Canada. A First War Pair, to Private Ramsey, 1st Canadian Pioneer Battalion, 63rd Infantry Battalion

 

Footnote: Charles Thompson Ransey was born on July 7, 1887 in Fort William, Ontario. He signed his Attestation Paper as a Private (467483) with the 63rd Infantry Battalion, on November 6, 1915 in Edmonton Alberta, at the age of 28, naming his next-of-kin as his wife, Gladys Ramsey of Edmonton (later of Hastings, Sussex, England, then Dublin, Ireland), stating that he had no previous military service, that he was Married, that his religion was Methodist and that his trade was that of Barber. The Battalion was raised in Alberta under the authority of G.O. 103A, August 15, 1915, with mobilization headquarters at Edmonton, Alberta. The Battalion sailed April 22, 1916 aboard the S.S. Megantic, with a strength of 36 officers and 1,018 other ranks under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel G.B. McLeod, arriving in England on May 5th and were absorbed by the 9th Reserve Battalion upon arrival. He was admitted to hospital at Moore Barracks at Shorncliffe on June 5, 1916, where he was diagnosed with "Myalgia" (muscle pain, a symptom of many diseases and disorders) and after five days' treatment, was discharged on the 10th. Four weeks later, Private Ramsey was transferred to the 1st Canadian Pioneer Battalion for service in the French theatre, on July 5, 1916, arriving at the Canadian Base Depot in France on July 6th. He left for the Canadian Entrenching Battalion in the field on August 4th and served with them for the next six and a half months, before returning to the 1st Canadian Pioneer Battalion on March 23, 1917. The 1st Canadian Pioneer Battalion became known as the 9th Canadian Railway Troops on May 26, 1917. While in the Somme in June 1917, Private Ramsey "was taken with pain in (the) back and legs, of sudden origin. Came on after being wet." He was admitted to No. 5 General Hospital at Rouen on July 14, 1917, where he was initially diagnosed with "P.U.O." (Pyrexia of Unknown Origin = fever), which was later defined as Trench Fever. Eleven days later, he was invalided to England on July 25th, aboard the Hospital Ship Grantully Castle. Upon arrival in England, he was posted to the Canadian Railway Troops Depot at Purfleet and admitted to the 1st Birmingham War Hospital at Rendal on July 29th.

 

After two weeks in Birmingham, he was transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Woodcote Park, Epsom on August 13th, where he would recuperate for the next four weeks, before being discharged on September 10th. Private Ramsey's health would continue to be a concern, as he was admitted three months later to the 3rd Canadian Convalescent Depot at Seaford on December 14, 1917, where he was diagnosed with "Pleurisy" (inflammation of the pleurae, which impairs their lubricating function and causes pain when breathing, caused by pneumonia and other diseases of the chest or abdomen), with the Trench Fever making a return. After two months treatment and recuperation at Seaford, he was discharged from hospitalization on February 12, 1918. He was taken on strength and posted to the Canadian Discharge Depot at Buxton for return to Canada, on February 20, 1918. He proceeded to Canada from Liverpool, England, arriving in Halifax, Nova Scotia aboard the RMT Mauritania, on April 1, 1918. Private Ramsey was posted to the Casualty Company and admitted to Edmonton South Hospital on May 28, 1918, with a "Debility from Trench Fever", with the Myalgia also making a return. In his Medical History of an Invalid, dated May 27, 1918 at Edmonton, the attending physician noted that Ramsey "Is fairly well, nourished man, normal weight. Has pain in (the) right leg of a sharp nature lasting 4 or 5 days at a time. Pain (is) worse at night. Occasional pain in (the) left chest which continues for many hours, then goes away. Has to urinate 2 or 5 times every night. Has a slight cough with thick sputum. Coughs especially at night. If approached suddenly (he) become nervous and excited." He was discharged from Edmonton South Hospital on June 27th and was transferred to a Convalescent Home, then posted to the Casualty Company on July 1st. Private Charles Thompson Ramsey, 1st Canadian Pioneer Battalion was discharged from service, due to "being Medically Unfit for Further Service although fit for Employment in Civil Life", at Calgary, Alberta, on July 27, 1918. For his First World War service, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He was later became a member of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes (RAOB), Jasper Lodge No, 4811. Ramsey died on April 8, 1946, at the age of 58.