Canada. A Memorial Cross Group to Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, Ramsey, 1942

Canada; 1939-1945 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Clasp; War Medal 1939-1945; and Memorial Cross, George VI (SGT. W.O.A.G. M.F. RAMSEY R-67823). Naming is engraved on the MC, with an "O" engraved over an "A" on "W.O.A.G.", Canadian silver standard marked and marked "STERLING" on the reverse, with an original neck ribbon and in its hardshelled case of issue. The four Second War medals are un-named as issued. Un-mounted, original ribbons, dark patina on the MC, spotting on the ACE Star, very light contact, near extremely fine. Accompanied by a Second War RCAF Jacket Patch (red, light blue, white and black embroidery, on a black wool base, black cotton mesh backer, 120 mm (w) x 125 mm (h), edge wear evident in the black wool just below the ribbon banner); an RCAF Air Gunner (AG) Wing (red, white and brown embroidery, on a black wool base, black cotton backer, 97 mm (w) x 50 mm (h)); a Canada-USA Eagle Shoulder Flash (light blue embroidery, on a black wool base, black cotton backer, 80 mm (w) x 64 mm (h)); copies of his Index Card, Service Award Card, Attestation Paper, Service Records, Operation Records Book for 415 (Torpedo Bomber) Squardron RCAF, Casualty Reports, along with assorted research papers and two Reproduction Photographs.

Footnote: Melvin Frederick Ramsey was born on March 25, 1920 in High Springs, Florida, the son of Frederick Henry Ramsey and Irene McCormick Ramsey, his father later of Dunnellon and his mother later of Orlando, Florida. He had two sisters, Margaret and Mary. Ramsey attended Euclid Grammar School in his primary years, followed by four years at St. Petersburg High School (1935-1938) and two years at St. Petersburg Junior College (1939-1940) in St. Petersburg, Florida. He also worked as a Bellboy for four months at a hotel in Miami during the summer of 1939 and an Usher for four months at the Plaza Theater in the summer of 1940 before enlisting. His interests included boxing, basketball and tennis. Ramsey came to Canada, in order to enlist with the Royal Canadian Air Force for service during the Second World War. He signed his Attestation Paper as an Aircraftman 2nd Class (R/67823) with the Royal Canadian Air Force, on October 12, 1940 at the RCAF Recruiting Centre in Windsor, Ontario, at the age of 19, naming his next-of-kin as his father, stating that he was an American citizen, that he had no previous military service, that his religion was Methodist and that his trade was that of Student. In his Interview Report conducted on the 12th, the interviewer noted that Ramsey was "Very keen to enter service. Average American youth. Preferred to take Pilot training but is willing to accept gunner because of medical category". He was transferred to No. 1 Manning Depot in Toronto shortly thereafter and it was here that he was admitted to Station Hospital on October 31st. After two days, he was discharged from hospital on November 2nd. Three weeks later, he was posted to No. 1 Initial Training Flying School at Camp Borden, Ontario on November 23rd. After ten weeks at Camp Borden, he was posted to No. 2 Wireless School at Calgary, Alberta on February 1, 1941, and it was here that he was promoted to Leading Aircraftman on March 3rd. He was at school in Calgary for five months before being posted to No. 7 Bombing and Gunnery School at Paulson, Manitoba on July 19th. His stay was only one month at Paulson and it was here that Ramsey was awarded the Air Gunner Badge and promoted to Sergeant on August 18, 1941. He was subsequently posted to No. 1 "Y" Depot in Halifax, Nova Scotia for overseas service on August 20th, embarking for England on September 18, 1941. Upon arrival in England, he was posted to No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre at Bournemouth, Dorset on September 28th, followed by a posting to No. 2 Signals School at Yatesbury, Wiltshire on October 10th. Sergeant Ramsey would see his final posting on November 29, 1941, as he was taken on strength of No. 415 (Torpedo Bomber) Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force and posted to Royal Air Force Station Thorney Island, Emsworth, Hampshire. No. 415 (Torpedo Bomber) Squadron, RCAF had been formed on August 20th and were armed with Handley Page HP.52 Hampden British twin-engine medium bombers, manufactured by English Electric. Ramsey would see his final promotion on February 18, 1942, this to Flight Sergeant. Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, Flight Sergeant Ramsey was aboard AT 230, a Hampden Mk. I, coded "L" on March 23, 1942 for a local training flight, which left at 10:00 hours, when tragedy would soon strike. The aircraft had been airborne about ten minutes before it crashed near Hambledon, Hampshire, killing all four crew members. Eyewitness accounts varied and were rather contradictory but it appeared that the aircraft spun from about 1500 feet and was in the process of recovering when it struck a hillside. As far as could be ascertained, the accident was not caused through any technical defect. Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, R/67828 Flight Sergeant Melvin Frederick Ramsey suffered a compound fracture of the skull, along with advanced burns to charring over the whole of his body and face, making him "unrecognizable". Also killed in the accident were the Pilot, R/74713 Flight Sergeant Clyde Homer Jay, the Observer, R/56394 Flight Sergeant Patrick Gerard O'Brien and R/ 75618 Flight Sergeant Robert Reginald Oliver. Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, R/67828 Flight Sergeant Melvin Frederick Ramsey, 415 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force died on March 23, 1942, at the age of 21, two days shy of his twenty-second birthday. He was buried on March 26th in West Thorney St. Nicholas Churchyard Extension, West Thorney, Sussex, United Kingdom, Grave Reference: Plot 1. Row E. Grave 5 and is commemorated on page 108 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. For his Second World War service, he was posthumously awarded the 1939-1945 Star, the Air Crew Europe Star, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Clasp and the War Medal 1939-1945, the medals forwarded to his father. He was survived by his mother, Irene, his Memorial Cross and Birks Bar were sent to her in April 1942. After he lost his life, an unfinished letter was sent to his mother, which he had written a few days before his death, Ramsey expressing that he was "hopeful, but resigned to any possible fate that might overtake me". His personal effects were ultimately forwarded from the Royal Air Force Central Depository at Colnbrook, to the Administrator of Estates at National Defence Headquarters, and then to the beneficiary named in his Will, his father, Frederick Ramsey.