsay was my father. He was born 28 April 1898 at Stonehaven, Kincardineshire, the son of William Ramsay and Josephine Leslie Ramsay, nèe Matthews. The Ramsay family had a draper’s business for many years in Stonehaven. Hugh signed up when he was 17 on the 28th October 1914 to join the 7th Gordon Highlanders. I have his attestation paper and a form to be filled up and signed by the soldier. He served in the First World War at Banchory, Kincardineshire, Scone, Perthshire and Blairgowrie, Perthshire, all in Scotland. This was followed by Taverham, Norwich, Witton Camp (North Walsham), Kelling and Cromer, all in Norfolk, England. I have a document dated 16/4/1915 which indicates that his unit was to move to a camp at Scone, Perthshire. I have a medical note dated 17/6/15 signed by a doctor saying that Hugh is unfit for duty and recommending leave for 10 days. I have a typewritten extract from a newspaper, dated 25/10/15 about the closure of Scone Camp as well as a poem about the closure.

From Hugh’s time at Blairgowrie I have the programmes of Grand Military Concerts held in the Drill Hall, Blairgowrie, on Thursday, 2nd March, 1916, and Friday, 3rd March, 1916.

I have some poems from Taverham Camp. I have the programme of the Highland Gathering held at Witton Park, North Walsham, on Thursday, August 9th, 1917. I have the programme of 192nd Infantry Brigade Headquarters Sergeants Mess Annual Dinner held on Saturday, December 15th, 1917, at “The Oaks”, Harvey Lane, Norwich.

I have a Transfer Statement of Clothing and Necessaries when Hugh Ramsay transferred from 2/5th Gordon Highlanders to 4th Res Battalion, dated 2.2.1918.

I have a newspaper cutting from the Times, February 24, 1919. This lists the award of the Meritorious Service Medal, including Sgt Kidd. He was a comrade of Hugh at the Sergeant’s Mess at Cromer. I have some photographs of soldiers and groups of soldiers in postcard format with little to identify who they are.

The protection certificate and certificate of identity for a soldier not remaining with the colours for Hugh Ramsay was issued at Kinross and dated 16 May 1919. It gives his Regimental Number as 290588, rank Cpl, Regiment Gordon Highlanders and Born in the Year 1898. The National Health Insurance certificate for Hugh Ramsay gives date of enlistment as 28.10.1914 and date of discharge as 13.6.1919. The Certificate of Employment During the War for Hugh Ramsay indicates that he was Clerk in Bde H.Q. 192 Inf Bde from Feb. 1915 to May 1919. And that before enlistment he was a draper. The character reference says that Corpl Ramsay is of excellent character, he has worked hard and well, has a good memory, is a good typist and has a good system for general office routine; he is a very capable man. On 13th June 1919 he was demobilised due to an abundance of soldiers. His certificate of disembodiment is dated 13th June, 1919. I have a certificate of thanks for his service issued to Hugh by the Brigadier-General Commanding 192nd Infantry Brigade. It was issued on 15th May, 1919, at Brigade Headquarters, Cromer.

I have some unused items from Hugh that relate to demobilisation. These are statements as to disability (Army form Z21), which has not been completed, a voucher for reduced rate railway ticket and the Out of Work Donation Policy. The vouchers inside the latter are unused.

I have Hugh’s medals. These are the 1914 Star, the British War Medal and the Victoria Medal.

I have a Soldier’s Pay Book for Hugh Ramsay, Soldier’s Own Note Book and Diary for 1916, and Soldier’s Own Note Book and Diary for 1918. Not much has been written in them so only a few pages have been copied.

28/10/1914-13/06/1919

Banchory, Kincardineshire, Scotland. Scone, Perthshire, Scotland. Blairgowrie, Perthshire, Scotland. Taverham, Norwich, England. Norwich, England. Witton Camp, North Walsham, Norfolk, England. Kelling, Norfolk, England. Cromer, Norfolk, England.

Hugh Ramsay

Mackie Academy, Stonehaven (23/02/2019).